Occupational Therapy

Paediatric Occupational therapy is about enhancing your child’s skills so they can fully participate in everyday life. Every child is different, and the goals will depend on their individual needs. A Paediatic Occupational Therapist will address the following areas:

• Fine motor skills – synchronisation of hands and fingers with the eyes for activities such as handwriting, colouring, cutting, holding cutlery and tying shoelaces.
• Gross motor skills – using large muscles and movement of the whole body that are needed for playground games, sports, balance, coordination, posture, strength and endurance.
• Sensory processing – involves the way children receive, interpret and behave to senses. Children can often be under or over-reactive to emotions, sound, movement, vision, taste, touch, smell and pressure.
• Visual perception and visual motor integration skills – processing visual information and matching that with the appropriate motor actions, e.g. completing a puzzle or copying handwriting.
• Self-awareness and body awareness– understanding where our bodies are in space and how our bodies move e.g. how close to stand next to someone or how far to reach for an object.

There are a number of signs which could indicate your child may benefit from seeing a Paediatric Occupational therapist. These include:

• Messy or poorly constructed handwriting
• Difficulties colouring, cutting, holding cutlery
• Becoming easily overwhelmed in situations
• Behavioural difficulties or concerns in environments
• Struggles copying from a blackboard or completing puzzles
• Problems with dressing, toileting, brushing teeth or other daily tasks
• Struggles with attention, concentration or following directions
• Difficulty with sitting at a desk or table, fidgeting or excessive movement
• Clumsiness, struggles to participate in playground games or sports
• Withdrawn from social situations and making friends
• Reduced confidence, anxiety or avoidance of activities