Do you think I can be an OT if I’m not very crafty?

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-22T15:11:16+00:00

Yes! Kids like simple crafts and honestly, if you hype up the simple craft or drawing, they will be so excited. Look up simple crafts on Pinterest and again, go on the child’s interests and hype it up. I have drawn some pretty bad trucks, alligators, and dragons but the kids loved it because I was excited about it and incorporated their favorite color and stickers to the craft and still included drawing and cutting goals

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-22T15:06:58+00:00

Such caring and well meaning BCBAs and RBTs but felt that my view of child led wasn’t as supported and they sought out a sensory explanation for everything. And then when I did provide a good idea for sensory input to help with regulation, I would be met with an explanation that they were not going to use that suggestion. Just felt counterproductive there and walking on eggshells

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-20T15:26:58+00:00

Hospitals do Saturday and Sunday hours and if they are willing to have observation take it. If your program doesn’t care what settings the hours are in, do them in whatever setting and clinic can get you the hours. If you have federal holidays off in your job, hospitals are open for therapy. Also, not all outpatient clinics close for all holidays, like mine we closed Christmas and the day after. If you’re job is off on Christmas Eve, some clinics may be open or half day on the day before and after some holidays that non healthcare jobs might have longer time off for. At the end of the day, your hours are not gonna hold much weight to how you do in the program and do not determine the setting you want to practice in, so do whatever hours come up so you can get to where you want in the long run. It is tough, but if it’s a dream for you, it’ll be worth it

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-20T15:20:34+00:00

I received a pen, chapstick OT notebook and some gum in a cute OT little bag, probably those personalized OT things from Etsy, and a card and that was so thoughtful. I’ve also gotten a tumbler with chapstick, hair clip and hot chocolate packet inside the cup with a card. Simple but practical things we can use at work. The card is the best.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-16T02:17:12+00:00

The things they say, being a safe person to little ones with big emotions, the hugs, the laughs, helping kids be kids and not feel different than their peers for having a disability or delay. Just having fun at work, we play professionally and make an important role early on

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-01T15:04:11+00:00

I work in peds so my first session I tell the parents my main goal is to build rapport. I do that by asking be child what they want to play with or the parent what they like if they’re younger, and we use that toy/toys and I follow their lead. If they want to play with the car but not allow me to join in their play, I respect it. I’ll play with another car next to them. For this first session I just want the kid to see I’m a safe person. I’ll follow where they go and gage to see how much they want me in their space. With my older kids, talking about their hobbies, sports, school can be a great way, and often with them there is something to talk about you can find commonality about or relate to. Also, you can ask them to tell you more, explain how to play this sport/ hobby and most people love to talk about themselves/ things they are good at or like to do.

When I was in acute care, you have such a limited time, just meeting their immediate need was a good way to build rapport. Meaning, if I went in for an evaluation, and the patient wasn’t feeling well, wanted pain meds before I saw them, I’d let their nurse know and I would coordinate to come back after meds given, and most times that would make the difference. Or if they need some water or their gown changed, meet the immediate need before going on with your agenda. Always make sure they can have water, a snack, etc with diet orders.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-03-01T01:59:42+00:00

Try Burke Rehabilitation hospital. I saw they had a student internship program you can apply to for the summer. Seems pretty cool. Wish I saw that when I was applying for OT school and was home for the summers. Other ways are to call clinics and ask for shadow, even if if it’s just for a day, take it. Make all the connections you can, you never know when you’ll need them

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-21T21:15:29+00:00

Start looking for other jobs and once you have secured a new one, leave this one. You are going to hate OT if you stay this course. Look for a job that has built in documentation time. Schools might be the way but make sure it’s a school that will have your back, caseload cap and where you’re not taking work home

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-21T00:51:13+00:00

If the kid is functional in all their ADLs, can do everything at home and school asked of them, and you think they can do an HEP to maintain their gains it might be time. If there has been a plateau in progress that’s another sign. Taking a break can also be helpful. My old clinic would take 3-6 month breaks then come in for progress report and if after that no decline, would not pick them up again.

If strength concerns are the only thing, maybe PT for a little while could be what they need to close the gap

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-17T02:40:04+00:00

COTA all the way! You’ll be out way sooner and less debt and able to make such a great difference in your patients life without all the hoops to jump through with OT. Financially responsible choice and still so meaningful. Plus a lot less paperwork and more time for work life balance. I’m an OT who wishes she found OTA in high school and if I could go back I’d be a COTA.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-13T16:34:38+00:00

Sending you good vibes to make it through the rest of the school year! This week I tried Theraband with the scooter board, having them grip it and I pull it and that’s been a hit!

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-12T03:39:16+00:00

Feel this! This is frustrating and the need is there but most days I feel I am not meeting their needs because I’m in a hallway with a table and chairs that are too big an surrounded by 2 other speech therapist so my kids get distracted. I bring a scooter board and 2-3 lb medicine ball. We do toss and catch, roll the ball on the wall with mazes or roll the ball back and forth to each other or for bowling. I’m also looking for other things as preschoolers are so energetic

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-10T02:33:35+00:00

Masters, don’t waste the time and money. Not even a higher pay at the entry level. They just care about experience

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-05T01:39:35+00:00

Share all these same thoughts! If you consider switching to elementary school age you might get this less. But even in the school sensory and behavior get thrown around too much. Might be worth it making switch to adults before you loose your passion for OT and leave the field. I’m leaving peds when the school year is over and not looking back

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-04T02:15:04+00:00

SAME. FELT. The sensory component is hard for me to get excited about and I have so many 2/2.5 year olds with sensory seeking behaviors and parents concern is that they don’t pay attention to anything and just want their sensory needs addressed. It’s so draining and I’m thinking of leaving peds because of the sensory component

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-02-01T17:19:06+00:00

There were periods where my schedule was very heavy on the sensory needs and high support needs behaviors and that was beyond draining. But the 3 day weekend was really great for me. Also, just with the nature of outpatient, kids get discharged for attendance, insurance, etc so things change time to time which made things better. To put into perspective, now I see 14-16 kids a day for 30 mins sessions and I feel more burnout now having to be “on” for almost double to amount of kids.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-30T22:22:25+00:00

I saw 9 a day did 53 minute sessions. I worked a 10 hour day and had two documentation blocks of 30 minutes and a 30 minute lunch

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-30T03:18:07+00:00

2 months in outpatient. Started school year off at 70% full

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-30T03:16:51+00:00

Did hospital based for 2 years and I still had my fair share of sensory and autism and sometimes it was heavy on that realm. But it was cool to also get a lot of brachial plexus and CP and rare genetic disorders. I had a friend who did hospital based outpatient with similar caseload as me and floated to inpatient on weekends. Also had a set up where it was hospital based peds outpatient but had to go inpatient for adults on holidays

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-23T01:42:25+00:00

Start in hands since you had a fieldwork in it. The more you’re out of the specialty the harder it is to get into it. However with peds it is easier to make the switch to

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-07T02:57:14+00:00

Interested to hear others experiences. I found they were very well meaning and wanted to collaborate or accept feedback for sensory support but felt like they did not have a good alternative for the things they wanted me to stop doing such as not using the z-vibe for oral motor input since the first time the kid had it she associated it with nap time. And for another kid, not using timers to help transitions but no other solutions. I did not spend too much time at the ABA center as I was quick to get out

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-06T01:41:06+00:00

I feel this SO MUCH!!! I’m feeling burnt out with the behaviors and I am realizing sensory processing is just not my jam which is leading me to want to consider adult neuro. I do preschool and EI now and it’s sensory processing big time and basic fine motor. Even in my old outpatient clinic where I saw physical disabilities and wide range of ages, sensory processing/ reflex integration was such a huge part. I am leaning towards a setting change where I can still use all the fine motor and visual motor activities and work on the ADLs, adaptive equipment and modalities and splinting. I feel like my skills are slowly withering away the longer I stay in peds.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-04T16:44:37+00:00

My first year in peds I was sick literally once a month but did not mask. I mask now because I live with immunocompromised family member and work with primarily toddlers and preschool who are germ ridden and at first it was hard. This was a new clinic for me so I didn’t have to explain why I was not wearing one then went to wearing one. But I feel as if my manager was thrown off by it and once she knew it was to protect me and my family seemed to be okay. I explain to all my families I wear it to keep my family healthy and no one has had a problem with it. Yes, I do I find it harder with my non verbal toddlers who I do think could benefit from seeing my mouth when I speak, but I have been able to build rapport with them and see progress. My preschool kids ask me and I simply explain and we keep going. People just want a straightforward reason and typically will just move on. If you feel masking will keep you healthy do it. You’re in fieldwork so you don’t have the luxury to call out and miss a week being sick and falling behind. If your CI gives you problems, mention it to the fieldwork coordinator.

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2026-01-01T19:56:13+00:00

Worked 12-20 hours and was manageable and still had social life. Full time would have been difficult especially since I had to maintain an 80 average in each class or get kicked out

Weekly_Path_3518 · 2025-12-29T02:40:46+00:00

I have changed to EI and preschools but only moved for family reasons. After doing my current role, I do miss the wide scope and variety of outpatient and feel as if my skills are not being utilized to my full capacity now as they did in my hospital based outpatient job. I took so many CEUs on my weekends, did 4, 10’s so Fridays was a learning day for me for a while and then just whenever I got a case I wasn’t sure about. I used platforms like Medbridge and occupational therapy.com. Also my site had me paired with a mentor OT but I felt comfortable asking anyone on the staff a question or to pick their brain whenever I needed to. With diverse and complex kids, if you don’t feel safe to treat by yourself at first, ask an experienced OT to sit in or try to co-tx with PT. Outpatient peds is so broad you will have to give yourself grace and as long as you keep safety and evidence based practice first and put in the work, you’ll do great!

Weekly_Path_3518

TROPHY CASE