WHAT IS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
Occupational Therapy maximises your child’s ability to participate in their everyday important activities or ‘occupations’.
Childhood occupations include activities that enable them to learn and develop life skills, be creative and derive enjoyment, and thrive in their roles as play partner, student, and family member. Some examples include:
- Play, movement and sensory exploration, developing and pursuing areas of interest and leisure.
- Participating in daily self-care routines such as independence with getting ready in the morning, dressing, feeding, hygiene, completing chores or household duties.
- Developing and mastering the skills involved with being a pre-schooler or student such as sustaining attention, organisation/planning, fine motor and handwriting skills.
- Developing emotional regulation to cope with challenging moments.
- Social participation and managing relationships.
When challenges or disability affect an individual’s participation in key occupations, OT’s can help to assess limiting factors, support skill acquisition and development, adapt or modify activities, materials, and environmental conditions to better support engagement and success. We collaborate with a child’s parents, teachers, and support system to enable carry-over and progress across settings.
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION TO WILLOW TREES?
The short story is we love nature and trees! We have fond memories of playing outdoors e.g. climbing/swinging, relaxing/playing in the shade of a tree or using leaves, flowers or seeds for pretend play.
Willow Trees are also known to represent balance, learning, growth and harmony. They thrive growing close to a river or lake, which gives them strength. In order for children to be able to learn and grow, they need to first be supported with a balanced and supportive environment, providing just the right level of task modification and challenge. Which is why we prefer to work closely with the child’s family and educational team within their natural environment. Children can then thrive, be aware of their social world, self-regulate their emotions, learn new skills and achieve their goals.