What is occupational therapy — and which children can benefit?
Occupational therapy is a health discipline focused on helping people develop the skills they need to take part independently in everyday activities. It uses a range of strategies to help individuals overcome physical, cognitive, or social barriers, improve quality of life, and support overall wellbeing.
Paediatric occupational therapy
In children, occupational therapy supports independence in daily activities while developing the fine and gross motor skills, sensory systems, and social-emotional skills needed for function and participation. Therapists assess a child's developmental needs, set goals, and use suitable methods — and they support families with education so they can understand and help their child at home and school.
Areas occupational therapists work in
- Sensory integration
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Activities of daily living
- Social-emotional skills
- Cognitive and behavioural skills
- Play and communication skills
Who can benefit?
- Children without a formal diagnosis but with developmental concerns
- Sensory processing difficulties
- ADHD and learning difficulties
- Autism spectrum profiles and social-communication differences
- Developmental delay and motor coordination difficulties
- Feeding and self-regulation difficulties
Educational information only. If your child has delays in skills that affect their participation in daily life, an occupational-therapy assessment with a qualified professional is the right next step.
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