Occupational therapists working with children play a vital role in supporting them with developmental, physical, sensory, or cognitive challenges.  Our goal is to help children develop the skills necessary to perform daily activities that are appropriate for their age and developmental stage.  These activities include self-care tasks, school participation, play, and social interaction.  We work closely with the whole family, as well as educators and other professionals to ensure holistic support and promote independence and quality of life.

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A key role is to assess how difficulties impact ability on the ability to engage in daily activities.  This includes evaluating motor skills (fine and gross), cognitive abilities, sensory processing, and emotional regulation. Once challenges are identified,  individualised intervention plans can be delivered, designed to target specific areas of difficulty.  Therapy may involve play-based activities, sensory motor exploration, task adaptation and the use of adaptive equipment to help develop key skills.

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For children with physical disabilities, we aim to improve motor skills like coordination, balance, and strength. Fine motor skills, such as handwriting, grasping objects, or using scissors, are often a key focus for school-aged children.  Our goal is to increase independence in self-care tasks such as dressing, feeding, and personal hygiene, so as to make these activities more manageable and less frustrating for the child and easier for the supporting adult.

 

Sensory processing difficulties are another area where we can provide essential insight and support. Often children can experience sensory processing difficulties such as being overly sensitive to certain stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights, or they may struggle to respond appropriately to sensory input.  Sensory integration principles and strategies can help children to process and respond to their environment in a more organised and effective way.  This can significantly improve behaviour, emotional regulation, and participation in activities.

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In school settings, it is essential to ensure that children with special needs are able to fully participate in classroom activities, modifications to the learning environment may be required, such as specialised seating, tools for writing, or visual aids and or sensory strategies to enhance a child's ability to focus and complete tasks. Collaboration with teachers and other educational staff is essential to develop strategies that support educational access, learning and inclusion.

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Family involvement is a key aspect of our work.  We work closely with parents and carers to provide education and strategies for reinforcing therapy goals at home. This collaborative approach ensures that children receive consistent support across all environments.

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Through individualised, play-based interventions, we can help your child develop the skills they need to thrive in their everyday lives, promoting independence, confidence, and success in both personal and educational contexts.