The primary goal of Occupational Therapy is to enable people to participate as fully as is possible in the activities of everyday life. OT’s incorporate meaningful and purposeful activity or ‘occupation’ to enable those with limitations or impairments to achieve their full potential.

Occupational Therapists address the question: – “Why does this person have difficulties managing his or her daily activities (or occupations), and what can we adapt to make it possible for him or her to manage better and how will this then impact on his or her health and well-being?

Paediatric Occupational Therapists help children develop skills in the areas of self-care, school, and play. These are seen as a child’s main areas of occupation. By supporting children and enabling them to achieve their maximum potential, Paediatric Occupational Therapists indirectly work on developing confidence, self-esteem, social skills and general well-being.

As Occupational Therapists with a special interest in Paediatrics, we work closely with children and their families in their homes, schools and other environments. We work with education staff and health care providers to identify areas of need in order to help with specific difficulties.

This work comprises:

• A detailed assessment of the child’s needs.
• Provision of a comprehensive verbal and written report.
• Treatment plans and programmes based on the needs identified during assessment.
• Individual therapy treatment sessions as required.

A concerned Dr, teacher or health professional might have spotted ‘red flags’ signaling that your child may not be developing or functioning age appropriately or your child might be displaying behaviors which are not typical for their age or developmental stage.

Something I tell all my parents which I feel VERY strongly about is that there is nothing ‘wrong’ with your child. Your child is beautiful and unique with his own set of individual differences and preferences.

Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy celebrates each and every child’s unique differences, personality, and quirks. We work on their strengths and work closely with our parents to help our children climb the developmental ladder.

Occupational Therapy is a journey which takes commitment, consistency and patience. Sometimes it can take almost a year until we see measurable progress or it can take one month. Here at Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy, we focus on building their foundations up and building them strong and steadfast.

We use a developmental bottom-up approach where the child’s basic sensory systems are our main area of focus and from there we work up into the executive functioning areas which are necessary for school. Have a look at “The learning tree” from Stanley Greenspan, MD.

We do not encourage or teach splinter skills which see our children learning a specific set of skills in an isolated area resulting in the inability to generalize these skills in different environments. Getting the child’s ‘roots’ to grow thick and deep is most important as these will bear healthy leafy branches.

We love our little humans dearly so we would prefer it if they channelled their energy into getting better. We will re-schedule to make up that session in a time slot that is most convenient for you. A Dr’s note is not needed.

On the initial assessment, and as we have been seeing your children for therapy, we have tailor made a specific programme unique to your child’s strengths and areas needing work. This programme is broken down into individual sessions each with activities and mini goals we would have liked to achieve in that session, for that week, in that term.

Therefore, with the above in mind, it’s important that we sick to the programme of weekly OT as consistently as possible.

*Positive therapy outcomes rely on frequency and consistency*

However, we are huge advocates for family time! So, a week off from therapy due to valuable family time is the best kind of excuse not to have therapy. Kindly let us know a week in advance if you will be going away so we can re-schedule to make up those sessions in a time slot that is most convenient for you.

We do! However, our home programmes look a little different.

Here it is.

1. Play with your child for at least 30 minutes a day. Get onto the floor with them and let them lead the play. Follow their lead; take yourselves into their world.
2. During this time you are not there to advise, criticize or correct. You are their play partner. So if Harvey says you are a pirate with one leg called Duke, then you wholeheartedly become Pirate Duke!
3. Use your affect to keep the enthusiasm and intrigue going. Playing, connecting and building a relationship with your child is more important to us than a visual perceptual table top worksheet which could ultimately result in tears. Tamaryn Hunter Occupational Therapy regularly sends Occupational Therapy resources to our parents which we encourage them to use. If we feel that your child needs extra work at home we will discuss that with you.