Parenting is a journey of countless questions: Is my child developing as they should? Should I be worried? Is this just a phase? Every child is unique, and sometimes navigating their development can feel like solving a complex puzzle with missing pieces.
If you’ve wondered about your child’s skills, social interactions or daily challenges, you’re not alone. When you notice your child moving, playing or learning differently from others, it can bring on curiosity, confusion and concern.
Occupational therapy (OT) is a powerful and compassionate approach to understanding and supporting children’s individual development paths. It’s not about fixing or changing who a child is but empowering them to navigate their world with greater confidence and ease.
Who can benefit from occupational therapy?
Every child’s journey is different. Some children might benefit from OT if they’re experiencing:
- Developmental delay
- Physical or intellectual disability
- Neurodiversity, including autism or ADHD
- Social and emotional challenges
- Trauma and behavioural differences
Occupational therapy is a holistic discipline. We look at the whole child when assessing if they’d benefit from OT to help them manage certain aspects of their life more easily and tailor our services to their needs.
What does occupational therapy actually do?
Occupational therapy helps children develop the essential skills they need to participate in meaningful everyday activities confidently. This might involve supporting:
- Gross motor skills (like riding a bicycle, playing on playground equipment and getting on and off furniture independently)
- Fine motor skills (like using utensils or writing)
- Self care skills (like feeding self with cutlery, dressing and toileting)
- Social interactions and relationship building
- Sensory processing differences that impact a child or young person’s independence or participation in daily activities
- Play and leisure skills
- Regulating their emotions
At Inner West Paediatrics, we approach intervention by focusing on activities that promote development, establish needed skills, and modify tasks or environments to support your child’s participation.
We’re not about forcing children into predetermined moulds. Our goal is to empower each child to develop skills that matter to them and their family, supporting their unique way of experiencing and interacting with the world.
How long might a child need support?
The duration of support varies from child to child. Some children might need just a few months of targeted intervention, while others might benefit from longer-term, evolving support.
What remains constant is our commitment to helping your child build confidence, skills, and the ability to engage meaningfully with their community.
We believe every child has incredible potential. Our role is to walk alongside families, providing personalised, transparent support that celebrates each child’s individuality.
If you’re wondering whether occupational therapy might support your child’s journey, let’s have a conversation. We’re here to listen, understand and collaborate with you.
At Inner West Paediatrics, we’ve helped many children develop skills to help them manage everyday life more easily.
We can support any child to participate inactivities they need or want to do. No matter where your child is at –developmental delay, disability, neurodivergent or just needing extra support –we can help.
Disclaimer
All information provided is general and not intended to substitute professional advice. Inner West Paediatrics can consult with you to support your child’s individual needs.
