How can Occupational Therapy help your child?

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Does your child experience difficulty with handwriting, using cutlery or doing up buttons and zips?

Paediatric Occupational Therapist's work on supporting fine motor skill development, which involve the coordination and control of small muscles in the hands and fingers. Through various activities and exercises, occupational therapists can work with children to develop their abilities in tasks such as writing, using utensils, buttoning clothes, and tying shoelaces.

Does your child fatigue quickly in physical activity, have difficulty throwing and catching a ball or struggle to sit at a desk?

Occupational therapy helps children develop gross motor skills, involving larger muscle groups for activities like running, jumping, and climbing. Therapists design activities that improve strength, balance, and coordination, fostering the child's ability to participate in physical play and daily activities.

Does your child have frequent emotional meltdowns and struggle to regulate their emotions?

Paediatric Occupational Therapy plays a crucial role in helping children develop emotional regulation skills. Occupational therapists can provide techniques and strategies to help children identify and express their emotions. They may use sensory-based activities, relaxation techniques, and social-emotional learning programs to support children to manage their emotions.

Does your child avoid loud noises, avoid certain types of food or seem to seek extra movement throughout the day?

Sensory processing is the way the nervous system receives, interprets and responds to sensory information from the environment. Children with sensory processing difficulties may process sensory information differently than other children, leading to atypical responses to sensory stimuli like sounds, textures, or smells. Some children may over-respond to sensory information and become easily overwhelmed, anxious or distressed, while others may under-respond and require more stimulation. Sensory processing can impact a child's ability to focus in the classroom, social skills and overall relationships with peers, families, and community. Occupational Therapy can be beneficial in helping children with sensory processing difficulties to develop coping strategies and support daily functioning.

Does your child avoid playing with other children or struggle to make friends?

Occupational therapists focus on enhancing a child's social skills and play abilities. Through structured play activities, children learn to engage with peers, develop communication skills, share, take turns, and navigate social situations. These interventions promote positive social interactions and friendships.

Does your child have toileting difficulties, struggle to maintain a sleep routine or difficulty with dressing?

Occupational therapy supports the development of self-care skills, such as dressing, toileting, and feeding. Occupational Therapists work with children to improve independence in daily activities, adapting tasks to the child's abilities and fostering the skills necessary for greater autonomy.