A child’s primary occupation is play!
Play teaches a child both about themselves and about the world. Skills such as manual dexterity, core strength, muscle endurance and body awareness, as well as self awareness, self control, and non verbal imagery that are the building blocks of executive functioning. How do I do it? How much force should I use to be successful? Perseverance and frustration management. Social skills. Sharing. Turn taking. Winning and losing.
Play engages a child at an intrinsic level (inherent enjoyment) enabling them to master the skills required to perform activities of daily living (such as handwriting, dressing, using cutlery) and addressing social skills, mindfulness and mood management, sensory defensiveness or sensory seeking behaviours without the tears of learning specific tasks they often avoid.
As the parent of a special needs child I understand the importance of working collaboratively with families to deliver flexible, tailored programs that reduce the impact on caregivers and siblings. I adopt a ‘bottom up’ approach to therapy that builds on core skills using play, exploration, and confidence building through relationship modelling.