How Occupational Therapy Can Help with Children

Supporting a child’s development looks different for every family. Some children move through daily activities with ease, while others may need a little extra support to build confidence, independence and essential life skills. Paediatric occupational therapy (OT) is one way families can help children living with disabilities or neurodevelopment conditions navigate these challenges in a supportive, individualised and meaningful way.

At Conscious Healthcare SA, we work alongside children and their families to support participation in everyday activities to help them gain confidence, independence, and a skillset that will help them throughout childhood and into the future - whether that’s at home, at school, and within the wider community.

Read on to learn more about how paediatric occupational therapy can enrich the lives of children.

What is Paediatric Occupational Therapy?

Paediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to participate in daily life. These “occupations” include things such as play, learning, self-care, social interaction, and routines that are meaningful for both the child and their family. Occupational therapy is adjusted on a case-by-case basis by considering the individual child and their unique needs, including their physical abilities, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and environment.

Paediatric OT isn’t about changing who a child is, but rather it supports the child to better engage with their world in ways that are achievable and empowering to them.

The role of OT in supporting everyday activities

Occupational therapists help children through practical and functional approaches that allow them to build the skills needed for everyday tasks such as writing, playing with peers, getting dressed, managing classroom routines, and/or transitioning between activities.

We also consider how a child’s environment - particularly their home, school and social settings - can either support or present challenges to their participation. Small adjustments, strategies, or additional supports can make a truly impactful difference to a child’s day-to-day experience.

Key areas OTs focus on – sensory, motor, and emotional development

Paediatric OTs commonly work across sensory processing, motor development and emotional regulation. 

Sensory processing relates to how children take in, organise and respond to sensory information, including movement, sound, touch, or visual input. For children who experience sensory processing difficulties, OTs may utilise sensory integration therapy to help progressively expose children to different sensory inputs so they become more comfortable with them over time.

Motor development includes both fine motor skills (like handwriting and using cutlery) and gross motor skills (such as balance and coordination). Emotional development involves supporting children to recognise, express and implement strategies that can help them regulate and manage their emotions with greater consistency.

These areas are closely connected, and operational therapists take a holistic approach to supporting each of these areas together rather than in isolation.

Common Reasons Children Benefit from OT

Children are referred to occupational therapy for many different reasons, often when everyday tasks feel more challenging than expected for their age. This is particularly true for children who have mental or physical disabilities, or neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism or ADHD.

Fine motor and handwriting challenges

For some children, tasks like holding a pencil, cutting with scissors or managing buttons and zips are difficult. These fine motor challenges can affect their ability to participate at school and impact confidence, particularly when they notice the differences between themselves and their peers. 

OT support focuses on strengthening the underlying skills related to fine motor movement, developing effective strategies for the individual child and building confidence through iterative, achievable goals.

Difficulties with sensory processing or attention

Children may seek out or avoid certain sensory experiences, become overwhelmed in busy environments, or find it difficult to stay focused on tasks when too much sensory information is occurring at once. 

Sensory processing differences are commonly acknowledged within paediatric OT and can influence learning, behaviour and emotional regulation. Occupational therapy helps children better understand their sensory needs and supports them with strategies - such as the aforementioned sensory integration therapy - that promote regulation and engagement.

Delays in self-care skills like dressing or eating

Self-care tasks such as dressing, feeding and personal hygiene are important for a child’s independence and self-esteem. When they experience delays in these areas, it can create stress for both the child and their family. OT supports skill development in a way that respects each child’s pace, their needs and individual challenges, and promotes success through gradual, achievable steps.

How Occupational Therapists Create Individualised Plans

Every child is unique, which is why occupational therapy support is never one-size-fits-all. When first engaging with an OT, they’ll sit down with the child and family to understand what challenges they experience and where support is needed the most.

Assessments and goal-setting

The first step is a comprehensive assessment that considers a child’s strengths, challenges, daily routines, and environment. Our OTs work closely with families to understand what is most important to them and to their child. Goals are set collaboratively and are meaningful, functional and realistic, ensuring the therapy is relevant to the child’s needs and wellbeing.

Play-based therapy and family involvement

For young children, play is one of the most effective and powerful ways to learn different strategies and develop new skills. That’s why many OT sessions are often play-based, focused on engagement and motivation, while still being purposeful and goal-directed. Family involvement is a key part of this process. We support parents and caregivers with a wealth of strategies they can utilise at home, ensuring skills develop consistently across different environments rather than only during therapy sessions.

The Benefits of Early OT Intervention

Early support is essential in helping children build core skills during key stages of childhood development. Some key benefits of early OT intervention include the following:

Improved independence and confidence

When children develop skills that allow them to participate more fully in daily activities, it often results in a greater sense of confidence and independence. Success in small, everyday tasks can have a positive flow-on effect to learning, social interaction and emotional wellbeing.

Building foundational life and learning skills

OT helps children develop core skills that will support their learning and participation over time. By addressing challenges early on, children are supported to build strong foundations that can adapt as their needs change. Early intervention provides children and families with tools, understanding, and support during critical developmental years, which has continued benefits for their overall wellbeing and capabilities as they grow older.

If you believe your child would benefit from paediatric occupational therapy, whether as part of NDIS funding or though Medicare or private health, Conscious Healthcare SA can help. We provide our services within Adelaide and nationally through telehealth. To find out more, get in touch with our team today.