Functional activities and everyday routines

At Adelaide Night and Day Family Therapy our paediatric occupational therapists aim to help children with physical, sensory or cognitive disabilities develop their independence and lead a rich and rewarding life through participating in meaningful activities and relationships. These are often called Activities of Daily Living or ADL’s. Sometimes, children may struggle to perform simple everyday tasks or maintain social relationships due to living with a disability or learning issues, or conditions such as an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our paediatric occupational therapists aim to support children and families help overcome some of these problems by recommending changes that may make the activity easier or by teaching thActivities of Daily Living - Functional Routinese child a different way to complete the activity. In some cases, the therapist may recommend adaptations to the environment, that may include equipment or modifications and provide education for family members and caregivers to help maximise your child’s ability to engage in activities or refer you to services that can be of further help To help your child cope with functional activities and everyday routines, our experienced occupational therapists often use on a combination of play and meaningful activities develop customised interventions. We create individual treatment plans and are guided by developmental milestones to support your child in reaching their development.

In most cases, children with disabilities benefit greatly from daily routines which can promote the development of functional performance skills. Depending on your child’s age and needs, our Adelaide Night and Day Family Therapy occupational therapists can offer interventions in a one-on-one setting. We may also incorporate tactile, proprioceptive and vestibular sensory-based activities to to support performance and participation in everyday activities.

The ultimate goal of Adelaide Night and Day Family Therapy is to work with families promote positive outcomes in your child’s health and well-being and help them perform everyday routines and functional activities with ease. Some of the daily living skills activities we focus on include:

  • Exploration and Play
  • Dressing and Toileting Personal hygiene and Grooming
  • Mealtimes
  • Toileting and Toilet Training
  • Posture and seating
  • Habits and routines for home
  • Seating, pre-writing and organisation skills for school
  • Handwriting
  • Coordination in play, home and school activities

Paediatric occupational therapy can also help your child establish and follow important daily routines, such as getting up on time, following a schedule throughout the day, or remaining focused while doing a task. A key element of the treatment is establishing a routine that is easy to follow but also teaching the child that flexibility is just as important as structure. We do so by showing the child that there are days of the week, like holidays or weekends, where the routine can be relaxed as fun and play are critical to a child’s healthy development. If there is a particular area of concern regarding your child’s ability to perform functional activities, our occupational therapists will create an individualised strategy based on your child’s and your family’s needs.