Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy according to the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) is the science of promoting health and well-being through occupation. The occupation refers to activities that are desirable, purposeful, and important to the individual. The main purpose of occupational therapy is to enable individuals to be actively and functionally involved in their daily activities. Occupational therapists achieve this by helping individuals to do things that will enhance their ability to participate and/or by modifying the environment to support better their participation.
Daily activities in childhood include the following key areas:
- Personal hygiene - self-care
- Integration in the school or pre-school environment
- Play – utilization of free time
The Occupational Therapist is the scientist who analyses and evaluates individual factors (physical, sensory, motor, psychosocial development) and environmental factors. He can identify any difficulties or disorders that impede daily functioning.
Then, through play and pleasant and interesting activities for the child, it can help him/her to develop the appropriate skills and to engage in occupations, having reached the maximum functional level based on his/her abilities, desires, and the requirements of the environment in which he/she is developing.
Some daily behaviors that, when they are persistent, it is advisable to ask for an occupational therapy assessment:
- He/she is a shy and cuddly child, who does not easily try new activities.
- He/she falls often, stumbles, things fall from his/her hands.
- He/she has difficulty with personal hygiene, bathing, shampooing, haircut, brushing teeth.
- He/she doesn't like physical play, tickling, hugging.
- He/she is very selective in the foods it consumes, insists on limited tastes - food textures.
- He/she has difficulty with undressing.
- He/she is constantly moving.
- He/she does not pay attention, often does not listen when we talk to him/her.
- He/she seeks all kinds of movement, has no sense of fear.
- He/she is reserved and wary of playground games.
- He/she finds it difficult to participate in group games, prefers to observe those who are playing.
- He/she likes things done in a very specific way and he/she gets upset when something changes unexpectedly.
- He/she has difficulty concentrating on daily activities.
- He/she has too many ideas, talks a lot and quickly, goes from one task to another.
- He/she often looks like he/she's daydreaming - his/her mind is wandering.
- He/ she has difficulty organizing his things, fixing his bag, tidying his room.
- He/she often asks for help to complete his/her activities.
- He/she has difficulty with prewriting skills: free drawing, painting in a frame, using plasticine, scissors, copying shapes, prewriting
- He/she does not complete puzzles corresponding to his chronological age
- He/she has difficulty finding the item he or she wants among others, e.g., a particular T-shirt on the shelf of shirts.
- He/she is late, needs many reminders to complete routine daily activities e.g., meal, bath, dressing, study.
- He/she avoids activities that seem to him/her to be more demanding.
- He/she needs more help - care from his/her peers.