What is paediatric occupational therapy?
Paediatric occupational therapy is a type of healthcare service that helps children to improve their motor skills and sensory processing abilities in order to enhance their independence in daily tasks like feeding, dressing, and playing. It helps them to overcome challenges, whether they be developmental, neurological, physical or sensory. In turn, this allows them to build or improve essential skills for daily functioning and maintain them over time.
Paediatric Occupational Therapy Services
Early Childhood Development
Occupational therapy for early childhood development involves utilising play-based support for babies and toddlers to help them meet key developmental milestones. It can help them to improve their movement, communication, and interaction skills in a key early period of their growth.
School Readiness & Participation
OT is helpful for preparing children to deal with many of the tasks that they will encounter in a school setting. It allows them to improve skills with handwriting, attention, following instruction, and adapting to school routines for smoother transitions and success.
Toileting, Eating & Sleeping
We’re able to provide practical support for children who are experiencing challenges with foundational self-care routines that impact daily life.
Emotional Regulation & Social Skills
Praxis can help children to build emotional awareness, resilience, and positive peer interactions through structured, child-led sessions.
Sensory Processing Support
Our services are able to identify and address your child’s sensory sensitivities. This is important as they may be affecting a child’s behaviour, comfort, or ability to participate in certain activities.
NDIS & Functional Assessments
We offer comprehensive assessments to gauge the functional capacity of self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. This helps to inform planning and support access to services.
FAQs about paediatric occupational therapy
The amount of occupational therapy sessions your child needs will vary based on their individual needs, goals and progress. After we have conducted an initial assessment, we can discuss our recommendations for both a therapy plan and frequency.
Yes, we are happy to communicate with schools, educators, GPs, and other allied health professionals in your child’s support network. We strongly believe in the importance of collaborative coordination of care.
While our screeners and assessments are typically designed for children between the ages of 0 and 12, we review patients on a case-by-case basis. Our occupational therapist will make sure to consider the individual needs of your child and determine whether this service would be appropriate.
For your child’s first OT appointment, please bring any relevant reports including their past school reports and any previous assessments they may have had. Additionally, if applicable, bring along your child’s NDIS plan. And finally, bring any information you can about your child’s strengths, challenges, and goals.
If you would like a more private setting to discuss sensitive matters, we are happy to offer you a telehealth consultation.
Yes, we create detailed reports that summarise the assessment findings, goals and, recommendations which are available upon request. These reports can be used for NDIS planning or be shared with other professionals. However, it is worth noting that additional fees may apply for some reports.
Yes, you’re able to stay with your child during the occupational therapy session. We encourage parental involvement, particularly for younger children. Your presence is able to provide comfort and help to reinforce skills at home.
It is perfectly normal for a child not to want to participate in an OT session. We utilise child-led and play-based approaches to engage children and we’re able to adapt our sessions to suit your child’s mood and willingness.
OT looks like play because that is the best way that children learn. By engaging in a play-based form of therapy, children are able to develop new skills that help with daily activities in the most effective way.