What is occupational therapy (OT)?

​

Pediatric occupational therapy builds the foundational skills children need to thrive in everyday life—playing, self-care, feeding, sleep and socializing—while partnering with families to help them reach their goals. Occupational therapy stands out from other therapy services because we utilize a holistic lens to look at the whole picture of the child. This specialized lens allows us at Small Steps, Big Leaps to connect the dots and see correlations to get to the root of dysfunction. Our holistic lens looks beyond isolated symptoms to connect early motor and sensory experiences (like tummy time or crawling) with today’s challenges with attention, academics, feeding preferences or ball skills. By using a bottom-up approach, we pinpoint and address those root causes, then weave improvements into each context—home, school and beyond—for lasting, meaningful progress and improved quality of life for the child and family dynamic.

 

​

What is feeding therapy?

​

At Small Steps, Big Leaps, feeding therapy is all about helping children feel safe, curious, and confident around food—we play with food to learn about it! Feeding therapy looks different for every child, but it’s always grounded in the belief that mealtimes should be positive and led by the child’s own interest and comfort level. We use the SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) Approach to Feeding, which takes into account the sensory, motor, and oral skills needed for eating. What we don’t do: We do not use behavioral methods or pressure-based techniques. Instead, we focus on building trust, reducing anxiety, and making food exploration fun and empowering for the family as a whole. If you’re wondering whether your child may benefit from feeding therapy, reach out to schedule a free phone consultation—we’re here to support your family’s journey with food in a gentle, respectful way.

 

​

What ages do Small Steps, Big Leaps work with?

​

Small Steps, Big Leaps provides services from birth through all stages of childhood. If you have concerns about your child's development, achievement of milestones, feeding skills, or academic performance, feel free to reach out for a free phone consultation to determine if we are a good fit for your family's needs.

 

​

What can I expect on our first visit?

​

Your first visit with Small Steps, Big Leaps is your child’s initial evaluation, a comprehensive appointment lasting about 90 minutes. During this time, we’ll talk through your concerns, your family’s goals, your child’s strengths and areas of challenge, and what you’re hoping to gain from services. Based on this conversation and our observations, we’ll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan and set meaningful goals that guide how we can best support your child and family.

​

​

What do sessions look like?

​

All sessions at Small Steps, Big Leaps are individualized, play-based, and child-led—because kids learn best through play! You’ll see your child grow and gain new skills in a way that feels fun, low-pressure, and tear-free. As a parent, you’ll also learn how to support your child’s development at home and become a confident advocate for their needs every step of the way.

 

​

Can I use FSA/HSA cards for services?

​

Yes! Families can use either HSA (health savings accounts) or FSA (flexible spending accounts) for services provided by Small Steps, Big Leaps. Other payment options include cash, checks, or credit/debit cards.

 

​

What is a superbill? 

​

A superbill is an itemized receipt of services provided for your child during each visit. A superbill can be submitted to your insurance company for potential reimbursement for the out-of-network service. Payment for the session is required upfront and then potential reimbursement will come directly to you.

 

​

How is Small Steps, Big Leaps different than school-based OT?

​

Small Steps, Big Leaps provides outpatient pediatric occupational therapy using a bottom-up approach. This means we work closely with the child and family to build the underlying foundational skills—sensory, motor, cognitive, and perceptual—that support overall development and daily function. These skills are developed through play that is child-led and designed to promote carryover across environments. Unlike our holistic, medical-based approach, school-based occupational therapy is focused specifically on supporting a child’s ability to access their education. Services are determined by the IEP team and must be directly tied to educational impact. This creates limitations on the full range of support OT can offer, especially in areas like sensory processing skills, feeding, emotional regulation, and broader life skills that fall outside the school setting.

 

​

How is Small Steps, Big Leaps different than early intervention services?

​

Small Steps, Big Leaps offers outpatient pediatric occupational therapy using a bottom-up approach, focusing on the foundational sensory, motor, cognitive, and perceptual skills that support a child’s overall development. Therapy is play-based, child-led, and guided by the therapist through direct, hands-on intervention to help children achieve goals set in collaboration with their families. While caregiver education and involvement are a key part of every session, the therapist takes an active role in delivering treatment and supporting skill development. In contrast, Early Intervention services use a coaching model, where the therapist works primarily with the parent or caregiver to embed strategies into everyday routines. These sessions are often observation-based and focus on empowering caregivers to support their child’s progress through consistent practice at home. While both approaches support development, Small Steps, Big Leaps provides a more structured, hands-on, and therapist-driven model with direct intervention to complement caregiver learning that yields excellent results.

​

​

More Questions? We can help!