Occupational therapy for children is a promising clinical specialty. Occupational therapists offer diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services in the areas of paediatric, childhood, and early adolescence specialties. The multidisciplinary program is committed to identifying, evaluating, and treating disorders and conditions as they emerge, focusing on the patient’s individual needs and skills. Occupational therapy for children combines paediatric, developmental, counselling, and orthopaedic science to provide comprehensive care that can help young patients to become self-sufficient. Occupational therapy for children is based on the concept that children have unique brain circuits and that neurological factors interact in complex ways in the childhood environment.
Children’s occupational therapy programs in KidSenseChildDevelopment Occupational Therapy for Children Adelaide deal with motor abilities, physical development, fine and gross motor skills, cognitive abilities, verbal skills, environmental exposure, movement, and adaptability. Occupational therapy for children incorporates several theories in practice to help children gain self-empowerment, improve their cognitive and emotional skills, improve their physical health, learn new strategies for coping with difficulties, and acquire skills for self-care. The importance of occupational therapy for improving the lives of children is illustrated by the government’s investment in this specialty. In 2021, the National Institute of Occupational Therapy received funding from the National Institute of Health to expand the practice and train more occupational therapists.
A growing population with developmental delays is having greater difficulty than ever being able to play, get along, go to school, communicate, eat, and do most of the activities that we take for granted. The increasing rate of childhood obesity is directly related to an increasingly mentally and physically deteriorating population. Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy are growing up with learning and behavioural issues. Long term developmental delays can result in severe limitations in daily living abilities and a reduction of quality of life. Occupational therapy for children with developmental delays combines several approaches to improving the condition of children with these disorders. This practice focuses on physical, mental, social, educational, and rehabilitative aspects of child development.
Occupational therapy for children in KidSenseChildDevelopment Occupational Therapy for Children Adelaide helps them to gain independence through increasing their ability to manipulate objects, learn new skills, build on their already present strengths, practice fine and gross motor skills, use fine and gross motor skills, utilize abstract thought processes, develop their self-esteem, improve their self-image, and improve their communication skills. Occupational therapy for children also teaches them how to be independent and to manage their bodily and motor skills throughout their daily life.
Paediatric occupational therapy also focuses on the areas of physical abilities. The specific attention given to children with these disorders depends on the nature of their problem. In the case of cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s disease, paediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping them control movements, coordinate body functions (i.e.: head movement, movements of arms, legs, mouth, facial expression, vocalization), and fine motor skills. In case of developmental disorders in which the affected body part or skill cannot perform voluntarily, paediatric occupational therapy helps them acquire these skills by practising these movements on the affected body part or skill. Examples include upper extremity movements, fine motor skills, walking, chewing, swallowing, crawling, climbing, and swimming. Specialized exercises are given to help them acquire and retain these movements and skills.
Specialized treatment is given to help them acquire and develop fine motor skills and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills refer to the ability to manipulate objects, such as playing with a toy, holding a fork, or eating. Gross motor skills refer to the voluntary movement of an adult or an infant. Parents or caregivers usually provide this type of therapeutic treatment for their children. Occupational therapy for children, therefore, serves important purposes in child development care.