Free Downloadable Occupational Therapy Resources
These resources are designed to complement your therapeutic journey and provide educational support. They are not intended to replace personalised therapy.
Managing Biting in Young Children: A Guide for Educators and Parents
Biting is a common behaviour observed in young children, particularly in childcare settings. It can be a response to frustration, sensory needs, or difficulty with communication. While it is often a typical developmental phase, it is important to address it appropriately to support the child’s growth and maintain a safe environment. Here are practical tips to help manage biting behaviour from an Occupational Therapy (OT) perspective.
Parent Resource For Understanding Neurodiversity in the context of Autism for Young Children and Parent
In the first instance, it’s essential to know what neurodiversity means.
● Neurodiversity: The idea that everybody has a different brain – and because everybody has a different brain and neurological system, they have different experiences in life. These differences in neurology can change how one person thinks, behaves, processes, functions, copes, and perceives the world around them.
● Neurodivergent: A term used to refer to individuals with a brain that diverges from the norm.
● Neurodiverse: A group of people with multiple neurotypes (e.g., autistic and neurotypical) is considered to be neurodiverse. Note that one person can’t be neurodiverse.
Supporting Children During Separation: Visual Tools for Parents & Educators
Use this visual chart to help your child follow a predictable routine each morning.
Separation Anxiety: Helping Your Child Say Goodbye: Practical Tips for Easier Separations
From an attachment perspective, it is common for infants to go through a developmental stage where they begin to react with fear towards strangers or people they don’t see regularly. This is a natural part of forming secure attachments with their primary caregivers. It’s common for parents to worry about causing distress and, as a result, may avoid separations, which can inadvertently reinforce the anxiety. Parents and educators are essential in helping children navigate these moments by fostering a sense of security. By consistently responding to their child's needs, adults help build trust and teach them to feel safe even in unfamiliar situations. This tip sheet offers recommendations from an attachment-based perspective to help you understand and manage separation anxiety, supporting your child in developing the confidence to cope with separations and transitions.
Say What? Common Occupational Therapy (OT) Terms
Say What? Key Terms in Occupational Therapy You Should Know!Get familiar with the essential terms that make Occupational Therapy work wonders for your child’s development!
Parent Guide: Understanding Toileting Challenges in Children
Toilet training can be a significant milestone for both children and parents. Typical toileting development occurs between ages 1-7 years, with most children expected to be daytime toilet trained by the time they start school. While every child develops at their own pace, some may face challenges that make the process more difficult. Understanding these challenges can help you support your child more effectively.
Sensory Processing
Sensory processing refers to how our brains organise and interpret information from our senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, movement, and body position), playing a crucial role in daily activities, social interactions, emotional regulation, and the development of motor skills, language, and cognitive abilities.
Sensory Ergonomics: Creating a sensory friendly environment
Ergonomics focuses on designing environments and tools to fit the people who use them. Instead of forcing people to adapt, ergonomics aims to create a better fit between individuals and their surroundings. For example, an ergonomic chair adjusts to support the user's body, reducing strain and discomfort. (International Ergonomics Association)
How do Occupational Therapists help with school readiness?
Paediatric Occupational Therapists (OTs) play a crucial role in helping children become as independent as possible in all areas of daily life, including school readiness.
What is Executive Functioning?
Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes necessary for the mental control of behaviour, enabling an individual to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and manage multiple tasks successfully. These skills arecrucial for managing oneself and one's resources to achieve a goal. Executive functions include.....
The Importance of Neuroaffirming Language in Occupational Therapy (OT)
Neuroaffirming language acknowledges and respects the unique neurological experiences of individuals, particularly those with neurodiverse conditions such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia. Its use in occupational therapy fosters a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment, enabling clients to feel understood and valued. Here are several vital reasons why neuro-affirming language is vital in occupational therapy.....
How Can An Occupational Therapist Help Your Child Under 5 Years?
The first five years are critical for building your child's foundation for life, with the brain growing rapidly and forming essential pathways. Early intervention through occupational therapy (OT) supports milestones such as motor skills, sensory processing, and social-emotional development, helping children build confidence and independence. OT fosters skills like coordination, communication, and coping strategies, which are vital for success in daily activities and peer interactions. Addressing developmental concerns early can reduce the risk of long-term challenges and promote better outcomes in academic and social areas. By providing early support, OT helps children thrive and reach their full potential, setting them up for lifelong success.
Infant and Toddlers: When To Seek Help From An Occupational Therapist
Navigating your baby’s development can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure what to expect.
An occupational therapist supports your baby’s growth by helping them develop the skills needed for everyday activities......
Supporting Transitions
A transition is the process of moving from one state, condition, or stage to another. It refers to the changes children experience as they progress through various milestones in their lives. For many children, transitions can be both exciting and challenging. Examples include:- Moving from daycare to Kindergarten (Kindy)- Starting Kindy for the first time- Starting Prep in "big school"- Transitioning between different classes or environments as they get older
Potential Scope Of Occupational Therapy for Adults
The scope of occupational therapy (OT) can be person-centred, strengths-based, and rooted in fostering autonomy, meaningful engagement, and overall well-being. It embraces a holistic approach that respects neurodiversity, honours individuality, and supports participation in life’s valued activities. This may include the following:
Skill-Building Fun with Play-Doh!
Play-Doh isn’t just for the clinic—it’s an amazing activity you can do with your child at home! While they’re squishing and shaping, they’re also building important skills:
🎯 What they’re learning while they play:✅ Fine motor skills & hand coordination✅ Recognising letters, numbers, & shapes✅ Expressing emotions through creativity✅ Imagining & pretending to spark their imagination✅ Practicing social skills (teamwork, turn-taking, and sharing!)
Set up a Play-Doh station at home and join in the fun! From shaping letters to making pretend pizzas, the possibilities are endless—and so are the learning opportunities. 🌟
🎯 What they’re learning while they play:✅ Fine motor skills & hand coordination✅ Recognising letters, numbers, & shapes✅ Expressing emotions through creativity✅ Imagining & pretending to spark their imagination✅ Practicing social skills (teamwork, turn-taking, and sharing!)
Set up a Play-Doh station at home and join in the fun! From shaping letters to making pretend pizzas, the possibilities are endless—and so are the learning opportunities. 🌟
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