Paediatric Occupational Therapist
What Is Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Paediatric Occupational Therapists help children to participate in activities they find meaningful so they can make the most of their everyday lives. We consider the occupations of people, and for children these occupations may include playing, sleeping, eating, learning, engaging in leisure as well as being a friend and family member.
From our admin staff to our senior occupational therapist, here at Redlands Children’s Therapy Centre we aim to empower children to achieve their goals. To do so we need to assess and understand what a child can do, as well as the limitations they might face. We consider the child as a whole within their unique context. We then set goals with the families and create “just right challenges” in our therapy sessions to instil confidence and success for children to achieve their goals. We utilise a play-based approach, helping children engage and stay motivated to keep participating in therapy.
Who Needs Kids’ Occupational Therapy?
At Redlands Children’s Therapy Centre, we provide assessment and intervention at our private practice for individuals experiencing difficulties in the following areas:
- Sensory processing
- Developmental delays
- Dyspraxia
- Play skills
- Social skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Fine and gross motor skills
- Emotional regulation
- Self esteem
- Working memory
- Concentration and attention
- Executive functioning
What Does A Children’s Occupational Therapist Do?
Your child may benefit from seeing an Occupational Therapist if he/she:
- Has difficulty with self-care tasks, such as toileting, eating, dressing him/herself, sleeping
- Has difficulty maintaining attention and concentration during tasks
- Experiences difficulties with sensory regulation, (including those with Autism Spectrum Disorders for example, being overly sensitive to noises, touch, smell and/or lights , being distractible, seeking out sensory input (e.g.movement, crashing)
- Has difficulty with social interactions, making friends, and/or play skills
- Has difficulty holding a pencil, using scissors and/or forming letters correctly
- Difficulty with coordination, losing balance or bumping into things.
- Experiences difficulty with emotional regulation or behavioural difficulties.
- Has difficulty with problem solving, learning new skills or trying new activities.
If your child is experiencing any of these concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we can help.
Occupational Therapy Services
If your child requires the services of an occupational therapist, paediatric specialists are always the best option. At Redlands Children’s Therapy Centre, before we begin the tailored treatment program, one of our highly qualified occupational therapists conducts a comprehensive assessment to properly discern exactly what your child needs.
An assessment session typically goes for 2 sessions, each lasting 60 minutes. During this first appointment, we will discuss any areas of concerns, and will then assess your child using both formal and informal assessment techniques appropriate for your child. After your assessment sessions, the Occupational Therapist will conduct a review appointment where we will discuss the results and recommendations moving forward.
All of our therapists are experienced working with children and young people. First and foremost, our approach is always determined based on the needs of your child and family, and we are very focused on creating an environment that is both comforting and fun for your child.
Depending on your child’s goals, an individual therapy session typically lasts for about 50 minutes. Each session is carefully planned and tailored to meet the needs of the individual child, and incorporate a range of strategies and activities to engage and motivate your child. For example, our focus could be placed upon their school performance, helping them develop good handwriting skills and forming letters.
The number and frequency of therapy sessions is entirely dependent on your child’s needs, individual goals, and progress. Your Occupational Therapist will be able to discuss and plan this with you.
At Redlands Children’s Therapy Centre, our multidisciplinary advantage allows our therapists to work collaboratively to support your child. We offer joint therapy sessions with other disciplines, such as Speech Pathology, where appropriate. For more information regarding multidisciplinary therapy sessions and whether this may be suitable for your child, please chat with your child’s therapist or contact our support team.
From time to time, our team of experienced Occupational Therapists conduct various group programs designed to support your child’s development. To register your interest in any of the following groups, please contact our support team.
Group therapy provides an opportunity for children to develop every day skills in a supportive environment with same -aged peers. Some of the groups we offer focus on:
- Social skills
- Prep-readiness
- Fine motor skills
- Self-regulation
- Sensory motor skill
- Feeding
Our Occupational Therapists are able to provide mobile services, visiting individuals within their home, childcare centre, school or community.
We are able to provide high quality telehealth intervention via videoconferencing to support you and your child. Please contact our support team if you would like to organise a telehealth consultation.
We provide parent and education staff workshops. We also offer these for external organisations such as schools and kindergartens. Please contact us for more information.
