Celebrating Occupational Therapy Month

How Early Childhood Educators and OTs Can Partner to Support All Learners

Every April, we celebrate Occupational Therapy Month—a time to shine a light on the important work Occupational Therapists (OTs) do, especially in early childhood settings. For teachers, this month is a great opportunity to reflect on the partnerships we can build with OTs to better support every child, including those with disabilities, developmental delays, or unique learning needs.

What Do Occupational Therapists Do in Early Childhood?

In early childhood, children’s “occupations” are the activities they need and want to do each day—things like playing, eating, dressing, moving their bodies, interacting with others, and learning new skills. Occupational therapists help children gain independence and participate in these everyday activities.
You might see an OT working with a child on:
  • Developing fine motor skills like holding a crayon or using scissors
  • Participating in classroom routines like circle time, using art materials, or cleanup
  • Moving safely and confidently through the classroom
  • Tolerating different textures, sounds, or other sensory experiences
  • Regulating big emotions in a healthy way
  • Gaining independence in routines like dressing, eating, and toileting

Celebrate OT Month with IMPACT’s Sensory Strategies Training Bundle!

This two course training pack includes 3 hours of self-paced professional development with over 50 fun sensory activities, tools for supporting sensory-seeking and sensory-avoiding behaviors, and sensory play ideas – all grounded in the work of occupational therapists. Perfect for any early childhood educator looking to better support sensory needs in the classroom.

Early Childhood Educators and OTs Make a Great Team

As educators, we work hard to meet the diverse needs of our students – but we don’t have to do it alone! OTs bring specialized knowledge of motor development, sensory integration, and emotional regulation. When we collaborate, we combine that expertise with our knowledge of play, child development, and classroom dynamics.
If a child in your class receives occupational therapy, you may already have an OT visiting your classroom. These visits are a valuable opportunity to observe strategies in action and ask questions. OTs can help you understand how a child’s sensory needs, movement and motor patterns, or emotional responses affect their participation – and they can offer realistic, classroom-friendly ideas to support inclusion.
Some examples of how input from an OT can make your classroom more inclusive:
  • Adapting circle time for kids who need to move or fidget
  • Modifying art activities so a child with fine motor delay can join in
  • Adjusting pencil grips or writing tools to make them more accessible
  • Co-creating a cozy corner or calming area for regulation
  • Coaching play skills and supporting social interaction with peers
If a child receives OT services outside of school (such as in a clinic or at home), you can still benefit from that expertise. Start by talking with the child’s family. Ask what strategies are working and how you can support consistency in the classroom. With caregiver consent, you may even be able to connect directly with the child’s OT to share ideas and observations. Most families welcome this kind of collaboration when it helps their child succeed.

What If I Don’t Have Regular Access to an OT?

Even without classroom visits from an OT, you can still use OT-informed practices to create a more inclusive and supportive classroom. Try incorporating:
  • Flexible seating options like wiggle cushions, wobble stools, or standing spots
  • Sensory play with water, sand, or “heavy work” like pushing and pulling
  • Movement breaks to help with focus and self-regulation
  • Calm-down areas with sensory items, visuals, and comfort tools
These aren’t just “OT strategies”—they’re universal supports that benefit all children, especially those who learn and process the world differently.

Learn More About Inclusive Classroom Strategies

This April, in honor of Occupational Therapy Month, let’s recognize and appreciate the incredible work OTs do to support young children—and take the opportunity to grow our own knowledge too. If you’re ready to build your skills for supporting children’s sensory needs, check out IMPACT’s Sensory Strategies training bundle which includes two essential trainings at a 20% discount:
  1. Beyond the Sensory Table: Classroom Strategies for Sensory Play
  2. Sensory Strategies & The Brain: Promoting Self-Regulation & Learning
This 3 hour professional development bundle gives you practical tools, 50+ sensory activities, and a deeper look at how sensory preferences affect behavior, learning, and participation.

We’re Thankful for our OTs!

Inclusion is a team effort. When early childhood educators and occupational therapists work together, we create classrooms where all children feel empowered to participate, explore, and thrive. Whether you’re collaborating with an OT or incorporating sensory-informed strategies on your own, every step you take toward inclusion matters. Let’s keep learning, keep connecting, and keep building spaces where every child can shine.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month from all of us at IMPACT!

- The IMPACT Team

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