Does my child need Occupational Therapy Support?

At Living Strength Occupational Therapy we work with people of all ages! Our aim is to help anyone live a life, full of joy and adventures through the support of occupational therapy (OT). 

Children often have troubles grasping a few of life’s key skills, so it isn’t unusual for parents to seek professional help. For example did you know that a child struggling to grip a pen properly can be a common issue?

Remember, you are not alone and there is professional help to support you.

How does OT support a child?

OT is a treatment that works to improve both fine and gross motor skills as well as motor planning. It can also help kids who struggle with self-regulation and sensory processing.

 The therapy is tailored to each child’s specific needs. Before it begins, an occupational therapist (an OT) looks at the child’s strengths, challenges and the tasks that they have trouble with. The OT will then create a program of activities for the child to work on. 

When should I consider seeking support if I have concerns?

The earlier a child starts OT, the more effective it tends to be. Being able to do basic tasks can also help build up their self-esteem and confidence. Confidence can drop when they are struggling, especially in front of their peers.

Building confidence early is always best.

What will Occupational Therapy do? 

At Living Strength you will hear us refer to ADLs or 'activities of daily living' - this is our key focus. ADLs for example can include, struggling with everyday tasks like using a toothbrush, handwriting or dressing. 

Living Strength OT’s use a scientific approach to provide the best occupational therapy interventions available. As part of a holistic approach with the parent or the child’s guardian, these interventions consider the motor skills of the child, their activity demands, home environment, their routines and habits. 

Our Occupational Therapist may work with children on many different activities, here are some examples:

• Self-care or activities of daily living (brushing teeth, buttoning clothes, using eating utensils).
• Hand-eye coordination (writing on a classroom whiteboard, copying in a notebook what the teacher writes on the board).
• Fine motor skills (grasping and controlling a pencil, using scissors).
• Gross motor skills (doing jumping jacks, working on core muscle strength for sitting posture).
• Planning and organisation (helping a teen plan a trip to his locker to swap books or gym clothes for the next class period, using a graphic organiser for writing).
• Sensory responses (helping kids with sensory processing issues to respond to sensory input in more comfortable ways).

What should I do next?

The best next step is to discuss your child’s unique needs with the team at Living Strength. No question is too big or small, so please reach out to our friendly team.