For parents seeking help for their children with autism, a great solution is to reach out to occupational therapy practitioners. They employ a variety of methods to help address and promote a variety of skills to help children fully participate in various day-to-day activities. In other words, they help build necessary skills like dressing, finishing schoolwork, playing, and more!
That being said, if you want to learn more about what skills occupational therapy practitioners can help address in your children with autism, here are a couple of examples:
1. Emotional Skills
One of the most important foundational skills for any child is emotional health. Through occupational therapy, your child will be given a space to work through, and resolve, a lot of their emotional issues. This will, in turn, create a better sense of emotional health, which will help them engage with others better.
2. Self-Care Skills
Another skill that children with autism often lack is the ability to take care of themselves. Through practicing things like dressing and undressing, they will be able to build their self-care skills. This will allow them to participate in the things they want to do outside of their home, which is incredibly important for their overall health.
3. Social Skills
Most children with autism have issues with communicating with others, especially verbally. Through occupational therapy for autism, your child will be provided with a space to work through and overcome their issues with communication. In doing so, they will be able to learn to communicate more effectively with others, which will ultimately make them happier.
4. Sensory Processing Skills
Children with autism are often hypersensitive to certain physical sensations. For example, they might find it hard to touch certain textures or tastes or even loud noises. Through occupational therapy, your child can learn to better cope with these situations, as well as learn how to respond to them in a more constructive way.
5. Organisation Skills
A common issue that a lot of children with autism have is difficulty organising their thoughts. Although there are various theories on what causes autism, one of them concerns how children with this disorder have brains that don’t process information in a traditional way. Through occupational therapy, your child will be taught to better organise their thoughts, which will allow them to engage with others in a more meaningful way.
6. Motor Skills
Children with autism often have trouble with motor skills. This can include everything from sitting down and standing up to scooting around and walking. Through the help of occupational therapy, your child will be able to learn how to better use their motor skills. This will allow them to engage with others and themselves more fully.
Conclusion
Whether you are struggling with a child who has autism or you have children with or at risk of having autism, occupational therapy can provide a variety of benefits. From social to emotional to sensory, there are a ton of skills that your children can learn. If you’re interested in getting your child the help they need, reach out to a local paediatric occupational therapist today!
Cloud Nine Therapy Services is a child-centered occupational therapy practice that offers the help parents need to help their child or children overcome autism, dyslexia, and other problems. If you are looking for autism therapy in Blacktown, reach out to us today!