How does OT Support?
Fine Motor Skills
OT can help your child achieve effective hand function for handwriting, using scissors and cutlery, and doing up buttons and zippers.
Gross Motor Skills
OT can help increase balance, coordination, and strength to support your child’s confidence in running, jumping, outdoor play and sporting activities.
Sensory processing
OT can help children who are sensitive to certain sounds, textures, or movements, reduce meltdowns due to sensory overwhelm and assist in managing body slamming and other rough behaviours.
Self-Regulation
OT can increase a child’s self-awareness to help them manage their emotions and cope better with change. OT can also provide the child and their carers with strategies to manage unhelpful behaviours at home or school.
Self-care/Independence
OT helps children to become more independent when dressing, brushing their teeth, going to the toilet, and at mealtimes. Older children may be supported in learning about money, using a phone, or preparing simple meals.
Social Interaction
OT can support your child with making and keeping friends, turn-taking, sharing, and deciphering body language and nonverbal social cues.
Play Skills
All children learn through play. OT utilises play in many interventions, and an increase in your child’s play skills enhances their overall learning and development.
Handwriting
OT can improve pencil grip, letter formation, handwriting speed, and legibility, and reduce writing pain and fatigue.
Classroom participation/school visits
OT can support your child’s participation at school by enhancing their attention and ability to follow instructions in the classroom and by improving emotional regulation. Sometimes the OT can visit the school and work with the child, teachers, and parents to plan suitable interventions.
Equipment
Sometimes the OT will recommend equipment like sensory toys or gadgets, special seating, or writing aids to increase the child’s ability to participate in learning activities at school or other daily routines.
Occupational therapists acknowledge that parents and carers are the “experts” in their child.
OT’s collaborate closely with families to create effective strategies to support their children in achieving their goals. This often involves providing relevant education and information to carers.
