How Occupational Therapy Helps with Everyday Skills: Supporting Your Child’s Milestones
As parents, we celebrate every new skill our children achieve, from their first steps to their first words. But when everyday tasks like holding a pencil, dressing, or even playing feel challenging, it can be hard to know where to turn. That’s where paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) comes in. At Steps Together Children's Therapy, we work with families to support children’s unique journeys, helping them master essential life skills in a way that’s both fun and impactful. Here’s how OT can make a difference and how we can support your child in reaching their next big milestone.
What is paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Paediatric Occupational Therapy is all about helping children develop the skills they need for daily life. From fine and gross motor skills to sensory processing and self-care abilities, OT gives children the tools to be as independent as possible, which boosts confidence and prepares them for school, play, and social activities.
At Steps Together Children's Therapy, we take a play-based approach to make therapy enjoyable, tailored to each child’s specific strengths, interests, and needs. Our goal is to help children reach their fullest potential, whether that means improving coordination, building self-care skills, or helping them feel regulated in different environments.
Key skills Occupational Therapy can help with
Every child’s development is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Here are some of the areas where occupational therapy can be beneficial:
1. Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills involve the use of small muscles in the hands and fingers. These skills are crucial for tasks like holding a pencil, buttoning a shirt, and using scissors. Through games and activities, an OT can help children improve their hand strength, coordination, and dexterity.
2. Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve larger body movements, such as jumping, running, and climbing. These skills are essential for play, sports, and even sitting upright at a desk. Occupational therapists work with children to develop strength, balance, and coordination through fun, engaging activities.
3. Sensory Processing
Some children are especially sensitive to sensory input—sights, sounds, touches, or movement—while others might seek out certain sensory experiences. Sensory processing difficulties can impact a child’s ability to focus, stay calm, or engage with their environment. Sensory processing also impacts development of movement skills, as our body learns to control movement, from the sensory feedback we receive from the environment. OT offers environmental modification suggestions, sensory techniques and movement exercises to help children process sensory information in a way that feels comfortable, and allows for optimal skill development.
4. Self-Care Skills
Learning to dress, brush teeth, and feed oneself are all milestones of growing independence. Occupational Therapy helps children learn these skills in a step-by-step, supportive way. For example, if a child finds it hard to hold a toothbrush, the therapist might use adaptive equipment or hand-over-hand guidance, as their skills develop. Addressing self-care goals can also involve supporting attention, organisation skills, or sensory regulation during self-care routines.
What to expect in Occupational Therapy sessions
A typical Occupational Therapy session at Steps Together Children's Therapy is a blend of skill-building and play. After assessing your child’s needs, the therapist creates a tailored plan focused on specific goals. All of our goals are set based on each family’s needs and priorities. Sessions may include activities like:
Puzzle and block play to strengthen fine motor or visual processing skills.
Obstacle courses to improve sensory integration, balance and coordination.
Sensory activities like playing with textured materials or engaging in movement games.
Practice with self-care routines such as zipping jackets, tying shoelaces, and brushing hair.
Parent or teacher support and education such as offering home or school strategies for trial, or recommendations of modifictions to the environment.
Our therapists use creative strategies to keep your child engaged while developing essential skills, so each session feels more like play than work.
Helping your child reach new milestones together
Every child develops at their own pace, and it’s okay if they need a little extra support along the way. At Steps Together Children's Therapy, our team of dedicated therapists is here to guide you and your child through these important steps, helping them gain the skills they need to thrive in everyday life. With our play-based approach and tailored support, we work hand-in-hand with families to celebrate each milestone.
If you’re curious about how Occupational Therapy could benefit your child, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Together, let’s support your child in achieving their fullest potential—one step at a time.
