As a parent, you know your child best. Sometimes something just feels off — your child seems to be working harder than their peers to do things that look effortless for others. Perhaps mornings are a battle over socks. Perhaps their teacher has raised concerns about handwriting. Perhaps they fall apart in busy environments in a way that goes beyond typical toddler behaviour.
Paediatric occupational therapy (OT) helps children develop the skills they need to participate fully in the everyday activities of childhood — playing, learning, getting dressed, making friends and managing their emotions. But how do you know when it might be time to reach out?
What does a paediatric occupational therapist actually do?
Paediatric OTs assess and treat the physical, sensory, cognitive and emotional skills that underpin a child’s ability to function in daily life. Unlike physiotherapists (who focus primarily on movement and physical recovery) or speech pathologists (who focus on communication), OTs look at the whole child and how they engage with their world.
Sessions are play-based, fun, and tailored to each child’s unique profile. The goal is always more independence, confidence, and joy in everyday life.
Key signs your child may benefit from OT
Sensory sensitivity or seeking
Children with sensory processing differences may be easily overwhelmed by sounds, textures, lights or smells — or they may constantly seek out intense sensory experiences like crashing, spinning or touching everything. Common signs include:
- Covering ears in normal environments (supermarkets, school assemblies)
- Refusing certain foods because of texture, temperature or smell
- Distress over clothing tags, sock seams or certain fabrics
- Crashing into furniture, people or objects frequently
- Struggling to settle or transition between activities
Fine motor difficulties
Fine motor skills — the small muscle movements of the hands and fingers — underpin handwriting, scissors, cutlery, buttons, and most school tasks. Signs of fine motor difficulties include:
- Awkward pencil grip or avoidance of drawing and colouring
- Messy or illegible handwriting for their age
- Difficulty using scissors, cutlery, or doing up buttons and zips
- Complaining that their hand hurts when writing
- Tiring quickly during writing tasks
Self-care struggles
Getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating independently and managing toileting are all developmental milestones. When children fall significantly behind their peers in these areas, OT can help. Signs include:
- Significant difficulty dressing or undressing for their age
- Needing a lot of support at mealtimes well beyond what’s typical
- Ongoing difficulty with toilet training despite readiness
- Distress or resistance around grooming tasks
Emotional regulation and behaviour
All children have meltdowns — but some children experience frequent, intense emotional dysregulation that affects their friendships, learning and family life. OT can help when:
- Meltdowns are intense and hard to recover from
- Your child struggles to cope with losing, transitions or unexpected changes
- Anxiety is affecting their ability to participate in daily activities
- They’re finding it hard to make or keep friendships
- Impulsive behaviour is creating difficulties at home or school
Gross motor and coordination challenges
While OTs primarily focus on fine motor and daily living skills, we also address coordination, body awareness and movement challenges that affect a child’s confidence and participation in play. Signs include appearing clumsy, avoiding physical games, difficulty with ball skills, or challenges with riding a bike or climbing.
Do you need a referral or diagnosis?
No — you don’t need a GP referral or a formal diagnosis to see a paediatric OT at South Eastern OT. If you have concerns about your child’s development, you can contact us directly and book a free 15-minute phone consultation. A GP referral is only required if you want to claim a Medicare rebate through a Chronic Disease Management plan.
What happens next?
If you recognise some of these signs in your child, the best first step is a conversation. At South Eastern OT, we offer a free 15-minute phone chat where you can share your concerns and we can help you decide whether an OT assessment would be helpful. There’s no pressure and no commitment required.
You can also try our free developmental checklist — a quick, friendly tool designed to help parents identify areas where their child might benefit from extra support.