Occupational Therapy? But my child doesn’t have a job! That’s right an occupational therapist can help your child because within the world of occupational therapy an occupation is defined as every day activities that people do that bring meaning and purpose to their life. This means that every activity a child engages in, can be referred to as an occupation. You may be thinking but why is this an important aspect for my child and why are they so important? Occupations or everyday living tasks are essential to development as they impact health, wellbeing, provide a sense of justice (what’s fair and what is not fair), foster meaning and purpose and assist in shaping your child’s identity.
The goal of Paediatric occupational therapy is to encourage a child to engage in meaningful occupations such as playing with others, engaging in school work, engaging in self-care skills, engaging in fine or gross motor skills, engaging in age appropriate chores. These are all imperative for development, functional capacity and to create independence, which is what we all want for our children.
Occupational therapists are usually the first port of call when a child is diagnosed with developmental delays or delays with social skills, motor skills (fine/gross/visual), executive functioning (problem solving, memory, attention), gross motor skills or self-care routines. Some of the reasons a child is referred can also include; delays in developing visual motor skills, sensory integration concerns, delays in play and social interaction skills (particularly at school or kindergarten). The best thing about occupational therapy is that your child might perceive it as play or fun activities and games. This is what makes them engage so well while developing their underlying skills that are needed. It’s a good thing we love to play!
If you have any concerns take our quick quiz on our website today and contact an Occupational Therapist to discuss further, should you answer yes to any of the questions.