Occupational Therapy in Edmonton & St. Albert
Helping children and teenagers develop the skills they need to thrive at home, school, and in daily life.
"Occupation" in occupational therapy doesn't mean "job"—it means all the meaningful activities that fill your day.
For children and teens, that includes playing, learning, getting dressed, writing, managing emotions, making friends, and building independence.
When challenges with fine motor skills, sensory processing, attention, emotional regulation, or daily tasks make life harder, our experienced Occupational Therapists are here to help.
At Ruby Therapy Services, we provide compassionate, evidence-based occupational therapy for children and teenagers across St. Albert, Edmonton, and Northern Alberta.
Who we Serve
Our Occupational Therapists provide specialized, age-appropriate care tailored to each developmental stage. Select your age group below to learn about age-specific approaches, challenges, and support.
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Play-based, child-centered occupational therapy to help your child develop the motor, sensory, and functional skills needed for school, play, and daily independence.
What We Treat:
Fine motor skill delays (cutting, drawing, buttoning)
Sensory processing challenges (over/under sensitivity)
Handwriting & printing difficulties
Self-care skills (dressing, eating, toileting)
Visual-motor integration challenges
Attention & executive functioning (ADHD support)
Emotional regulation difficulties
Gross motor coordination
Developmental delays
Highlight:
Play-based therapy that builds skills through activities your child loves.
Rate:
$148/hour
Coverage:
Typically covered by extended health insurance plans
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Age-appropriate, respectful therapy focused on the practical skills teens need for school success, independence, and preparing for adulthood.
What We Treat:
Executive functioning (organization, planning, time management)
Attention & focus challenges (ADHD support)
Handwriting & note-taking difficulties
Study skills & learning strategies
Emotional regulation & coping skills (stress, anxiety management)
Sensory processing challenges
Daily living & independence skills
Transition planning (preparing for post-secondary or work)
Highlight:
Practical strategies that help you succeed in school and build independence.
Rate:
$148/hour
Coverage:
Typically covered by extended health insurance plans
What is Occupational Therapy?
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Occupational Therapists (OTs) help people of all ages participate fully in the activities ("occupations") that matter most to them. For children and teens, that means school, play, self-care, and social participation.
Occupational Therapists help children and teenagers with:
Fine Motor & Visual-Motor Skills:
Hand strength, dexterity, and coordination
Handwriting, printing, cutting, and drawing
Visual-motor integration (eye-hand coordination)
Manipulation of small objects
Sensory Processing:
Over-responsiveness or under-responsiveness to sensory input (sound, touch, movement, etc.)
Sensory seeking behaviors
Sensory-based challenges affecting attention, behavior, or participation
Development of personalized sensory strategies
Self-Care & Daily Living Skills:
Dressing (buttons, zippers, shoe tying)
Feeding and using utensils
Toileting and hygiene
Independence in daily routines
Executive Functioning & Attention:
Organization, planning, and time management
Attention and focus (ADHD support)
Task initiation and completion
Problem-solving and flexibility
Emotional Regulation:
Identifying and managing emotions
Coping with frustration, anxiety, or stress
Building resilience and self-regulation skills
Developing strategies for emotional wellbeing
School-Based Skills:
- Handwriting and note-taking
- Study skills and learning strategies
- Classroom participation and engagement
- Organizational systems for school success
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Occupational therapy can help:
Children with fine motor delays, sensory sensitivities, developmental delays, ADHD, autism, or challenges with self-care and play
Teenagers struggling with organization, time management, handwriting, emotional regulation, or preparing for independence
Anyone whose daily activities—school, play, self-care, social participation—are impacted by physical, sensory, cognitive, or emotional challenges
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The skills OTs address—fine motor, sensory processing, emotional regulation, organization—are foundational to success in school, independence at home, and participation in life. Occupational therapy helps children and teens:
Succeed in school (handwriting, focus, organization)
Develop independence in self-care and daily tasks
Regulate emotions and manage stress
Participate in play, sports, and social activities
Build confidence and self-esteem
What we work on Together
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Fine motor skills involve small hand movements needed for tasks like writing, cutting, buttoning, and manipulating small objects.
What It Looks Like:
Difficulty with pencil grasp or coloring
Struggles with scissors and cutting
Trouble with buttons, zippers, or snaps
Difficulty manipulating small objects (beads, Lego, puzzles)
Poor hand strength or coordination
Avoidance of fine motor activities (coloring, crafts, building)
Who We Help:
Children (Ages 0-12): Fine motor delays affecting play, self-care, and school readiness
Teens: Persistent fine motor challenges affecting handwriting, daily tasks, or hobbies
How We Help:
Our OTs use play-based activities, therapeutic exercises, and adaptive strategies to strengthen hand muscles, improve coordination, and build the fine motor skills needed for school, play, and self-care.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Sensory processing refers to how the nervous system receives and responds to sensory information (sound, touch, movement, taste, smell, visual input). Challenges can lead to over-responsiveness, under-responsiveness, or sensory seeking behaviors.
What It Looks Like:
Over-Responsiveness: Distress with certain sounds, textures, lights, or touch; avoidance of messy play; picky eating
Under-Responsiveness: Doesn't notice pain, temperature, or sensory input that others do; appears unaware of surroundings
Sensory Seeking: Constantly moving, touching, crashing, or seeking intense sensory input
Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine
Meltdowns in busy or stimulating environments (grocery stores, school cafeteria)
Challenges with self-regulation
Who We Help:
Children: Sensory processing disorder, sensory challenges associated with autism, ADHD, or other developmental conditions
Teens: Sensory sensitivities affecting school, social situations, or daily comfort
How We Help:
Our OTs conduct comprehensive sensory assessments and create personalized "sensory diets" (strategies and activities throughout the day) to help regulate sensory experiences, improve attention, and participate more fully in daily activities.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Handwriting challenges can make schoolwork frustrating, slow, and painful.
What It Looks Like:
Poor letter formation or inconsistent sizing
Difficulty staying on lines
Slow writing speed (can't keep up in class)
Hand fatigue or pain when writing
Poor spacing between letters or words
Avoidance of writing activities
Difficulty copying from the board
Messy or illegible handwriting
Who We Help:
Children: Printing and handwriting skill development
Teens: Persistent handwriting challenges affecting note-taking and schoolwork
How We Help:
Our OTs address the underlying skills needed for handwriting success, including fine motor strength, visual-motor integration, pencil control, and letter formation. We use evidence-based programs and make practice engaging. We also explore assistive technology (typing, voice-to-text) when appropriate.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Self-care tasks like dressing, eating, and toileting are essential for independence and confidence.
What It Looks Like:
Difficulty with buttons, zippers, or shoe tying
Struggles using utensils appropriately
Challenges with toileting independence
Difficulty with grooming tasks (brushing teeth, washing hands, bathing)
Resistant to or frustrated by self-care routines
Dependent on parents for age-appropriate self-care tasks
Who We Help:
Children: Building age-appropriate self-care skills
Teens: Developing independence in daily living tasks, preparing for adulthood
How We Help:
Our OTs break down self-care tasks into manageable steps, build the underlying motor and cognitive skills needed, and use adaptive strategies to support independence and confidence.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Visual-motor integration is the ability to coordinate visual information with motor movements—essential for tasks like writing, catching a ball, or completing puzzles.
What It Looks Like:
Difficulty copying shapes, letters, or numbers
Poor performance in sports or activities requiring hand-eye coordination
Struggles with puzzles or construction toys
Difficulty judging distances or spatial relationships
Challenges with math concepts (number lines, graphs, geometry)
Trouble with cutting on lines
Who We Help:
Children: Visual-motor delays affecting school readiness and play
Teens: Persistent visual-motor challenges affecting academics or activities
How We Help:
Our OTs use targeted activities and exercises to strengthen the connection between visual processing and motor output, improving performance in school, play, and daily tasks.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Executive functioning skills are the mental processes that help us plan, organize, manage time, and get things done. Attention difficulties and ADHD can make school and daily life overwhelming.
What It Looks Like:
Difficulty sustaining attention on tasks
Easily distracted by external or internal stimuli
Challenges with organization (desk, backpack, materials, workspace)
Difficulty following multi-step directions
Impulsivity or difficulty waiting their turn
Trouble transitioning between activities
Challenges with time management and planning
Procrastination or difficulty starting tasks
Forgetfulness in daily activities
Who We Help:
Children: ADHD support, executive functioning delays
Teens: Organization, time management, study skills, planning for school success
How We Help:
Our OTs teach strategies and provide tools to improve attention, organization, planning, and self-regulation. We work with families and schools to create supportive environments and routines. We help develop systems that work with (not against) your child's or teen's brain.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotions in healthy, adaptive ways.
What It Looks Like:
Intense emotional reactions to minor frustrations
Difficulty calming down once upset
Frequent tantrums or meltdowns
Challenges identifying and expressing emotions
Difficulty transitioning or handling changes
Avoidance of challenging tasks due to emotional overwhelm
Physical symptoms of stress or anxiety (headaches, stomach aches)
Difficulty managing stress related to school or social situations
Who We Help:
Children: Emotional dysregulation, difficulty managing frustration
Teens: Stress management, anxiety, coping skills development
How We Help:
Our OTs use evidence-based approaches to teach emotional regulation strategies, build frustration tolerance, and develop coping skills. We work closely with families to create supportive environments and consistent strategies.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Gross motor skills involve large muscle movements like running, jumping, climbing, and maintaining balance.
What It Looks Like:
Clumsiness or frequent falls
Difficulty with stairs, running, or jumping
Poor balance and coordination
Challenges with sports or playground activities
Difficulty with bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together)
Poor body awareness (bumping into things, difficulty navigating space)
Who We Help:
Children: Gross motor delays, developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
Teens: Persistent coordination challenges
How We Help:
Our OTs work on building strength, coordination, balance, and body awareness through fun, engaging activities. We help children and teens participate more confidently in physical activities, sports, and play.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Children and teens with autism often benefit from occupational therapy to address sensory processing, fine motor skills, self-care, emotional regulation, and social participation.
What OT Can Address:
Sensory processing challenges (over/under responsiveness)
Fine motor and visual-motor skill development
Self-care and daily living skills
Emotional regulation and coping strategies
Social participation and play skills
Executive functioning and organization
Handwriting and school-based tasks
Who We Help:
Children & Teens with autism spectrum disorder
How We Help:
We use neurodiversity-affirming, individualized approaches to support functional participation in daily activities. We work on skills that enhance independence, comfort, and participation while honoring each individual's unique strengths and needs. We often collaborate with Speech-Language Pathologists for comprehensive support.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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Effective study skills and learning strategies are essential for school success, but many teens haven't been explicitly taught HOW to study.
What It Looks Like:
Spending hours studying but not retaining information
Not knowing where to start when studying for tests
Difficulty identifying important information in textbooks
Poor test performance despite studying
Procrastinating on studying until the last minute
Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of material to learn
Who We Help:
Teenagers struggling with study skills and academic performance
How We Help:
Our OTs teach evidence-based study strategies, time management for studying, organization of study materials, and techniques for effective learning and retention. We help teens discover what study methods work best for their learning style.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
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For teenagers preparing for life after high school, OT can help build the independence, organizational, and life skills needed for success.
What It Looks Like:
Uncertainty about managing college or university demands independently
Need for support with time management, organization, study skills
Difficulty with meal planning, cooking, or household tasks
Challenges with money management or budgeting
Concerns about navigating new environments or routines
Need for strategies to manage stress and maintain wellbeing
Who We Help:
Teenagers (Ages 16-18) preparing for post-secondary education, employment, or independent living
How We Help:
Our OTs work on practical life skills, organizational systems, time management, self-advocacy, and strategies for success in post-secondary or work environments. We help teens build confidence and independence as they transition to adulthood.
Rate:
$148/hour | Typically covered by extended health insurance
Our Approach to Occupational Therapy
Play-Based & Engaging (For Children)
Children learn best through play! For young children, therapy looks like fun—building with blocks, playing games, creating art—while building critical motor, sensory, and functional skills.
Evidence-Based Practice
Our Occupational Therapists use therapy techniques and approaches supported by the latest clinical research and evidence. We stay current with best practices to ensure you receive the most effective interventions available.
Goal-Focused & Functional
We focus on skills that matter in real life—succeeding at school, independence at home, participating in activities, and building confidence. Goals are meaningful, functional, and tailored to each individual.
Family-Centered & Collaborative
We partner with families, schools, and other professionals to ensure therapy goals are meaningful and progress extends beyond the therapy room into everyday life. Parent coaching and collaboration are essential to success.
Ready to Start Occupational Therapy?
You've already taken an important step by learning about occupational therapy. Let's take the next step together.