Skills for Development

Home Occupational   Therapists   help   individuals   to   participate   in activities that occupy their day. People   often   assume   this   is   helping   someone   return   to work:   to   their   occupation.   But   all   of   us   have   so   many   more roles   than   just   as   a   worker.   I   am   a   mother,   a   partner,   a daughter,   a   sister,   a   friend,   a   taxi   driver   to   my   children   and their   friends,   a   singer   (mainly   in   the   car   and   shower   these days),   an   avid   reader   (when   I   make   time),   a   wannabe baker and an aspiring camper. Each   one   of   those   roles   requires   a   myriad   of   skills   and tasks   for   me   to   complete.   If   I   experience   a   difficulty   in   one skill, it can affect more than one of my roles. Paediatric     Occupational     Therapists     help     children     to participate    in    activities    that    occupy    their    time    as    well, primarily    in    their    role    of    being    a    loving    child,    sibling, playmate,   friend   and   student.   There   are   so   many   tasks that   are   required   of   your   child   during   any   given   day   that could   be   assisted   by   a   Paediatric   Occupational   Therapist, including   moving   around   freely,   playing   while   feeling   safe, secure   and   confident,   dressing,   eating,   toileting,   brushing their teeth/hair and socialising. I   am   a   Mum   of   two   beautiful   boys.   My   hope   for   my   boys   is that   they   continue   to   feel   loved,   grow   in   their   confidence and    resilience    and    that    they    experience    an    amazingly strong   bond   with   at   least   one   good   friend.   In   order   to   be able to do all of that, they need to develop: • play and socialisation skills • solid sensory processing and emotional regulation • attention and concentration • whole body/gross motor skills • fine motor skills • visual perception • executive functioning • self-management   for   activities   of   daily   living,   such   as sleeping, dressing and toileting • mealtime etiquette • auditory processing • confidence and resilience! So   many   things!   We   are   actively   working   on   this   list… definitely   a   work   in   progress!   We   all   have   skill   areas   we can   develop.   My   goal   is   to   help   children   maximise   their potential   towards   autonomy   in   these   skill   areas,   to   live their best life and feel safe and confident, everyday.