Is your child or a child you know having difficulty with:

Low muscle tone
Weakness in upper body/arms/hands
Fine motor delays
Poor eye-hand coordination
Decreased movement tolerance
Poor play skills
Difficulty colouring within the lines
Difficulty drawing
Poor printing/writing skills
Printing letters/numbers backwards
Difficulty focusing/paying attention
Trouble cutting with scissors
Difficulty putting puzzles together
Poor dressing/undressing skills
Feeding difficulties including coughing/gagging/choking, unable to tolerate certain foods
Sensory differences
Difficulty calming down
Difficulty sitting still
Over-reaction to light touch
Poor organizational skills
Clumsy/awkward

What Is Occupational Therapy?

The focus of occupational therapy is to help individuals function at their best in the roles (i.e. occupations) that they perform during a day.  The occupational therapist will assess the child’s performance in the following areas:

(i) self care activities: for example dressing, grooming, hygiene, feeding, toileting, mobility, ability to access public services, transportation and community resources, etc.

(ii) productive roles refers to the child’s ability to participate and learn from exploration and participation in a variety of activities.  An infant’s productive role involves learning through play:  exploring and interacting with their environment, people, objects and toys.  The productive role in childhood is to participate in and learn from exploration and a wide variety of activities.  Once a child starts school the primary role/occupation is that of student which involves printing/writing, cutting with scissors, understanding of colours, shapes, numbers, letters and words, the ability to pay attention, to follow schedules and routines, and to follow directions, the ability to organize oneself, etc.  The productive role of an adolescent is that of student but also includes preparation for future vocational pursuits, achievement of independence from parents/caregivers, exploration of roles, etc. 

(iii) play and leisure activities:  refers to play preferences, hobbies, participation in social activities, entertainment, use of free time, cultural interests, recreation, sports, volunteering, etc.

Occupational Therapists are also involved with assessment, prescription and modification of equipment (e.g. bath chairs, commodes, adapted cutlery, splints, clothing, writing tools) and recommendation of structural renovations for accessibility within the home, school or community.

Types of Therapy Services:

• Direct therapy, either individual or groups, offered by a therapist or therapy assistant .
• Monitoring in which the therapist trains someone else involved with the child on a more regular basis to carry out the occupational therapy plan.  The therapist is in regular contact with the person who carries out the program.
• Consultation with parents, caregivers, day care staff, school staff, etc.
• Home programs for use by parents, caregivers, day care and staff school staff.
• Collaboration with children and their families, caregivers, daycare and school staff and other agencies to provide individualized treatment plans suited to the child and family’s strengths and needs.
• Parent training.

The type(s) of intervention chosen will depend on the needs of the child, parents and caregivers.

Therapy is run on a block system.  Therapy blocks last 8-10 weeks.  Unfortunately, if sessions must to be cancelled due to holidays or illness, they cannot be made up.

If you are unable to attend your child’s appointment or your child plans to be absent from day care or school on the day of the occupational therapy appointment it is important that you telephone One Kids Place at 476-5437 ext. 3820 to cancel in advance.