What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapists use a holistic perspective to work with individuals, families, groups and communities to achieve optimal health, wellbeing and development. The term ‘occupation’ for children is used to describe all the everyday things a child does in their life roles, being a son/daughter, a sibling, a student, a friend, a team member, a player. Occupation refers to the things a child needs to do, but also what they want to do.
Occupational therapy enables people to participate in activities they find meaningful.
Your child will benefit from OT if they have any of these developmental challenges:
Movement
Clumsiness, lack of co-ordination, low muscle tone, poor posture, difficulty playing with balls, learning to ride a bike or participating in organised sport.
Writing
Incorrect grip, poor letter and number formation, difficulty writing sentences or planning writing tasks.
Hand skills
struggling to cut basic shapes, drawing simple figures or playing with small toys or items.
Behaviour
Lack of resilience, difficulty regulating or expressing emotions and anxiety.
Social skills
Struggling to make new friends or keep friends, reading body language and social situations.
Self-care
Below age appropriate dressing, tying shoelaces, toileting and eating independently.
Eating
Fussiness or aversion to textures.
Sensory processing
Sensitivity to clothing or noise and inattention disorders.
Executive functioning
Poor memory and planning skills, challenges with initiating tasks, organisation or shifting thinking.
Our Occupational Therapy sessions are tailored and can be delivered in many ways.
Why does it look like they’re just ‘playing‘?
Your OT is in the unique position to use fun and meaningful activities (often games) that match the skills we are working on – to build the motor and sensory foundations needed for children to function independently. In essence, we put the FUN in FUNctional. For example, a game of Trouble is perfect for fine motor precision, hand-eye coordination, turn taking and core strength when laying on the floor. Also, Monkey Bars work on upper limb strength and coordination, intrinsic hand muscles and the proprioceptive and vestibular sensory systems.
Occupational therapy (OT) is a degree-based health profession, regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
What’s the next step for Occupational Therapy?
Kool KATTS is an accredited NDIS Service Provider. Before you begin working with us, we will send you a Service Agreement and Schedule of Support.
A number of Medicare rebates may be available to use for occupational therapy based on your child’s diagnosis. This can be discussed in more detail with your GP. If you have any queries, feel free to contact us.
