Accepting new patients
Most major insurance — not Kaiser only
RCEB vendorized
Scholarship support available
Clinical services · Happy Talkers
Occupational therapy for young children
When a child struggles with daily tasks — getting dressed, holding a pencil, managing sensory input, or regulating their body — occupational therapy builds the foundational skills that make everything else possible. Our OTs work with children from 18 months through age 10, coordinated with our broader clinical team when needed.
OT at a glance
Sensory processing
Fine & gross motor skills
Self-care & daily living
Handwriting & pre-writing
Attention & regulation
Play skills & coordination
🕐 Ages served: 18 months – 10 years
✓ Most major insurance accepted
✓ RCEB vendorized (PB1225)
✓ Scholarship support available
✓ RCEB vendorized (PB1225)
✓ Scholarship support available
About this service
What occupational therapy addresses
Occupational therapy helps children develop the skills they need to participate in everyday life — at home, at school, and in the community. For young children, their primary "occupation" is play, learning, and developing independence in daily routines.
Our occupational therapists work on the building blocks that underlie participation: how a child processes sensory information, coordinates their body, manages attention, and develops the fine motor control needed for tasks like eating, dressing, and writing.
“OT at Happy Talkers doesn’t happen in isolation. When a child has sensory and behavioral challenges, or sensory and communication needs, our OT and behavioral or speech teams coordinate goals from the start.”
What we treat
Sensory processing differences
Fine motor delays
Gross motor coordination
Self-care skill building
Handwriting & pencil grip
Attention & self-regulation
Feeding & oral sensory
Visual-motor integration
Autism-related sensory needs
Play skills & social participation
Who it’s for
OT across every early stage
We serve children from 18 months through age 10. Early intervention produces the strongest outcomes — but support at any age makes a difference.
18 months – 2 years
Early toddler
Feeding difficulties, low muscle tone, limited movement exploration, or early signs of sensory sensitivity.
3 – 5 years
Preschool readiness
Struggles with dressing, scissors, drawing, sitting still in group settings, or managing transitions and sensory input.
6 – 8 years
Early school age
Handwriting concerns, difficulty with classroom attention, organizational challenges, or sensory needs affecting school performance.
9 – 10 years
Upper elementary
Continued sensory regulation, fine motor refinement, or ongoing support for children working toward independence in school and daily routines.
What to expect
How sessions work
OT sessions at Happy Talkers are child-led, play-based, and grounded in your child’s real daily challenges. Here’s what the process looks like.
1
Occupational profile & evaluation
Your OT begins by understanding your child’s daily routines, challenges, and strengths. A standardized evaluation assesses sensory processing, motor skills, and functional performance to establish a baseline.
2
Goal-based treatment plan
Your OT develops a plan with functional, measurable goals tied to your child’s real life — not abstract skills. If your child is working with other Happy Talkers clinicians, goals are coordinated across teams from day one.
3
Play-based therapy sessions
Sessions are typically 45–60 minutes and structured through purposeful play. Children work on sensory integration, motor challenges, and daily living skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
4
Sensory diet & home strategies
Your OT will develop a personalized "sensory diet" — a schedule of activities to support your child’s regulation throughout the day. Parents receive practical strategies to use during meals, routines, and transitions.
5
Progress review & adjustment
We reassess regularly and update goals as your child grows. If your child receives multiple services at Happy Talkers, your OT participates in interdisciplinary case conferences to keep the whole team aligned.
✓
No diagnosis required
You don’t need an autism diagnosis or school referral to start OT. If you have concerns about your child’s sensory responses, motor skills, or daily participation, contact us and we’ll help figure out next steps.
OT is one part of an integrated system.
Children with sensory or motor challenges often have overlapping speech, behavioral, or developmental needs. At Happy Talkers, our OT team works alongside speech-language pathologists, behavioral therapists, and infant development specialists — coordinated, not siloed.
Speech therapy
Occupational therapy
Behavioral therapy (ABA)
Infant development
Diagnostics (ADOS)
Parent questions
Frequently asked questions
Questions we hear often from families getting started with OT.
Signs that OT may help include: extreme sensitivity or low sensitivity to sounds, textures, or touch; difficulty with dressing, feeding, or other self-care tasks; clumsiness or frequent falls; trouble sitting still or managing transitions; avoidance of messy play; difficulty with scissors, pencils, or buttons. If your pediatrician has raised concerns, or if daily routines feel consistently harder than expected for your child’s age, reach out — no diagnosis is needed to start.
Sensory processing refers to how the brain receives and responds to information from the senses — touch, sound, movement, sight, smell, and taste. When a child’s sensory system processes input differently, it can affect their behavior, attention, emotional regulation, and ability to participate in daily activities. OT helps children build more effective sensory responses so they can engage more fully in home, school, and social settings.
Yes — we accept most major commercial insurance plans. We are also vendorized through RCEB (PB1225) and offer scholarship support for families who need it. Our team verifies your coverage before the first appointment so there are no surprises. Visit our Insurance & Access page for the current list of accepted plans.
Yes — and this is one of the most important things Happy Talkers does differently. Many children benefit from both OT and speech therapy, and our teams coordinate directly. Your child’s OT and SLP will share goals, communicate regularly, and participate in interdisciplinary case reviews. You don’t have to manage separate providers who never talk to each other.
A sensory diet is a personalized plan of sensory activities scheduled throughout your child’s day to help them maintain an optimal level of alertness and regulation. It’s not about food — it’s about giving the nervous system the right kind and amount of input at the right times. Your OT will create one tailored to your child and show you how to use it at home and school.
Frequency depends on your child’s needs and insurance authorization — typically one to two times per week. Duration varies; some children reach their goals in a few months, others benefit from longer support. Your OT will give you a realistic picture at the evaluation and revisit it regularly.
For families
Ready to get started?
Tell us about your child and we’ll help find the right services, verify your insurance, and connect you with our intake team — before your first appointment. No diagnosis needed.
Get started →
For providers
Referring a patient?
Submit a referral online, fax to (925) 236-9712, or call (925) 829-9555. We handle insurance verification and contact the family within 1 business day.
Submit referral →