
Strategies to meet identified goals may include adapting the task, providing alternative equipment and developing the child’s underlying skills. Occupational Therapists assess and identify the needs of children and develop plans with the child, family and agencies involved in their day to day life to facilitate identified goals (Occupational Therapy & Primary Care, COT briefing 143, 2011 COT Position Statement, 2012 Missiuna et al, 2008).Ĭhildren can present with a wide variety of conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder but how this impacts on the child is variable. Increasing participation in these tasks enables them to develop their independence, confidence, health and wellbeing. dressing, feeding, toileting, play and accessing everyday school activities. Children participate in many tasks on a daily basis, e.g. Occupational Therapists enable children to overcome barriers, so they can participate in everyday life. Resources Reference list and further reading

Occupational therapy toolkit how to#
Different aspects of fine motor skills – and how to develop them:Ĭhapter 8: Pre-writing and handwriting skills.Integrating both sides of the body so that they work in harmonyĬhapter 7: Supporting children with fine motor skills – ideas and resources.Position in Space – knowing where your body is in relation to the objects or people around you.Body awareness – knowing where the different bits of your body are in space at any one time.Motor planning – organising and sequencing movements.Different aspects of gross motor skills – and how to develop them:.Working out which parts to use for individual childrenĬhapter 6: Supporting children with gross motor skills – ideas and resources.Meet with parents to discuss child’s needsĬhapter 5: Working out which parts to use.Build up a picture of how the child is coping in school.Building attention span and concentrationĬhapter 3: When and how to use the Toolkit.General principles for supporting children with everyday tasks.The advice sheets below are ordered in age and contain information on typical development for their age, what to look out for in your child and which toolkits to access below if there are concerns. The information in the documents below will give you a general idea of the changes you can expect, but you shouldn’t worry if your child takes a slightly different course. Their brain develops rapidly during the first three years of life and the interactions they have with the people and the world around them at this time play an important part in their development now and in the future.

Your baby will develop in their own unique way and at their own pace. Read more about Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy

This area will help you identify where you can help and where specialist help may be required. Many children will show difficulties at some point in their development but most will progress without the need for a referral to us with the right environment and those who spend the most time with the child using of simple strategies may find them help to promote this.Ī small proportion of children and young people will go on to require additional specialist support – and Children & Family Health Devon can provide this. It provides a greater understanding of development, when to be concerned and how to help and focuses on difficulties that fall within the expertise of Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. This toolkit has been designed to support families, carers and professionals who have concerns about a child’s development. Welcome to Children & Family Health Devon’s Toolkit for children aged 0 – 4. These activities need to be tried for 2 to 3 months prior to making a request for Speech and Language Therapy or Occupational Therapy, with the exception for requests for children or young people who are stammering, which should be made immediately.
Occupational therapy toolkit download#
There are a number of activities and strategies that you can try at home to help and support your child – please take a look at the advice sheets below and download the ones that are applicable to your child.
