Eat. Play. Love. Occupational Therapy offers in-home and telehealth pediatric occupational therapy services throughout San Diego county. 

The Power of Therapy

Our mission is to provide child- and family-centered, holistic therapeutic services, uniquely tailored to meet the individual needs and interests of every child we work with. We're committed to fostering a nurturing, supportive environment that empowers children to explore and master new skills confidently.


We deeply value the power of collaboration and make it a priority to actively involve families and caregivers in the therapeutic journey.

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Our Specialty Areas

  • Feeding, Picky Eating, Oral Motor Skills

    Addressing oral motor skills for chewing and manipulating food within the mouth, as well as picky eaters and problem feeders. 

  • Sensory Processing

    How a child processes and responds to sensory information – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch – can be reflected in their behavioral and emotional responses. Interoception, vestibular and proprioceptive senses determine how an individual perceives their own body.

  • Fine Motor Skills

    The precision, dexterity, and coordination of the hands. These are the skills that allow us to use our hands to manipulate materials like pencils, containers, clothing fasteners, and little objects.

  • Gross Motor Skills

    Gross motor skill development involves the large muscles in the arms, legs and torso. Gross motor activities are important to everyday physical activities like walking, running, throwing, lifting, kicking, jumping, etc.

  • Visual Motor and Visual Perceptual Skills

    Visual motor skills enable a child to coordinate their eyes and hands to draw and write. Children may have difficulty with copying shapes, handwriting, lining up math problems, etc. Visual perceptual skills enable a child to make sense of and interpret what they are seeing.

  • Play & Social Skills

    Play is the way children learn about their environment.  Through play and social encounters, children learn to negotiate difficult social situations or conflict,  adapt to change, learn about emotions, and develop problem solving skills.

  • Self-Care

    Self-care tasks include handwashing, tooth-brushing, bathing/showering, hair care and toileting. 

  • Emotional Regulation

    Emotional regulation is the ability to manage our stress and identify how we are feeling. Co-regulation is nurturing connection of another individual that supports regulation needs through the use of strategies, tools, and calming techniques in order to self-soothe or respond in times of stress. Co-regulation and self-regulation are part of the developmental process.

  • Pre-writing and Handwriting

    Establishing pre-writing lines allow kids to strengthen hand muscles, promote pencil strokes needed for letters, and improve pencil control.

  • Executive Functioning Skills

    • Paying attention
    • Organizing, planning, and prioritizing
    • Starting tasks and staying focused on them to completion
    • Understanding different points of view
    • Regulating emotions
    • Self-monitoring (keeping track of what you’re doing)

Services

Occupational Therapy

We offer in-home & virtual pediatric OT services for infants, toddlers, and children including a comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment plans.

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Feeding Therapy

Ease mealtime stress with support for Pediatric Feeding Disorders and picky eating. We help children explore food, enjoy eating, participate independently in social mealtimes, and thrive!

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Parent Support & Collaboration

Get answers to your questions and evidence-based information regarding developmental milestones to help you feel empowered in your parenting.



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Classes

Parent/child classes to empower you to support your child.

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School & Daycare Screenings

Free developmental screenings for schools and daycares.

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11
Jun

Kids Summer Classes

Are you looking for enriching activities to keep your child engaged and thriving this summer? Look no further! We are excited to announce the launch of our Kids Summer Classes with OT and Speech Therapists. Our classes are designed to provide children with fun and interactive experiences while promoting development and learning. From sensory exploration to fine motor skills activities, each class offers a unique opportunity for children to grow and succeed.

2624 El Camino Real Suite B
9:30-11 AM (2-5 years); 12-1:30 PM (6-10 years)
9703800984
Register here
10
Feb

Kids Yoga

Join us for mindfulness, games, and self-regulation activities every Monday at Fox Point Farms!

1150 Quail Gardens Drive Encinitas, CA 92024
3:00-3:45 pm
9703800984
Sign up
7
Apr

Thrive Together: A Family Wellness Day!

Join us with the whole family for local wellness businesses & community resources!

Fox Point Farms- 1150 Quail Gardens Dr Encinitas, CA 92024
10:00am - 1:00pm
970-380-0984
RSVP & Enter Raffle!

What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Pediatric Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that helps children with various physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities or delays to perform meaningful daily activities and tasks to improve overall well being, independence, and quality of life. The term "occupation" refers to any activity that occupies your time and brings purpose to your life.  A child's primary occupations include:  play, feeding and eating, learning, sleep, and self-care such as dressing and hygiene tasks. OTs use a variety of techniques and tools, such as sensory integration therapy, play-based therapy, motor skill development, and adaptive equipment to help children achieve their goals. Collaboration with families and other healthcare professionals ensures comprehensive care.

Does my child need OT?

Your child may need OT if they are:

  • Not reaching developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling, walking
  • Having difficulty manipulating toys and puzzles, holding a pencil or silverware, coloring/drawing/tracing/writing, or using zippers or buttons
  • Clumsy or have difficulty coordinating their body
  • Avoiding sensory experiences like messy play, playground swings, or certain clothing and food textures
  • Having difficulty finding objects among other objects; copying from the board; spacing and orienting letters and words when writing
  • Struggling to transition to solid foods and use a straw or cup at appropriate times
  • Overly sensitive to sound, touch, or movement
  • Constantly moving, jumping, crashing, or bumping into things
  • Having difficulty calming when upset
  • Unable to join into play with peers or play with toys as you would expect


Why Eat. Play. Love. OT?

We are dedicated to fostering a love for learning and growth through play-based interventions that inspire joy, curiosity, and creativity. Our team of highly skilled and passionate therapists is committed to tailoring individualized treatment plans that address each child's unique challenges and strengths. We value open communication and strive to empower families with the knowledge and tools needed to promote skill development beyond therapy sessions. We come to YOU! We know how busy you are and want to make therapy fit easily into your routine. We can match you to a therapist throughout San Diego county.


As advocates for children's well-being, we maintain the highest standards of professionalism and ethics, consistently seeking ongoing education and research to offer cutting-edge therapeutic approaches. Our goal is to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of the children we serve, enabling them to embrace life's challenges with confidence and achieve meaningful, fulfilling futures.


At Eat. Play. Love. OT, we envision a world where every child experiences the joy of learning, the freedom to explore, and the love and support they need to thrive, unlocking their true potential one step at a time.