Occupational Therapy - Helping you to live life your way

National OT Week 1-7th November-Making a Difference

Occupational therapy and Children

• Children have a very important job to do.

• They have to grow, learn, socialise and play.

• When they are successful, children develop and thrive and this sense of achievement makes them happy.

Helping children to develop and thrive

When might a child need to see an OT

• Some children have sensory or physical difficulties which can hinder their ability to grow, learn, socialise and play.

• They may struggle with basic activities such as getting dressed or brushing their teeth

• They may have difficulty concentrating in class or lack

the confidence to play games such as catch.

How can an Occupational Therapist help?

OTs work with the child, parents and teachers to find ways to minimise the difficulties children face, helping them get the most from life.

Some of the ways an OT may help are:

• Developing activities to increase hand strength or recommending equipment to help a child to hold a pencil or fasten buttons.

• Recommending a special chair to help a severely disabled child to sit in a supported and safe way.

• Providing advice to a school on how to help a child to concentrate or participate in classroom tasks.

To find out more about your local Children’s OT service contact

Your local child development centre –

Peace Children’s Centre, WatfordPat Lewis Child Development Centre, Hemel HempsteadSt Albans Children’s Centre, St AlbansDanestrete Health Centre, StevenageBull Plain Clinic, Hertford

www.hertschs.nhs.uk www.hertsdirect.org

To find out more about a career as an OT visit the College of OT

website at