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Q1: What exactly do you do in Occupational Therapy?

We use purposeful activities from within a child’s occupations (mostly play as play is motivating and is one of the primary occupations in which a child spends their time. Lots of learning takes place through play), to help develop their gross motor and fine motor skills, sensory regulation skills, visual perceptual skills and play skills. Meaningful personal management activities are also carried out to develop age appropriate skills in this area. 

We us a range of equipment and activities including swings, balls, games and toys, craft activities, music and movement, and academic tools (pencils, crayons, scissors) in therapy sessions to develop the skills individual to the child’s needs. 

We also encourage problem solving and child guided exploration where appropriate, with facilitation to extend the child’s skills and interests. 

Q2: What childhood conditions do Occupational Therapists work with?  

At CDC occupational therapists work with children with a wide range of childhood conditions including but not limited to: autism spectrum disorders, global developmental delay, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, ADD/ADHD,  downs syndrome, sensory processing disorders, developmental coordination disorder, and dyspraxia. 

We also work with children who may not have any formal diagnosis but present with difficulties at school in fine motor activities such as writing, and with difficulties in gross motor skills impacting on their performance in sports.  

Q3: How long will my child be in therapy and how many sessions will they need?

Therapy duration is specific to each child and what their needs are. Some children are in therapy for 6 months whilst others attend therapy for a number of years. 

The frequency of therapy sessions is also individual to each child and their needs. Some children attend one session per week while others may require daily therapy sessions. 

Q4: Am I allowed in a therapy session?

Yes, parents are allowed in the therapy session and especially with younger children it can be very helpful so that the therapist and parents can collaborate, and the parents insight may be helpful to the therapist. It can also be helpful for the parent to observe what happens in the therapy sessions so that exercises can be carried over in the home environment. At any point however if for some reason it is felt that it may be more beneficial for the parent to be out of the session, this will be discussed and agreed upon. 

Q5: Why do you play so much with my child?

Young children learn best through play. Play is at the center of our therapy, thus you will see us observing their natural play, and proposing games that will reveal their sensory, motor and cognitive abilities to us in assessment sessions and in treatment.