What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is about helping people participate in the activities that make up everyday life.
For children, those everyday activities can include playing, learning, getting dressed, eating, using the bathroom, participating at kindergarten or school, managing emotions, developing friendships and becoming more independent.
A paediatric occupational therapist looks at the child, the activity they are trying to complete and the environment around them. The therapist can then work with the child and family to identify practical ways to make participation easier and more successful.
What can a paediatric OT help with?
Every child is different, but occupational therapists commonly work with children in areas such as:
What might an occupational therapy session look like?
Children's occupational therapy often looks very different from adult therapy. Sessions may involve games, movement, creative activities, sensory play, practical daily-living activities or activities based around the child's interests.
While a session may look like play, the therapist may be carefully working on skills such as coordination, planning, attention, communication, regulation, confidence or independence.
Therapists may also work directly with parents, carers, educators and other professionals to help strategies carry over into everyday life.
When might a family consider occupational therapy?
Parents might consider speaking with an occupational therapist when everyday activities are becoming difficult, stressful or limiting for their child.
For example, a child may have difficulty getting dressed, participating in classroom activities, coping with certain sounds or textures, using cutlery, developing handwriting, managing transitions or joining in play.
Children do not all develop at the same pace, and having a difficulty in one area does not automatically mean there is an underlying condition. An appropriately qualified health professional can help families decide whether further assessment or support may be useful.
Does a child need a diagnosis to see an OT?
A child may be able to access occupational therapy without having a formal diagnosis, depending on the service and how the support is being funded.
Some families seek occupational therapy because they have identified a particular everyday challenge, while others may be referred as part of a broader developmental assessment or support plan.
Occupational therapy at Spriggle Kids
Spriggle Kids provides paediatric occupational therapy for children and families in a welcoming, play-based environment in Balnarring Beach.
Our approach focuses on understanding the individual child, their strengths, their needs and the everyday activities that matter to their family.
Important information
This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for individual medical, developmental or therapeutic advice. If you have concerns about your child's development, speak with an appropriately qualified health professional.