What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a holistic, client-centred profession that supports people across the lifespan to participate in day to day life. The 'Occupation' stands for anything we do to 'occupy' our time - both the tasks we need and want to do. Occupational Therapists work in a range of settings such as hospitals, schools, aged-care, mental health and in the community. We are passionate about facilitating others to participate in life, and are often in middle of the Allied Health Venn Diagram, intersecting between Physiotherapy, Psychology and Speech Pathology. Occupational Therapists also prescribe a range of equipment and tools to support function and participation, which is why we are most commonly known for shower chairs and wheelchairs!
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In Paediatrics, Occupational Therapists support children to gain the skills they need to grow, learn, play, and thrive in everyday life. For children, “occupations” include activities such as getting dressed, writing, playing, eating, interacting with others, and participating in school.
How OT can support your child
Motor Skills
OT helps your child develop essential motor skills by focusing on improving both fine and gross motor abilities. From strengthening hand muscles for better handwriting to enhancing coordination for activities like jumping and running.
Emotional Regulation
Children often struggle with managing big emotions, but OT provides tools and strategies to help them better recognize, understand, and regulate their emotions.
Self-Care Skills
OT can support your child in becoming more independent in self-care routines like dressing, feeding, grooming, and toileting.
Sensory Processing
Children process sensory information in different ways, and OT can help your child make sense of what they experience in their environment.
Play
Play is a crucial way children learn, and OT helps facilitate play skills that enhance both social interactions and cognitive development.
School Readiness
OT prepares children for school by developing foundational skills like attention, organization, and task completion. We can also support with DIP - see School Services.
