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What skills or qualities are most important for someone working in pediatric occupational therapy?

I am currently a high school senior wanting to pursue pediatric occupational therapy in the future. I love working with children and I fell in love with the idea of getting to help kids live there best like through occupational therapy. I would love to know any tips for someone like me wanting to pursue a career in occupational therapy.

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Taylor’s Answer

Hi Madelynn!

I’m a pediatric occupational therapist with over two years of experience working in the school setting—and I absolutely love it! My biggest piece of advice is to start building connections early and get as many shadowing hours as possible before applying to graduate school. This isn’t just to meet application requirements, but also to help you determine if this is truly the right path for you. Shadowing will give you a deeper understanding of the profession—both the highlights and the challenges.

When it comes to applying to grad school, try to connect with the admissions team directly. If you can, schedule a campus tour to meet them in person—it can make a big impression. Also, try to diversify your shadowing experience across different settings. It doesn’t all have to be in OT-specific environments. Programs really appreciate applicants who bring a broad perspective and a variety of experiences to the table.

You’ve got this!
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice! Madelynn
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Carol’s Answer

Hi, Madelynn! As a pediatric OT, I think you’ve picked a great profession to pursue! I’ve been in occupational therapy for over 30 years and spent most of it in pediatrics. It’s been a blessing to me. As far as qualities that will enhance your career, I would start with good communication skills. You’ll be promoting our profession and advocating for our clients all the time. You need to be able to educate other professionals and parents about the best ways to support our clients. Furthermore, you’ll need to remain calm and professional in those communications. Parents struggle sometimes to process their child’s need for OT and that can come out as anger. Learning how to handle that situation with kindness takes great empathy. Also learning to remain calm as children have meltdowns is important. Behavior is communication, so you’ll need to look at what they are trying to communicate rather than reacting to their behavior.
You’ll need to stay humbly curious. Even this far into my career, I’m constantly learning and refining my practice. That may seem daunting, but I would personally find it boring to have it all figured out.
Time management skills are vital. This is not only important for getting through school but also maintaining a caseload while keeping up with paperwork.
You need to be in touch with your own moral compass. Sadly, I have been asked by some employers to do some shady stuff. Sometimes it’s obvious stuff that would endanger your license, but other times it’s more tricky things that don’t respect your client. For example, I was once told in a nursing home that patients can’t refuse. Slap some weights on their wrists during lunch and call it therapeutic exercise. Ugh.
And lastly, I would say that creativity and energy are vital. This isn’t a job you can phone in. You need to bring yourself fully to each session. This can be a bit exhausting at times, but it’s worth it when you see your clients progressing.
Good luck to you!
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Madelynn
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Kaitlyn’s Answer

It is great that you already know you want to work in pediatric occupational therapy. A good first step is to learn as much as you can about the profession. You could shadow an occupational therapist or volunteer in settings with children, like schools, camps, or hospitals. This gives you real experience and helps confirm that this is the path you want. Focus on doing your best in your classes, especially science courses, since they will prepare you for college prerequisites. At the same time, do not worry if you are not perfect in every subject. What matters most is your dedication and willingness to keep learning. It also helps to talk with current OT students or practicing therapists. They can share what the journey is like and give you advice about programs. Stay open, stay curious, and keep your passion for helping children at the center of what you do. That will carry you through the hard parts and remind you why you chose this field.
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Megan’s Answer

Skills that are important to have as a pediatric OT are being able to think on your feet to adjust and change the plan quickly! While working in pediatrics I learned that I could have this great session planned out for my kiddos but sometimes it’s not what they need or what they can attend to on that particular that day. And that’s totally okay, but being you will always have a limited time with your client you want to make sure you can still make the best of their session with you and quickly change course if needed.
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