Empowering children to be confident, successful and independent through supportive relationships and skill development.
OT4KIDS is a well-established, highly reputable Occupational Therapy clinic providing quality, family centred services to children and their families within the Niagara Region. We help children of varying abilities develop physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively, so they can participate in their day to day activities with confidence, success and independence and emotional well-being.
Our knowledgeable and experienced clinicians provide comprehensive assessments, consultation and ‘hands on’ therapy within the clinic, home and/or community depending on the child’s needs.
Occupational Therapy services are provided in a safe, supportive environment using a fun, engaging, play based approach. We value the importance of play, and most importantly, the relationship within the play, where the child’s needs are supported, skills are developed, and self-esteem and mental well-being are uplifted. It is through this supportive relationship that children are empowered to achieve their greatest level of success and independence, so they can participate in life with confidence.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a regulated health profession, trained at a Masters’ level, to provide quality Occupational Therapy services. As an Occupational Therapist, we help children achieve their greatest level of success and independence, so they can participate in their day to day activities with confidence. This may include self care routines, feeding, play, school-based activities and leisure.
We are accountable to the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and belong to professional associations (Canadian, Association of Occupational Therapists, Ontario Association of Occupational Therapists), who inspire and ensure our professional excellence.
Our Clients
OT4KIDS offers services for children with varying abilities, with or without a diagnosis, who want to become more confident, independent and/or successful within their day to day activities. This may include children with:
- Sensory processing challenges
- Self-regulation and/or behavioural challenges
- Autism
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Physical challenges (CP, stroke, head injury)
- Mild motor incoordination (fine/gross motor skills)
- Developmental Coordination Disorder
- Praxis
- Developmental delays
Our Values
Family
We value the importance of family centred care and the vital role parents play within the therapy process. We value the knowledge they bring as integral team members and include them in all aspects of the decision-making process. Goals are established collaboratively based on their concerns and a treatment plan is created. Parents are encouraged to participate in the treatment sessions, so that as a team, we can share, collaborate and learn together to best support their child.
If older children want to ‘go it alone’, we honour this request and collaborate with the parents at the end of the session to share their child’s successes, demonstrate recommendations/strategies for home, and collaborate next steps.
Relationships
Supportive, responsive relationships with both the child and family are key to success! We are trauma informed and as such value the importance of being emotionally present to listen, honour and support the child’s feelings. It is through this process of emotional connection that regulation is supported, a sense of safety and trust is established, and stress/anxiety are diminished. By empowering children within this safe, supportive relationship, skills are developed, learning is shared, and mental well-being is uplifted.
Play/Meaningful Activities
Play is instrumental in learning. We understand and honour that children learn best through play or activities that are meaningful to them. At OT4KIDS, treatment is provided using a fun, interactive, play-based approach.
Play encourages emotional connection and social engagement. It invites reciprocal interaction, through which children are empowered to organize, sequence and express their thinking. It gives them the means to act out strong emotions in a nonthreatening manner, promoting social/emotional growth and the development of prosocial behaviours.
Play is instrumental in fostering growth across all areas of development (e.g. self regulation, gross motor, fine motor, visual perception, social, emotional, cognitive), laying the foundation that is crucial for academic learning! This is why, at OT4KIDS, we love to play!
Meet Our Team
We are extremely proud of our highly skilled and passionate team at OT4KIDS. We are committed to our families and work hard to help their children achieve their greatest potential.
Patti McGillivray, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist/Owner
Danielle Purcell, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist
Linda Zhuo OT Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist
Liza Niesink OT Reg. (Ont.)
Occupational Therapist