What Do Occupational Therapists Do?

Occupational Therapists support their clients to participate in the everyday activities that they want to do, need to do or are expected to do. Across different health settings and across the lifespan, the role of OT’s changes significantly. 

At Cooee, our Occupational Therapists (OTs) work closely with children and their families to help kids build the meaningful skills that they need for everyday life.

In childhood, these everyday tasks—or occupations—include everything from self-care and learning, to play and social engagement.

Some children’s occupations can include:

• Self-care tasks like eating, toileting, brushing teeth, and dressing
• Playing independently and with others 
• Participating in early learning, kindy, and school
• Navigating their environment at home and in the community

Why Might My Child See an OT?

Children may see an OT for many different reasons. At Cooee, we commonly support children to develop the following skills: 

• • Motor skills – Developing both gross motor skills (e.g., running, jumping, balancing) and fine motor skills (e.g., holding a pencil, using cutlery, buttoning clothes).
  • Sensory processing – supporting children to understand their sensory preferences and to navigate their daily environments while maintaining sensory regulation
  • Play and social engagement – Supporting children to develop their play skills so that they can learn about the world around them, collaborate with others and form meaningful relationships with peers
  • Emotional regulation – Assisting children to recognise their emotions and to navigate big feelings

• Attention and executive functioning – Supporting children to be able to attend to activities, transition smoothly between activities and flexibly problem solve 

• School readiness and participation – From handwriting and positioning to managing routines, we support children to succeed in their early learning environments.

What Does OT Look Like at Cooee?

At Cooee, Occupational Therapy sessions are play-based, engaging, and child-centred. We know that children learn best through play and having fun. Building trust and rapport is a key part of therapy, allowing us to create meaningful, motivating activities tailored to your child’s goals.

A session might include: 

• Building fine motor skills through puzzles, Lego, craft or theraputty 
• Using sensory tools such as body socks, wobble cushions or fidget toys to support regulation 
• Engaging in role play or play activities to achieve therapy goals 
• Using visual routines and supports to build structure and independence
• Breaking down tasks and creating plans to support engagement and achievement in daily tasks 
• Supporting emotional regulation through reflections, guided coaching and practice of strategies 

We also work closely with parents, carers, support workers, teachers and other professionals. This helps to make sure that your child is supported, not just in therapy sessions – but also at home, in kindy or school, and when in the community. 

Whether your child needs support with everyday routines, emotional regulation, social connection, or school participation, Occupational Therapists are here to help. At Cooee, we’re passionate about empowering children to grow, explore, and thrive in all the roles that make up their world. 

Written by Occupational Therapist, Kiara Moodley, June 2025