Paediatric Occupational Therapists work with children and young people to maximise their participation in daily life. This can include:
Self care (dressing, eating, toileting, sleeping, washing)
Productivity (Nursery activities or school work)
Leisure activities (playing, hobbies).
We aim to increase independence and participation with these skills.
Empowering parents and other people working with children is the key to achieving positive outcomes.
Occupational therapy is a person-centred profession concerned with promoting a balanced range of occupations to enhance health and wellbeing. Occupations refer to everything people do in the course of their daily life. Occupational therapists believe that everyone has the right to the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
HOW CAN WE HELP YOU HERE AT BLOSSOM?
Why might a child benefit from OT?
Children and young people may experience disruption to their occupations due to injury, illness/ disability, family circumstances, or at times of transition. Occupations for children and young people may include: areas of self-care (for example getting ready to go out, eating a meal, using the toilet); work or being productive (for example playing, attending school or university, volunteering, caring for others); and leisure (for example playing with friends, socialising with friends, completing hobbies or sports).
Wants and Needs
Occupational therapists will spend time finding out about the child’s and family’s typical daily life and what they want, need or are expected to do. They will then work together with the child, family and other key people to evaluate what helps or hinders their involvement in daily life roles. Together, possible solutions will be developed, such as exploring alternative ways of doing things or making changes to the environment to support participation. (COT 2015)
Any child or young person experiencing challenges with their Leisure, Self Care, School work or Play due to : Illness, a condition, or family circumstance.
This could include the following:
- Autistic Spectrum Condition
- Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)/Dyspraxia
- Sensory Processing Difficulties
- Developmental Delay
- Learning difficulties
- Dyslexia
- Down’s Syndrome
- ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Cerebral Palsy
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Other genetic or physical disabilities
- Attachment disorders
- Those who have experienced trauma