Top 5 Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Your Child

Our occupational therapists at Grow & Tell have worked with lots of families to help their children feel more confident, capable and calm on a day-to-day basis. Paediatric occupational therapy supports children who have challenges with movement, sensory processing, attention, or self-care, helping them thrive at home, in school, and in the community.

The key benefits of occupational therapy (OT) for a child include improving motor skills, enhancing sensory processing, increasing independence in daily routines, boosting social skills, and supporting children to be ready for school..

1. Improving Fine and Gross Motor Skills

We all use fine and gross motor skills for many of our daily tasks in life. Fine motor skills involve using the small muscles in the hands and fingers for tasks like holding a pencil, cutting with scissors or buttoning a shirt. Gross motor skills are used for larger body movements such as running, jumping and catching a ball.

A big part of our occupational therapists’ work is helping children refine these physical abilities through play-based activities that strengthen coordination and balance. They use targeted practice and fun, engaging exercises to make daily routines and school activities much easier and more enjoyable for children.

Explore our school readiness program to see how Grow & Tell can help your child gain more confidence in these fine and motor skills, as well as other foundational skills needed for a positive start at school.

2. Enhancing Sensory Processing Abilities

Sensory processing is how the body receives and responds to information from the senses, which includes sight, sound, touch, and movement. It’s the way the brain organises and interprets sensory input so that we can react appropriately to the world around us.

Some children may be over-responsive, often bothered by loud noises or the feel of different food and clothing textures. For these children, our occupational therapists gradually introduce sensory experiences in a calm, controlled way to build tolerance, use deep pressure activities to create a sense of security, and teach coping strategies, breathing and self-regulation techniques. For children who are under-responsive and who often seek more stimulation, our OTs incorporate more movement-based, high-energy activities and tactile play into the sessions to wake up their sensory systems.

The goal of our occupational therapists is to help children better regulate their responses through evidence-based strategies so they feel more comfortable and confident in different environments. Find out more about the benefits of occupational therapy and lots more by reading our Frequently Asked Questions.

3. Developing Daily Living and Self-Care Skills

An important focus in occupational therapy is helping children to participate in the everyday “occupations” of childhood, such as self-care, play and learning. As occupational therapists, we work with children to develop independence and self-confidence in their daily routines. This could be getting dressed, brushing their teeth, eating with cutlery or taking care of personal hygiene.

Therapy is broken down into achievable steps, so children can gradually increase independence and self-confidence. As they learn to do more tasks on their own and take ownership of their individual routines, family stress can be noticeably reduced.

With Grow & Tell’s mobile occupational therapy, families in Sydney can get personalised care in the comfort of their own home, making therapy more accessible and less stressful for the whole family.

4. Boosting Social Skills and Emotional Regulation

A child’s ability to connect with others is strongly linked to managing their own emotions and body responses. When a child can recognise how they feel and use strategies to calm themselves down and to express what they want to say, they are better able to engage and socialise in friendships and group play.

As occupational therapists, we help children identify their feelings and teach them coping skills and strategies when they experience big emotions. We also practise turn-taking, sharing and cooperative play through fun, collaborative activities, helping them to form the foundation for meaningful social interactions at home, in school and in their community.

Check out our social skills program at Grow & Tell that is dedicated to helping children develop key skills like emotional awareness and self-regulation, which in turn lead to stronger, more positive relationships.

5. Supporting School Readiness and Academic Success

Occupational therapy can help children feel ready for school. Therapists work on physical, emotional and cognitive skills that children need to start school more confidently and to be able to fully participate in the classroom. In a supportive and engaging environment, sessions help children with a range of tasks such as getting familiar with classroom routines, developing handwriting and pencil control and improving their posture for sitting at a desk. When children become more organised and focused, their independence and self-confidence are boosted, too.

By strengthening these foundational skills, occupational therapy helps children transition smoothly into this new and important stage of their lives. Learn more about how our school readiness groups can empower your child to thrive at school and support their academic success.

Partner with Grow & Tell to Support Your Child's Journey

At Grow & Tell, we believe our occupational therapy sessions can empower every child to become more independent and develop the motor, sensory, social and self-care skills they need to flourish in their daily life. Our compassionate therapists work closely with each family to provide the best care for your child’s individual needs and to improve their overall well-being.

Contact us today to find out more about the benefits of occupational therapy, or book an appointment to help your child reach their full potential at home, at school or in their community.