Occupational Therapy for Fine Motor Skills Chicago

Is Your Child Frustrated by Small Tasks?

Watching your child struggle with buttons, zippers, or holding a pencil can be heartbreaking. You might notice them avoiding arts and crafts, getting upset when getting dressed, or falling behind in handwriting at school. These aren’t just small annoyances—they are the building blocks of independence.

At Eyas Landing, we understand how overwhelming this feels. You want your child to feel capable and confident, not defeated by their shoelaces. Your concerns are valid, and you don’t have to navigate this alone.

We specialize in Occupational Therapy (OT) for fine motor skills, meeting families right where they are—whether that’s at our West Loop clinic, in your home, at school, or via telehealth.

What Are Fine Motor Skills?

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles in the hands and wrists. These are the skills your child uses to pick up a cheerio, construct a Lego tower, or write their name. When these muscles work well, children can play, learn, and take care of themselves with ease.

Our evidence-based approach breaks these complex movements down into small, achievable steps your child can master. We turn “I can’t” into “I did it!”

We Help Children Master:

Handwriting & Drawing: Improving grip strength and control for clearer writing.
Self-Care Tasks: Zipping jackets, buttoning shirts, and tying shoes.
Utensil Use: Holding forks and spoons correctly for independent eating.
School Skills: Using scissors, gluing, and organizing desk materials.
Play Skills: Manipulating puzzles, building blocks, and handling small toys.

Why Choose Eyas Landing?

We believe therapy should fit your life, not complicate it. Our approach is built on flexibility and family empowerment.

We Meet You Where You Are: We offer therapy in the environment where your child needs the most support—at home, in the classroom, in the community, or at our state-of-the-art facility in Chicago’s West Loop.
Whole-Family Partnership: We don’t just treat your child; we partner with you. You are the expert on your child, and we provide the coaching and tools you need to support their growth at home.
Multi-Disciplinary Care: If your child has complex needs, our occupational therapists collaborate closely with our speech therapists, physical therapists, and behavioral specialists to create a unified plan.
Evidence-Based & Fun: Our sessions look like play because children learn best when they are engaged. Behind the fun is a structured, scientific approach designed to reach specific developmental milestones.

Your Child’s Journey to Success

When you choose Eyas Landing, we focus on measurable progress. Here is what families typically experience:

Comprehensive Evaluation: We assess your child’s unique strengths and challenges to create a personalized roadmap.
Customized Goals: We set clear, achievable targets—like “independently buttoning a shirt” or “writing legibly for three sentences.”
Engaging Sessions: Your child works with a dedicated therapist on activities that build strength and coordination.
Transferable Skills: We ensure these new skills work in the real world, not just in the clinic.

Did You Know? Occupational therapy is like gym class for the hands. We strengthen the muscles and brain connections needed for everyday success.

Meet Our Expert Team

Our Occupational Therapists are highly trained professionals who specialize in pediatric care. They are board-certified and deeply empathetic to the struggles of neurodiverse children.

Highly Qualified: Our staff holds advanced degrees and certifications in pediatric therapy.
Neurodiversity-Affirming: We celebrate your child’s unique way of viewing the world while giving them the tools to navigate it.
Collaborative: Our team talks to each other. If your child is also seeing one of our speech therapists or is enrolled in our Merlin Day Academy, we ensure everyone is working toward the same goals.

Ready to See Your Child Thrive?

Don’t let frustration hold your child back. Together, we can build the skills they need for a confident, independent future.

Take the First Step Today:

Contact Us: Fill out our simple form or call us to speak with our intake coordinator.
Schedule: We’ll set up a convenient time for an evaluation.
Grow: Watch your child reach milestones you didn’t think were possible.

Our Occupational Therapy Team:

Together, the Occupational Therapy team seamlessly collaborates with each child’s entire therapeutic team to address best practices and individualized treatment plans. This collaboration between our highly-educated, compassionate staff maximize therapeutic outcomes and help support our clients to reach their fullest potential. At Eyas Landing, we value evidence-based practice, client-centeredness, community, diversity, collaboration, and flexibility.

Learn More About a Career with Eyas Landing

Why Choose Eyas Landing?

We don’t just treat “speech issues.” We treat the whole child, and we support the whole family. We believe therapy should reduce family stress, not add to it. That’s why flexibility is the foundation of our approach. We meet families where they are—emotionally, developmentally, and physically.

Flexible Therapy Settings

We offer evidence-based interventions in the environment that works best for your child:

Clinic-Based: Our state-of-the-art facility in Chicago’s West Loop is designed for sensory play and skill-building.
Home-Based: We work on skills in your natural environment, making daily routines easier.
School-Based: We collaborate with teachers to support academic success and social inclusion.
TeleHealth: Accessible support for adolescents or families needing remote flexibility.

A Multi-Disciplinary Team

Your child isn’t one-dimensional, and their care shouldn’t be either. Our occupational therapists collaborate closely with speech therapists, physical therapists, behavioral therapists (ABA), and social workers. This ensures that every part of your child’s development is supported under one roof.

Family-Centered Care

We partner with your family every step of the way. We don’t just work with your child for an hour and leave; we provide coaching and strategies you can use at home. Your goals become our goals.

Diagnosis and Conditions Our Occupational Therapists Treat:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD
Sensory Processing Disorder

Developmental Delay

Down Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Neurological or Brain Injury

Picky Eaters

Generalized Anxiety

Handwriting or Fine Motor Delay

Premature Babies
Sports Injury
Torticollis

School and Test Anxiety
Adoption

Client-Focused Occupational Therapy Approach:

Neuro-Affirming Care
Intentional Relationship Model

Play-Based Therapy
DIR/Floortime

Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding
Food Chaining

Sensory Integration
Therapeutic Listening
Auditory Integration

Social Skills Programs
Emotional Regulation Programs
Handwriting Without Tears

Schedule an Occupational Therapy Evaluation

Next Steps to Starting Occupational Therapy

Evaluation And Outcome Measures

Initial Evaluations are completed with standardized measures, clinical observation and parent report components. Re-evaluations are completed every six months to determine progress. Eyas Landing therapists proactively collaborate with families and other professionals to increase positive outcomes

Plan Of Care

Eyas Landing treatment plans are individualized to meet each child’s unique strengths, interests and goals. Goals are reviewed weekly and daily treatment notes are emailed directly to parents. Eyas Landing therapists are skilled in utilizing the client’s interests and motivations to increase participation in challenging therapeutic activities.

Billing Options

Eyas Landing offers a variety of billing and payment options to support your child’s treatment. There is a dedicated and knowledgeable on-site staff that are here to answer any of your questions. Eyas Landing is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna PPO plans. Eyas Landing also accepts most out-of-network PPO plans, including United Healthcare and Cigna. Claims are submitted directly to your insurance company and staff can assist in disputing any denied claims.

Frequently Asked Questions About Occupational Therapy for Kids:

Do I need a doctor’s referral?
In many cases, yes, for insurance purposes. However, you can contact us directly to start the conversation. We can help guide you through the process of getting the necessary paperwork from your pediatrician.

My child has an IEP at school. Can we still do private therapy?
Absolutely. Many families find that school services are helpful but may not offer the 1:1 attention or frequency a child needs to make rapid progress. We often collaborate with school teams to ensure our goals align with their IEP, maximizing your child’s success.

Do you take insurance?
We accept a wide range of insurance plans and also work with families on Early Intervention funding. During your initial consultation, our intake team will verify your benefits so you know exactly what to expect.

What does an initial assessment look like?
A: It is a low-stress, play-based evaluation. We observe how your child moves, plays, and reacts to sensory input. We also spend time talking with you to understand your primary concerns and goals.