Occupational Therapy
South Main Clinic
February 28, 2013
By: Sheri Montgomery, Daniel Roberts, Debbie Thomas, and Shelley Woeste
Occupational Therapy promotes function and
engagement in daily habits and routines.
The “occupation” of life skills.
Areas of
Occupation
• Activities of Daily
Living
• Fine and Gross
Motor Skills
• Rest and Sleep
• Work
• Play and Leisure
• Social Participation
• Education
Activities of Daily Living
 Dressing
 Grooming; combing hair, brushing teeth
 Bathing
 Doing Laundry
 Cooking
 Managing Money
 Being safe in all environments
 Meal time help with feeding and foods
Fine and Gross
Motor Skills
• Interacting and
manipulating objects
• Coloring and writing
• Visual motor and visual
perception tasks like
puzzles, mazes and
game
• Fastening zippers,
buttons, and snaps
• Moving from the floor
to standing
• Running, jumping,
hopping, playing on the
playground
Work and Play/Leisure
 Help with finding
appropriate employment
 Offer suggestions to
modify the task or
environment for success
 Assist with training to
learn the skills needed
 Develop social skills for the
job
 Learn about money
management
 Help with interaction and
manipulation of toys and
objects
 Improve turn taking skills
 Help to develop social
skills
 Improve motor skills
 Develop problem solving
skills and abilities
 Create interest in tasks and
activities
Social Participation
 Manage Emotions
 Develop self-advocacy
skills
 Strengthen family
bonds
 Create routines and
schedules
 Develop social skills
Occupational
Therapy
• Direct services
• Service
Coordination
• Referrals to others
• Consultation
• Family Education
and Training
• Offer positioning
ideas
• Ensure safety
• Promote sensory
rich experiences
How Can Occupational
Therapy Help?
 Occupational Therapists
team with families to care
for children and promote
growth and development
in natural environments
where families live, work,
and play.
 Occupational Therapists
respect the unique
interests, cultural, needs
and priorities of the child
and family and build on
their strengths and abilities
 Occupational Therapists
support children and
families to be successful in
their everyday routines.
 Occupational Therapists
modify activities or the
environment so that
individuals can participate
independently or with
others.
 Occupational Therapists
work closely with the
families to identify their
needs.
What Can Parents and
Families Do

Encourage sensory rich play by using
balls, sand and water toys, slides,
swings, finger paints and magnets.
During sensory play, children use their
senses to as they explore, discover,
examine, and organize their activities.

Promote imaginative or pretend play
with things like dolls and stuffed
animals, toy furniture, puppets and
telephones. Pretend play encourages
creativity and role playing and provides
an opportunity to rehearse social skills.

Encourage manipulative play, such as
using play dough, playing cards,
stacking blocks or boxes, putting coins
into a piggy bank, LEGOS, and board
games. Toys such as puzzles,
pegboards, beads, lacing cards, and
hand writing to help improve the
child’s eye-hand coordination and
dexterity.

Choose toys that are appropriate to the
child’s age and/or maturity level.
Common objects, such as pots and pans,
empty boxes, spools of thread,
shoelaces, and wooden spoons are
readily accessible and encourage
children to use their imagination.

Encourage children to participate in
sports and games that could improve
visual, motor, and coordination skills,
such as playing ball, jacks, marbles, and
outdoor sports.
Recommended Toys and
Activities
 INFANTS
Rattles, mobiles, playmats,
mirrors, crib toys, infant swings,
teething toys, busy boxes and
squeeze toys
 TODDLERS AND
PRESCHOOLERS
Blocks, stacking rings,
pegboards, shape sorters, push
and pull toys, balls, books, sand
and water toys, large beads,
movement games, toy cars and
trucks, train sets, dolls, and
musical toys
 SCHOOL-AGED
CHILDREN
Building sets, books,
playground activities, bicycles,
board games, crafts, performing
art experiences-musical
instruments, plays, and
beginning sports
 MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
AND ADOLESCENTS
Athletics, books, performing
arts, after school activities,
clubs, hobbies, crafts, and
limited screen time
Community and Home
 Promote safe environments
 Promote safe
transportation
 Increase ease in transitions
 Facilitate participation in
community activities
 Support social
opportunities within the
community
 Establish healthy sleep and
nap schedules
 Design safe play and work
areas
 Support family caretaking
abilities
 Assist with routine
regarding homework