What is Occupational
Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of therapy that helps people of all ages participate in the activities that are important to them. These activities, also known as "occupations," can range from daily tasks like getting dressed, eating, and playing to more complex activities like learning, working, and socialising. The aim of occupational therapy is to help individuals become more independent, build confidence, and improve their ability to engage in meaningful activities, despite any physical, sensory, or developmental challenges they may face.
For children, occupational therapy often focuses on developing skills that are essential for school, play, and daily living. These might include:
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Motor skills: For example, learning to hold a pencil, button clothes, or use utensils.
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Sensory processing: Helping children manage how they respond to different sensory experiences, like sounds, textures, or bright lights.
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Self-regulation: Helping children control their emotions and behaviour so they can focus and interact more easily.
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Social skills: Supporting children in navigating social situations and developing relationships with peers and adults.
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One of the primary goals of occupational therapy is to help children develop the motor skills they need to complete everyday tasks.
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Fine motor skills: These are the smaller movements, like using a pencil, holding scissors, buttoning clothes, or tying shoelaces. OT can help children improve hand-eye coordination, hand strength, and dexterity.
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Gross motor skills: These involve larger movements, like running, jumping, climbing, or riding a bike. OT can help children develop balance, coordination, and strength, which are essential for physical activities and self-care tasks like dressing.
What is Sensory
Integration Therapy?
Sensory processing refers to how we take in information from our senses (touch, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and movement) and make sense of it. For many individuals, the brain may have trouble organising or interpreting this sensory input, leading to difficulties in responding appropriately. For example, a child may be overly sensitive to certain textures, sounds, or light, or they may seek out intense sensory experiences like spinning or crashing into things.
In Ayres Sensory Integration therapy, the goal is to help individuals process sensory information more effectively so they can respond in a way that is adaptive and functional. This is done through carefully designed activities that challenge the child’s sensory system in a fun and structured way. Over time, these activities help the brain develop new pathways to better process sensory input and improve overall functioning.
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Key Concepts of Ayres Sensory Integration:
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Neuroplasticity: The idea that the brain can change and reorganise itself based on sensory experiences. By providing the right sensory experiences, we can help the brain develop more effective pathways for processing and responding to sensory information.
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Individualised Approach: Every child is unique, so ASI therapy is tailored to the individual’s specific sensory profile. The therapist will assess how the child processes different types of sensory input and create a therapy plan based on their needs.
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Sensory-rich Activities: The therapy includes activities like swinging, jumping, or playing with textured materials to help the child engage with different types of sensory experiences in a safe and controlled way. These activities are designed to be both fun and therapeutic.
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Improvement in Daily Life: By improving sensory processing, ASI therapy helps children develop better motor skills, coordination, self-regulation, and social interactions, making it easier for them to engage in everyday tasks at school, home, and in the community.
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Services
Fun & Gains therapy specialise in Sensory Integration for children and young people, but that is not all we offer. The services we routinely offer , including but not limited to:
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Fine motor skills
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Gross motor skills
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Sensory Processing
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Handwriting
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Self-care skills
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Emotional regulation
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Behavioural management
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Parenting support and advice
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Teacher and school staff training
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EHCP provision and reviews
Full Assessment
This assessment package offers 2 hour, face to face, assessment with the therapist and your child in your home, standardised questionnaires for parents/carers to complete and an in-depth report with description of the assessment, results and recommendations for home and/or school.
Two part assessment
This assessment package offers a 2 hour, face to face, assessment in your child’s educational setting, discussions and standardised questionnaires for teachers and an in-depth report with description of the assessment, results and recommendations for school.
This assessment is ideal if you are concerned about your child’s progression, behaviours or needs at school.
Sensory Assessment
This assessment package will assess your child's full sensory profile and provide a short summary report on how their sensory profile may impact on daily functioning. Also provided are brief recommendations on how to support your child's sensory needs.
Address
21 Dental Close
Borden
Kent
ME10 1DT
Phone
07715901200
