Children & Youth

To support the Centennial Vision, AOTA has identified Children and Youth as a key practice area for the 21st century. Pediatric occupational therapy practitioners support societal needs by providing services to infants, toddlers, children, and youth and their families in a variety of settings including schools, clinics, and homes. With the new IDEA regulations, occupational therapy practitioners are also participating in broad new initiatives such as early intervening services and Response to Intervention.

Go to all patient & client Tip Sheets, including the Childhood Occupations Toolkit.

If you have questions, post them on OTConnections, a community for occupational therapy practitioners just like you. If you are an AOTA member, you are already signed up with OTConnections! Just use your member login and password for the AOTA Web site to access OTConnections. 

Volunteer Opportunities

Learn about the seven Pediatric Work Groups. 

Featured Documents

• Childhood Trauma - pdf
• State Identified Measurable Result - xls 
• Successful Participation at School: Strategies for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - pdf
• Reducing Restraint and Seclusion - pdf
• Inclusion of Children With Disabilities - pdf
• Establishing Toileting Routines for Children
• FAQ on Response to Intervention for School-Based Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants - pdf
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What Should the Occupational Therapy Practitioner Know About the Common Core State Standards (CCSS)? - pdf
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Transforming Caseload to Workload in School-Based Occupational Therapy Services - pdf
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What is the Role of Occupational Therapy in Supporting Safe Youth Transportation? - pdf

Fact Sheets: The Role of OT

Designed for practitioners and other professionals to explain the role and scope of occupational therapy. Find our fact sheets here.

Tips for Living

Brief Tip Sheets to help people cope with a variety of health conditions and explain how occupational therapy can help. Find our tips sheets here.

Evidence-Based Practice

Find evidence-based practice info and the latest research to guide your practice.

Other Resources

Find apps for Children & Youth here. 

AOTA Official Documents

Informative documents on the role and scope of occupational therapy services. Get AOTA's Official Documents here. 

Special Interest Sections

Read the Special Interest Section Quarterly newsletters related to Children & Youth: Early Intervention & School, Sensory Integration, and Developmental Disabilities.