Occupational Therapy in Burnaby & Richmond
At Little Buddies, our Occupational Therapists take a neuro-informed approach to help neurodiverse children build the skills they need to thrive at home, at school, and in the community, through play, connection, and family partnership.
What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) helps children participate in the everyday “occupations” that matter most to them, like playing with peers, learning at school, getting dressed in the morning, and simply feeling comfortable in their own bodies.
Our Occupational Therapists use a neuro-informed, relationship-first approach grounded in an understanding of how each child’s brain and nervous system processes the world. By working within a child’s unique sensory and developmental profile, OT builds the adaptive skills that make daily life feel more manageable and joyful.
Self Care & Daily Living
Dressing, feeding, grooming, toileting; building independence in the routines that structure every day.
Fine Motor & School Readiness
Handwriting, drawing, scissors skills, and the coordination needed to fully participate in classroom activities.
Sensory Processing & Regulation
Neuro-informed sensory integration support to help your child feel regulated, focused, and ready to engage.
Play, Socialization & Connection
Building the social and communication skills that help children connect with peers and family members.
Could Occupational Therapy Help Your Child?
Every child’s neurodiversity is unique. Children who may benefit from occupational therapy often show one or more of the following signs:
- Sensory sensitivities: Strong reactions to sounds, textures, smells, or busy environments that make daily life difficult.
- Regulation difficulties: Trouble staying calm, focused, or emotionally regulated in school, at home, or during transitions.
- Sensory-seeking behaviours: Constantly seeking movement, pressure, or touch, like crashing, jumping, or spinning throughout the day.
- Challenges with daily routines: Significant distress or refusal with self-care tasks such as mealtimes, toothbrushing, or getting dressed.
- Fine motor delays: Difficulty with handwriting, cutting, self-dressing, feeding utensils, or other hands-on tasks.
- Social and play difficulties: Difficulty engaging in play with peers, initiating interactions, or navigating group settings.
Our Approach: Neuro-Informed Care, Rooted in Relationship
Little Buddies takes a neuro-informed, family-centered approach to occupational therapy. It respects the whole child and honours neurodiversity at every step. Rather than asking children to simply comply, we meet them where they are and build from there.
Neuro-Informed Practice
All therapy is grounded in an understanding of how the brain and nervous system develop, helping us tailor each session to your child’s unique neurological profile.
DIR Floortime® Framework
Our OTs are trained in the DIR Floortime® model, a play-based, developmental approach that follows the child’s lead to build functional, emotional, and developmental capacities.
Family-Centered Partnership
We work closely with caregivers to co-create goals and provide practical strategies that carry therapy into home, school, and daily life, because families are essential partners.
Explore Our OT Services
Our occupational therapy services are tailored to each child’s needs. Explore what’s available at our Burnaby and Richmond clinics.
OT Assessments
Individualized, play-based OT sessions focused on your child’s goals, whether in self-care, school participation, motor skills, or social connection.
Sensory Integration Therapy
Neuro-informed sensory integration therapy to help children who are overwhelmed by, or under-responsive to, everyday sensory input.
DIR/Floortime®
Our OTs are certified DIR Floortime® practitioners, using this evidence-informed model to support emotional development, communication, and engagement.
Neurodiversity-Affirming OT
Strengths-based, identity-affirming occupational therapy that respects neurodiversity and supports each child as a whole person, not just a set of challenges.
OT for ADHD
Neuro-informed occupational therapy for children with ADHD.
Who We Serve
Little Buddies provides pediatric occupational therapy for children from birth to age 18 at our Burnaby and Richmond clinics. We work with a wide range of diagnoses and developmental differences, always within a neuro-informed, strengths-based framework that honours each child’s neurodiversity.
We support children with: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, developmental delay, sensory processing differences, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, anxiety and emotional dysregulation, learning differences, and coordination difficulties (DCD).
If you’d like to find out whether occupational therapy is a good fit for your child, we’d love to connect with you.
What to Expect
Once we receive a consultation inquiry, a member of our team will reach out within two business days to chat through next steps:
- Book a free consultation: Our team will answer your questions and discuss scheduling and costs for your child’s evaluation.
- Schedule your child’s OT assessment: A comprehensive evaluation at your preferred Burnaby or Richmond location to build a full picture of your child’s strengths and needs.
- Co-create a personalized therapy plan: Together with your family, your OT will develop individualized goals rooted in what matters most to your child and your daily life.
- Begin therapy services: Play-based, neuro-informed OT sessions begin, with ongoing communication and collaboration throughout the process.
FAQs About Occupational Therapy
What does “neuro-informed” occupational therapy mean?
Neuro-informed care means our therapists understand how each child’s brain and nervous system processes the world, and use that knowledge to guide every part of therapy. Rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method, we customize our approach to your child’s unique neurological profile, ensuring that support is meaningful, effective, and affirming of their neurodiversity.
What is the difference between an OT assessment and OT treatment?
An OT assessment is a thorough evaluation of your child’s functional, sensory, motor, and developmental abilities. It gives us the information we need to build a personalized therapy plan.
OT treatment refers to the ongoing sessions that follow, like play-based, goal-directed therapy designed to build skills and support daily life.
Do parents participate in OT sessions?
Yes. Family involvement is central to how we work. We follow a family-centered approach, partnering closely with parents and caregivers to share strategies, set meaningful goals, and ensure that therapy extends into home and school routines.