top of page

Paediatric Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy supports children to participate in the everyday activities that are important and meaningful to them.

​

At Wildflower, we take a neurodiversity-affirming approach that recognises every child is unique, with their own strengths, interests, ways of communicating, and ways of experiencing the world.

 

Our goal is not to “fix” children or make them appear more neurotypical. Instead, we focus on understanding each child as a whole person and supporting them in ways that feel meaningful, safe, and sustainable for both the child and their family.

What does a Paediatric Occupational Therapist do?

Paediatric Occupational Therapists work alongside children, families, educators, and other professionals to better understand a child’s strengths, support needs, environment, and goals.

​

Support may focus on areas such as:

  • emotional regulation

  • sensory processing

  • play and social participation

  • confidence and self-esteem

  • independence and daily routines

  • attention and executive functioning

  • school participation

  • motor skills and coordination
     

Every child’s support journey looks different, and therapy is always tailored to the individual child and family.

What concerns can OT help with?

Children and families may access Occupational Therapy support for many different reasons.
 

Some children may experience challenges with:

  • emotional regulation

  • sensory differences

  • anxiety

  • transitions and routines

  • attention and concentration

  • coordination and motor skills

  • social connection and play

  • school participation

  • independence with everyday tasks
     

Sometimes families reach out with very clear goals or concerns, while other times they may simply feel that something is becoming harder for their child or family than expected.
 

That’s okay too.

What does neurodiversity-affirming mean?

Being neurodiversity-affirming means recognising that neurological differences are a natural part of human diversity.
 

At Wildflower, we aim to create supports that:

  • respect each child’s individuality

  • support autonomy and consent

  • honour sensory and communication differences

  • build confidence and self-understanding

  • reduce shame and masking where possible
     

We understand that children do well when they feel safe, understood, connected, and supported.
 

Rather than focusing on changing who a child is, we focus on helping children participate in ways that feel meaningful and sustainable for them.

Are sessions play-based?

Often, yes. Play is one of the primary ways children explore, connect, communicate, and learn.
 

Depending on your child’s age, interests, and goals, sessions may include:

  • games

  • movement activities

  • sensory play

  • creative activities

  • emotional regulation supports

  • problem-solving activities
     

Therapy should feel engaging, supportive, and relationship-focused, not like a test or classroom environment.

What does support look like at Wildflower?

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to therapy.
 

Some children may spend time building trust and connection before engaging in more structured activities. Others may benefit from sensory supports, movement, play, strategy development, emotional regulation support, or collaboration with families and schools.
 

Therapy can sometimes look very different from what people expect, and that’s okay.


We meet children where they are at.


Our focus is always on building support that feels respectful, meaningful, and responsive to the individual child and family.

Who do we support?

We support children and young people aged 2 to 17 with a wide range of developmental, sensory, emotional regulation, functional, and neurodevelopmental support needs.
 

This may include children who:

  • experience developmental differences or delays compared to peers

  • are undiagnosed but show traits of neurodivergence

  • are autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD

  • experience learning, coordination, or motor-based challenges

  • may benefit from additional support with everyday participation, regulation, confidence, play, or school life

Still Have Questions?

We understand every child and family is different. If you’re unsure where to start or would simply like to talk things through, our team is always happy to help.

​

You can contact our team via phone, email, or our website enquiry form and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

​

If you’re ready to get started, you can also complete our New Patient Enquiry Form below.

bottom of page