OT Evaluation for Kids
A play-based look at how your child moves, handles sensory input, and does daily tasks, by a licensed occupational therapist. For children from birth to 18.
- Free 15-minute call
- No referral needed
- No waiting list
During business hours, we return calls within an hour.
Birth to 18
At home, at school, by telehealth, or in a private office on Townsgate Road on request. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
No waiting list as of October 2026. Evaluations are scheduled within 3 business days of your free consultation.
Maybe your pediatrician said "occupational therapy." Maybe no one said anything, and you have been watching your child fight a pencil, a sock seam, or a loud room. An OT evaluation for kids is a play-based assessment by a licensed occupational therapist. It looks at how a child moves, handles sensory input, and does daily tasks like getting dressed. You get a written report that says whether therapy would help and what to work on first. No diagnosis or referral is needed.
Does a referral for OT mean something is wrong with my child?
Not by itself. A referral means your pediatrician noticed a pattern worth a closer look.
A fisted crayon grip, tears over clothing, or trouble settling after a busy day can point to motor or sensory differences. These are common, and they can be worked on. However, they can also turn out to need no treatment at all. Either way, an evaluation is how you find out.
If you came here on your own instinct, without a referral, that counts too. Parents usually notice patterns before anyone names them.
Start here
Book a free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing. A licensed therapist reads every message, and during business hours we return calls within an hour.
Home, school, a private clinic on request, and telehealth across California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
What happens during an OT evaluation for kids?
Your therapist talks with you first, then plays with your child. It looks like play, and it is. But the therapist is watching for specific things.
How your child grips. How they reach across their body. Whether they enjoy or avoid certain textures. And how they plan a movement, then recover when something is hard. Standard tests chosen for your child's age are also mixed in with the play. They may include the BOT-3, PDMS-3, Sensory Profile 2, DAYC-2, and DTVP-3.
You are part of it, not a spectator. Expect questions about birth history, sleep, milestones, and how your child does at home compared with school or daycare. Children under 3 stay with a parent the whole time. Older children usually work with the therapist in a separate room.
Today, evaluations happen at home, at your child's school, by telehealth, or in a private office on Townsgate Road on request. From December 1, 2026, they can also happen at our new clinic, 2535 Townsgate Road, in one of eight treatment rooms or in the 1,000-square-foot soft play area. Home, school, and telehealth visits continue after that.
How long does an OT evaluation take?
An OT evaluation for kids takes about one to one and a half hours. The exact length depends on your child's age, how many areas we look at, and how your child is doing that day.
A toddler may need shorter stretches with breaks. If an evaluation is the right next step after your free consultation, it is scheduled within 3 business days. For example, a family who calls on a Monday can have the evaluation that Wednesday. If you want to start before the written report is ready, the first session can be as soon as 5 days after your call. Rush evaluations are available on request.
What does a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation cover?
It depends on your child's age and your concerns. For example, an OT evaluation for kids can look at any of these areas:
- Fine motor skillsGrip, hand strength, and control for drawing, cutting, and buttons.
- Sensory processingHow a child responds to sounds, textures, and movement.
- Gross motor and motor planningBalance, coordination, and planning a new movement.
- Visual-motor skillsCopying a shape from eye to hand.
- Handwriting readinessThe skills that come before letters.
- Self-careDressing, feeding, and daily routines.
- RegulationStaying settled during routines and transitions.
If communication concerns come up, we may also recommend a speech and language evaluation. Many children benefit from looking at both together.
How do I know if my child needs an OT evaluation?
Parents usually notice patterns before anyone names them. None of these means something is wrong. Each is a reason to find out.
- Clothing and grooming battlesMeltdowns over socks, tags, haircuts, or tooth brushing.
- Avoiding crayons and scissorsColoring and cutting get skipped or end in tears.
- Trouble with utensilsSpoons and forks are still hard long after peers.
- Always movingCrashing, climbing, and hard to settle.
- Transitions fall apartChanging activities ends in a meltdown.
- Falling behind peersSkills lag behind other children at preschool or school.
You do not need a diagnosis or a referral to ask the question. If something feels harder than it should be, an evaluation gives you clarity either way.
What should we do before the OT evaluation?
Keep it simple and positive. Tell your child a friendly grown-up is coming to play.
Have any prior reports handy and jot down your main concerns. A quiet, familiar space helps your child feel at ease, at home or on a video call. Bring glasses or hearing aids if your child uses them, and try to schedule around naps and meals. Your child does not need to prepare.
For a feeding evaluation, your therapist may ask you to have certain foods ready. For everything else, she brings the materials.
What do I get after the OT evaluation?
Within 14 business days, you get the written evaluation, and a clear treatment plan if therapy is recommended. It is written in plain language.
The report covers what your child does well, where they are behind for their age if they are, and a specific recommendation. If therapy is recommended, the plan sets graduation goals, the skills that show a child is ready to finish therapy, and a schedule that fits your family.
If therapy is not recommended, we say so and tell you what to watch for.
Should I wait and see instead?
Children can grow into skills on their own timeline, and no one can predict with certainty which ones will. That is why occupational therapists recommend an evaluation when a parent or pediatrician is concerned. It replaces guessing with information.
If your pediatrician suggested waiting, that is a fair view, and we respect it. If daily life is hard right now, we would rather not wait. We are also happy to check in with you in a month or two to see how things are going.
Across the country, children wait more than 13 weeks for some pediatric specialty appointments, and 20 weeks or more for certain ones, according to the Children's Hospital Association (March 2026). As of October 2026, Therapy Clubhouse has no waiting list for in-home or telehealth therapy.
How is an OT evaluation different from a speech evaluation?
An OT evaluation looks at how a child moves, handles sensory input, and manages daily tasks. A speech and language evaluation looks at how a child understands and uses words and sounds.
Some children need one; some need both. Not sure which to start with? Our pediatric therapy evaluation overview shows how families decide, and the free consultation call settles it.
Speech therapy for late talkers, speech sounds, stuttering, and myofunctional therapy.
Who does the OT evaluation?
At Therapy Clubhouse, each OT evaluation for kids is led by Rachel Yashouafar, MA, OTR/L. She is a licensed occupational therapist and co-founder.
- Degree
- Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California
- Certification
- Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR), National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
- California license
- No. 23564Verify on the state license search (opens in a new tab)
- Experience
- School-based occupational therapy with a contracted company: three years in the Conejo Valley Unified School District and one year in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
“We never want to keep a child in therapy if they don't need it anymore. The goal is for every child to graduate.”Meet Rachel →
Does insurance or the Regional Center cover OT evaluations?
Coverage depends on your plan. You can use your insurance through our partner, Village, which handles the billing. Village accepts PPO plans from several major insurers, and TRICARE.
Village also charges its own fee for each visit, in addition to your copay or deductible. Before therapy starts, Village goes over the expected cost with you.
We are waiting to become in network with major insurance companies. Until then, Village is how insurance works with us.
You can also pay privately, and we give you a superbill to send to your plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. On the free 15-minute call, we check your coverage before you commit to anything.
Children under 3 may qualify for Early Start services through Tri-Counties Regional Center (TCRC). Therapy Clubhouse is a TCRC provider.
Which towns do you visit for OT evaluations?
Every town below is in our home-visit area, so the evaluation can happen at home. Telehealth is available anywhere in California. Choose your town to see its page.
We also visit Bell Canyon, which does not have its own page yet.
- Agoura Hills
- Bel Air
- Beverly Hills
- Brentwood
- Burbank
- Calabasas
- Canoga Park
- Century City
- Chatsworth
- Culver City
- Encino
- Granada Hills
- Hidden Hills
- Hollywood Hills
- Lake Balboa
- Malibu
- Mar Vista
- North Hollywood
- Northridge
- Pacific Palisades
- Palms
- Porter Ranch
- Reseda
- Santa Monica
- Sherman Oaks
- Studio City
- Tarzana
- Toluca Lake
- Topanga
- Valley Glen
- Valley Village
- Van Nuys
- West Hills
- West Hollywood
- West Los Angeles
- Westlake Village
- Westwood
- Winnetka
- Woodland Hills
What else do parents ask about OT evaluations?
What if my child won't cooperate at the evaluation?
We just try again another time. We never want a child to feel they are doing something wrong on a hard day.
Will my child be comfortable?
Evaluations are designed to feel like play. Your therapist builds rapport, follows your child's interests, and keeps it positive, so the activities feel like fun rather than a test. You can ask questions at any point.
Can an OT evaluation for kids happen at home or online?
Yes. Evaluations happen at home, at school, by telehealth, or in a private office on Townsgate Road on request. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
Will my child need ongoing therapy?
Not always. Based on what we find, we may recommend therapy, periodic monitoring, or home strategies.
Do I need a referral to book an OT evaluation?
No. You do not need a referral or a diagnosis. A licensed therapist and our team read every message, and our team replies within one business day. On the free 15-minute call, we tell you whether an evaluation makes sense.
Is the free call the same as an evaluation?
No. The free 15-minute call answers your questions and points you to the right next step. It is not an evaluation. If therapy looks like a fit, the evaluation comes next.
Which school district and regional center serve Westlake Village?
Westlake Village sits on a county line. The Los Angeles County side is served by Las Virgenes Unified School District, and the Ventura County side by Conejo Valley Unified School District. For children under 3, the regional center depends on the county. Families on the Ventura County side fall under Tri-Counties Regional Center, where we are a provider. On the Los Angeles County side, tell us your address and we'll help you confirm which regional center covers you.
What areas do you serve?
We provide occupational therapy evaluations for families in Westlake Village and nearby towns. These include Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Telehealth is available anywhere in California.Thousand OaksAgoura HillsOak ParkNewbury ParkCalabasasMoorparkSimi ValleyAll locations
Not sure if your child needs therapy?
Start with a free 15 minute consultation. No commitment, just clarity on whether your child would benefit and what the next step looks like.
Speech therapy and occupational therapy for children ages 0 to 18.
Our goal
We build every child's plan and goals around one aim: graduating from speech or occupational therapy. That is our goal with every child.
“If you're concerned about your child's development, don't wait. You know your child best.”
About 1 in 6 children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities. (CDC)
You noticed something and you are asking about it. That is the part that matters most, and it is already done.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing about your child. A licensed therapist and our team read every message. Within one business day, our team calls to learn what you need and check insurance, then sets up a free call with Nita, Rachel or both. The consultation is free, lasts about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation. There is no waiting list. If you would rather talk now, call (805) 702-3427.
Tell us what you are noticing. A licensed therapist reads every message, and during business hours we return calls within an hour.
