Singapore Brain Development Centre

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR KIDS

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a therapeutic treatment designed to help people who struggle with everyday activities. Specifically for kids, Occupational Therapy can help children with cognitivesensory integration or developmental delays achieve independence in their daily routines. These daily activities include writing, typing, tying shoelaces and zipping a jacket.

A child’s early years include many novel experiences and new stimulations which are critical for his physical, cognitive & social development. If a child’s restricted development or learning disabilities are not resolved, he will not have a strong foundation for his future learning career.

Signs Your Child Needs Occupational Therapy

3. Poor Fine Motor Skills

4. Poor Gross Motor Skills

How can Occupational Therapy Help my Child?

Occupational Therapists often help a child build independence by developing self-care skills. Self-care skills, often known as Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) include everyday tasks such as eating, drinking, dressing, grooming, toileting and personal hygiene. While adults may support a child in these activities, it is expected for a child to develop independence as they grow older.

An Occupational Therapist will first conduct an initial evaluation to determine if there are any external barriers causing his performance deficit. After which, he may focus on the following performance areas to improve self-care performance.

Executive Functioning:

This is a self-regulating skill which helps us plan, organise and control our thoughts and actions. Children with poor executive functioning often become overwhelmed by simple chores such as dressing up. An Occupational Therapist may use visual timers or checklists to improve organisational skills, task initiation and time management.

Sensory Processing:

To improve a child’s sensory integration, an Occupational Therapist may design play activities or Sensory Diets to change the way the brain reacts to sounds, sight, touch, smell and taste. The key here is to be consistent and repetitive so that the child’s brain becomes more self-aware of his sensory inputs.

How Can You Find an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational Therapists work in many different settings. You can find them at schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centres and mental health facilities. If you think your child requires Occupational Therapy, you may:

Common FAQs

When should I introduce utensils to my child?

Children above the age of 9 months should start to explore the use of utensils during mealtime.

Milestones for getting dressed

Does my child need to go through an assessment before the therapy?

Yes. At SBDC, our Therapists will first conduct an assessment test to identify a child’s weaknesses. We will then design a series of personalised training activities to target and improve those weaknesses.

How can I prepare my child for his first therapy session?

  1. Dress your child in loose, comfortable clothes as there will be physical play activities.
  2. Prepare a thorough summary of your child’s history. This will help our therapists better evaluate your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
  3. Observe and take notes of your Therapists suggestions. There may be home activities you can conduct to improve your child’s development.

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