Optimal learning for little minds: the role of paediatric occupational therapy

What a paediatric OT does

The primary‘ occupation’ of a child is playing and learning. As a paediatric OT, we assess various skill sets that impact a child's ability to fulfil their roles effectively. These include:

• Fine motor skills: how well a child can use their hands.
• Cognitive skills: early thinking abilities, perceptual skills and problem-solving.
• Play/social skills: socialinteractions and different types of play.
• Self-regulation: managing sensoryinputs and behaviours.
• Self-care: activities like mealtime, toileting and dressing independently.

Importance of achieving an optimal state for learning

For children and their families to work towards their individual goals in therapy, it is important to set them up for success.

This starts with fuelling their bodies with wholesome foods and fluids to meet their bodies’ needs and in turn support an optimal state for engaging and learning.

A healthy and well-balanced wholefood diet can help children with:

• Attention and concentration: essential for learning and problem-solving.
• Focus and retention: enables learning and mastering new skills.
• Mood and behaviour: affects overall well-being and engagement.
• Emotional and sensory regulation: impacts resilience and self-regulation.
• Digestive health: supports internal balance and behaviour.
• Immunity and energy: key for stamina and overall health.

Positive experiences achieved on these foundations can also lead to overall improved self-esteem and confidence.

Mealtimes play a pivotal role in this foundation

Mealtimes play a pivotal role in this process and it’s important we as parents maximise opportunities to actively participate in mealtimes to help our children thrive and grow.

The benefits of a healthy and well-balanced diet begin with mealtimes, and in turn can support positive therapy outcomes. There are many ways to create a positive mealtime approach:

• Learning opportunity: introduce food groups, explore new foods and learn about how to fuel our bodies.
• Multi-sensory experience: engage senses like touch, taste and smell.
• Establish routine: set regular mealtimes for consistency.
• Safe environment: encourage trying newfoods without pressure. It can take 10 - 15 tries (or more) of a new food before deciding if you truly like/dislike a food.
• Social interaction: model positive eating behaviours and language.
• Child involvement: include them in food preparation and serving.
• Small portions: having a grazing plate/bento lunchbox is an effective way to offer food in small bite sizes of familiar and unfamiliar foods as well as a range of foods groups.
• Postural support: ensure a stable sitting position for comfort.