Occupational Therapists are professionals who work with children, young people and their families to help them to engage in everyday activities. For children their main occupation is learning and playing so typical activities could include dressing (self-help skill), writing (a school activity) and kicking a ball into a net (a movement organisation skills for play and social interaction). Occupational Therapists (OT’s) enable children to build upon their current skills in order to engage in these activities and to be as independent as possible. Through engaging in meaningful occupations it is hoped that children will develop skills that can be transferred into other areas, minimise disability and improve quality of life.
Children who may benefit from Occupational Therapy may have difficulties such as:
- Poor concentration in the classroom
- Messy or illegible handwriting
- Poor fine motor skills with writing and cutting
- Lack of coordination with riding a bike or catching a ball
- Specialised seating or postural support
- Lack of self help independence with tying shoelaces or getting dressed
- Poor postural control and require specialized seating support
- Easily distracted and poor attention or listening skills
- Children who require 1:1 support at school
