21 Jan What can Occupational Therapy do for your child?

About Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists (OTs) are health professionals who help people improve their ability to do the everyday things that they want or need to do (their ‘occupations’).

Occupational therapists help people to:

• improve their ability to look after themselves – for example, eat, dress or complete personal hygiene tasks
• take part in activities at work, school and preschool or in the community
• take part in leisure activities
• move around more easily in physical environments – for example, with ramps.

Occupational therapists work with people who might have difficulties because of injury or illness, psychological or emotional problems, developmental delay, intellectual disability or physical disability.

OTs work with children in groups or individually, depending on children’s needs and goals. An OT might see your child at home, a clinic, preschool or school.

Why your child might see an occupational therapist (OT)

Your child might see an occupational therapist (OT) if she has trouble doing everyday things because of physical, psychological or emotional problems, developmental delay or intellectual disability.

OTs consider many areas of your child’s development, including thinking, emotions, behaviour, sensory processing, social interactions, play, gross motor skills and fine motor skills.

OTs will focus on your child’s strengths and work in a family-centred way. This means they consider the unique needs of your family when working with your child.

Sara Khraim
Occupational Therapist

Reference:

https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/occupational-therapist