Believing in the pOTential of every child


What is Occupational Therapy?


Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life (Townsend& Polatajko, 2013, p. 380). (External link opens in new tab or windowhttp://www.caot.ca/)


A child’s occupation includes all the roles a child usually engages in in everyday life, including but not limited to being a student engaging in classroom demands, being a friend on the playground, being a member of a sports team, participating as a member of an extramural activity, doing everyday chores at home, or managing to do daily tasks such as dressing, feeding and hygiene activities. In fact a child’s occupation can be considered to be any self-desired task or activity, or any activity in which he/she is being asked to participate.


The occupational therapist assists the child, who is having trouble with any aspect of their occupation, to become more independent and successful in their day to day lives.



Occupational therapy views the child holistically, attempting to integrate the complex

developmental components to support the child to maximize his/her potential

 



What Can you Expect from your Occupational Therapist?



Your occupational therapist has a Bachelor or Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. If working with children, he/she will have developed a toolbox of more specialized skills, which are important in being able to address the individual needs of each child.


He/she should be a good communicator to share insights with you, as the parent, and with the rest of the team. This ensures that everyone is aware of the challenges that might be interfering with the child’s successful participation in his/her daily occupation.


Your occupational therapist uses professional clinical reasoning skills, which should be evidence based and demonstrate a systematic approach, to enable the child to engage in his/her chosen occupation.


Your occupational therapist should use a collaborative approach to your child’s therapy experience. This should include a logical and systematic approach, which should include assessment, planning, implementing, monitoring, modifying and evaluating the child to ensure goals set are being met, adapted or modified as needed.