Occupations are the ways a person spends their time. Play is one of the primary occupations a child will engage in each day. It is a vital aspect of a child’s learning, growth and connection with others. Social skills and play include skills such as turn-taking, compromise, joint attention, managing emotions during games, and understanding others’ thoughts and feelings.
Some children will have challenges or differences with these skills. OT support focuses on the functional, emotional and behavioural components of play.
Occupational therapy for children will often look like supporting children to achieve play-based goals and goals through play. This may be through developing specific social skills, fostering alternative and unique connections and empowering a child to play their way, a way that makes them feel joy, fun and love. Based on a child’s age, unique needs, and values, therapy goals and intervention will be tailored to foster meaningful connections and honour that child’s authenticity whilst empowering them with choice and opportunity.
