Something that comes up a lot in paediatric OT — and research continues to support — is how much of a child’s progress happens between sessions, not during them.
A recent case series looking at home-based rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy explored what happens when parents are supported to carry therapeutic activities into everyday routines. The findings point to something OT practitioners already see in practice: when families understand the why behind a strategy, and feel confident using it at home, children have more opportunities to practise and build on what they’re working toward.
At Care For Welfare, our therapist works in the spaces where children actually live — at home, at school, in the backyard. Not in a clinic room that a child has to translate back to real life. That means the people who know a child best — their parents and carers — are part of the work from the start. Our therapist can show a parent how a morning routine can quietly build fine motor practice, or how a play activity already happening at home can support sensory regulation.
It’s not about adding more to an already full day. It’s about making what’s already there work a little harder.
General information only. Not personal advice. Speak with your child’s OT or NDIS support coordinator for guidance specific to your situation.
For the parents reading this — what’s one part of your child’s day where you’ve noticed therapy strategies seem to carry over naturally?
