Niles, Illinois
Your child made gains during an intensive program. But the burst ended, and you're back to managing mornings, mealtimes, and meltdowns on your own. Or maybe you skipped the intensive route because what you really need is someone who teaches you how to help, week after week. Pediatric occupational therapy for Niles families can look different. It can be ongoing, parent-centered, and built around your daily life instead of a clinic schedule.
Your therapist
Laura O'Brien, OTR/L, has helped families build skills that last for more than thirty years, not just during a two-week burst but through the months and years that follow. She doesn't just treat your child. She teaches you what to do between sessions so the progress carries over into your home, your car, and your weekend routines in Niles.
The Des Plaines office is eight minutes from Niles. Some families drive over. Others work with Laura on Zoom from their living room. Either way, you leave every session understanding why your child responds the way they do and what you can do about it starting tonight.
Last reviewed: April 2026
What parents tell Laura
These aren't problems your child will simply outgrow. They're signs of sensory processing, motor planning, or other foundational skills that often improve with the right support at the right time.
Understanding your options
Niles ESD 71 provides occupational therapy as a related service through your child's IEP, with goals evaluated three times per year. The district also offers preschool screening for speech, language, socialization, and motor skills through the NTDSE #807 cooperative. School OT typically focuses on handwriting, scissors use, and in-class sensory support.
Brushing teeth. Getting dressed without a fight. Sitting through a family dinner. Playing with cousins at a birthday party. Handling the noise at a restaurant. School OT is tied to educational access only. When your child meets IEP goals, services can end even if daily life at home is still a struggle.
That's where private OT fills the gap. Laura works on the life skills that matter at home and in your Niles community. Many families use both school and private OT because they cover different ground.
In-person and Zoom
Your child bounces on a cushion while Laura walks you through a handwriting warm-up using clothespins and a muffin tin. She shows you how to set up a calm-down corner in your living room. You learn why five minutes of crawling before homework can improve his focus and reduce the chair tipping that drives you both crazy.
Eight minutes from Niles. Your child swings, climbs, and crashes through activities that organize the nervous system. We practice buttoning a jacket while standing on a wobble board, so balance and fine motor skills build together. You watch, ask questions, and leave with strategies for the week.
Either way, you leave every session knowing exactly what to do between appointments.
Parent strategies
Before teeth brushing: Let your child chew on a piece of crunchy food first (a carrot stick, a pretzel rod, or an apple slice). Thirty seconds of firm chewing wakes up the oral sensory system. You may notice less gagging and less resistance when the toothbrush goes in right after. Try this every night for a week and watch for a pattern.
After school (the meltdown window): Before asking any questions about the day, give your child ten minutes of "heavy work." Have him carry the laundry basket upstairs, push a chair across the room, or do bear crawls down the hallway. This kind of deep-pressure input often calms a nervous system that has been holding it together all day. Look for his body to relax and his voice to soften.
Common questions
School OT focuses on classroom success. If your child still struggles at home with routines, sensory reactions, or daily self-care, private OT can address those areas. Many Niles families use both because they cover different parts of the day.
NAPA Center on Milwaukee Ave offers intensive short-burst programs, often a few weeks of daily sessions. Laura works with families on an ongoing basis, typically weekly, with a strong focus on teaching parents what to do between visits. Different models work for different families. If you want long-term support with parent coaching built in, Laura's approach may be a better fit. Some families do a NAPA intensive first and then continue with her for ongoing weekly sessions.
Trust what you see at home. If daily tasks feel harder than they should, if your child avoids certain textures or activities, or if sensory reactions are disrupting family life, an evaluation can help clarify what is happening and what to do about it. Common signs: difficulty with self-care compared to peers, extreme reactions to sounds or touch, poor coordination, avoiding playground equipment.
Getting started
Start with a free screening form to help Laura understand your child's needs. Many Niles families come to Laura after an intensive program ends, or after a preschool screening raises questions they want to explore further. Call with questions about how ongoing private OT works and what to expect.