Therapy Factory

Occupational therapy is a health profession concerned with improving a person's occupational performance. In a paediatric setting this would include any functional problems in development that hinder play, self-care activities and learning. Children are commonly referred to occupational therapy for problems in attention and concentration, low muscle tone, gross- and fine motor difficulties, reading and spelling problems.

Parents can benefit from knowing that occupational therapy forms part of the medical profession and use a knowledge base of neurology, anatomy, physiology, psychosocial development, activity task analysis and therapeutic techniques. Occupational therapists are trained to treat a child holistically, addressing their cognitive, emotional and physical needs through functional, activity-based treatment.

Play is the work of children, through play children learn about themselves and the world around them - as quoted by Dr. Jean Ayers. When working in paediatrics, activities are selected that are of interest and have meaning for children, and also meet therapeutic goals. Occupational therapy sessions that children experience as fun, motivating and playful are essential to the therapeutic process.