At Milestones, our mission is to support the local community by offering comprehensive therapy services that address the diverse needs of children. Our inclusion of occupational therapy services stems from our commitment to promoting participation in activities that children and families value as meaningful and important. This approach not only improves overall health and wellbeing but also enhances community engagement.
The Core of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists play a crucial role in helping individuals, adults and children, engage in meaningful and relevant activities. For children, this often involves participation in school, play, independence in daily routines, feeding tasks, toileting, and ensuring safety within the community. Underpinning all these activities are essential skills such as fine and gross motor development, sensory processing, and functional skills. The environment also significantly impacts a child's ability to participate in these activities.
Areas of Focus at Milestones
Occupational Therapy at Milestones focuses on several key areas of development and daily living, including:
Participation at School and Play: Supporting children to engage effectively in educational and recreational activities.
Self-Care Skills: Helping with dressing, grooming, and feeding.
Toileting: Assisting with independence and confidence in toileting tasks.
Functional Skills: Including time and money management.
Sleep: Addressing issues that impact sleep quality and routines.
Additionally, we target underlying motor, sensory, functional, cognitive, and social aspects of development to support overall growth and participation.
Our Clientele
We provide occupational therapy services for children aged 0-16 years. For younger children, our interventions are often play-based with a strong emphasis on parent coaching. For adolescents, we focus on functional skills, transitioning to high school, executive functioning, and self-advocacy.
Techniques and Activities
Occupational therapists use a variety of techniques and activities to support children's development. Play is a crucial method, serving both as a goal and a means to achieve other developmental objectives. Through play, children develop motor skills and learn to self-regulate. Another approach is child-led therapy, which leverages a child’s intrinsic motivation to engage in tasks, fostering strong relationships with parents and trusted adults.
Collaboration for Holistic Care
Our occupational therapists collaborate closely with other professionals, such as speech pathologists, teachers, and doctors, to provide holistic care. For example, an occupational therapist may work with a speech therapist to support a child's communication or with teachers to implement strategies that facilitate school participation. Doctors often rely on occupational therapists for comprehensive assessments and referrals.
Specialised Services
At Milestones, we offer specialized services such as:
Feeding Therapy: Utilizing the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach.
Sensory Processing Intervention: Through protocols like therapeutic listening programs, sensory diets, and sensory supports.
Fine Motor Skills Development: Through activities that enhance strengthening and manual dexterity.
The Role of Parents and Caregivers
Parents and caregivers are central to the therapy process. They provide valuable insights into how a child participates at home and implement strategies to support their child's progress. Parents also play a crucial role in co-regulating their child's emotions and modelling strategies within their routines.
Advice for Concerned Parents
If you are concerned about your child's development, early intervention is key. While researching online can be helpful, it can also be overwhelming and sometimes misleading. An assessment by an occupational therapist will provide a comprehensive, standardised, and individualised summary of your child’s development, from which the best therapy pathway can be devised to support your child in achieving their goals.
At Milestones, we are dedicated to helping children develop the skills they need to participate fully in their daily lives. Whether it's through addressing fine motor skills, sensory processing, or functional abilities, our occupational therapists are here to support each child and their family. If you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to contact us—we're here to help!
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