Paediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) is a specialised area of healthcare focused on helping children develop the skills necessary for daily living, learning, and play. Paediatric Occupational Therapists assess each child's unique needs and create tailored intervention plans that may include improving fine motor skills, enhancing sensory processing, fostering social skills, supporting play development, and promoting self-care routines. Therapy can include play based interventions, adapted exercises, and assistive tools and/or strategies to engage children in a way that is enjoyable and developmentally appropriate.

Key goals of paediatric OT are to enhance a child's independence, increase their confidence, and improve their overall quality of life. By collaborating with families and other professionals, occupational therapists ensure a holistic approach to the child's development and well-being. As children progress through therapy, they often achieve significant milestones that contribute to their personal growth and success in everyday activities.

Paediatric Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that utilises play as a medium for children to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Recognising that children often have difficulty articulating their emotions or processing complex situations verbally, play therapy provides an alternative avenue for self-expression. This method is particularly effective for children facing emotional challenges, trauma, behavioural issues, or developmental disorders.

Through play, children can reenact experiences, explore their emotions, and engage in problem-solving. The therapist observes and interacts with the child, facilitating discussions to help them understand their feelings and develop coping strategies.

Play therapy is grounded in the belief that play is essential to a child's growth and healing. Play can help foster communication skills, emotional regulation, and social interactions while building resilience. By involving parents and caregivers, therapists can reinforce the skills learned in therapy at home, promoting a holistic approach to the child's emotional and psychological well-being and supporting their overall development.

Parent coaching in paediatric occupational or play therapy is a crucial element that fosters collaboration between parents, children, and therapists. Parent coaching provides parents with the opportunity to ask questions, seek feedback, and gain insight into how to reinforce therapeutic strategies at home. This guidance helps parents feel more confident and involved, translating therapy goals into everyday activities.

When parents are actively engaged, therapy sessions are more productive, and trust is built across the entire support system. Furthermore, parent coaching empowers families to better address challenges at home, making treatment more effective. Through this collaborative approach, the child’s development is nurtured both in and out of therapy, fostering a more holistic, supportive environment that promotes long-term growth and success.