​Our Community of Practice - Occupational Therapy

Collated by our therapists, here you will find useful links to external websites, products and services that contain trusted advice in various areas of skill development. 

• Self Regulation
• Play
• Developing Hand Skills
• Self-care Skills
• Mealtimes

​Please note that any advice accessed via these links is is general in nature and is not professional advice relating to a child’s specific circumstances. If in doubt, seek professional advice.

Self Regulation

• Self Regulation by Stuart Shanker (Parent Guide)
• Canadian Self Regulation Initiative (CSRi) (Website)
• Self Regulation & Learning Video (TEDx Presentation by Stuart Shanker)
• Helping kids to self-regulate (Podcast by Stuart Shanker via Parent Footprint 2017)
• Helping kids develop self-regulation (article by parenting expert, Maggie Dent)

Play

• Play and Early Learning Handouts - photograph-based handouts created by Developmental Occupational Therapy WA
  • ​Playing with your child
  • Active play
  • Construction play
  • Pretend play
  • Sensory Play
• Let's Pretend Play - local Perth company who create "Play Pods" and provide pop up play events for schools and the community.
• ​Healthy WA Toddler Play - ideas for playing with your toddler at home.
• PlayGroups WA - find a playgroup in your local area.
• Playdough Recipe - DIY chemical-free playdough to make at home.

Developing Hand Skills​

• Activity ideas to develop hand and finger strength - Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital
• Activity ideas to develop arm coordination, strength and endurance - Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital
• Shoulder stability and control - Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital
• Early Skills for Living & Learning Handouts - Developmental Occupational Therapy WA
  • ​Scissor skills (e.g. starting to use scissors, cutting along lines, cutting shapes)
  • ​Writing (e.g. writing letters, using spaces, letter size and position)
• ​Play and Early Learning Handouts - Developmental Occupational Therapy WA
  • ​Activities for upper body strength
  • Playdough activities for hand strength 
• ​Proprioception (knowing where our bodies are in space). Produced by Next Challenge Occupational Therapists, with ideas on how to encourage development of this important skill with your child.

Self-care skills

• Early Skills for Living & Learning Handouts - Developmental Occupational Therapy WA
  • Dressing (e.g. buttons, zips, putting on tops and bottoms)
  • Grooming (e.g. brushing and washing hair, brushing teeth)
  • Routines (e.g. getting ready for bed, packing the school backpack) 

Mealtimes

• SENSE-ational Mealtimes - a book that gives strategies for parents to manage tricky mealtime behaviours at home
• ​Early Skills for Living & Learning Handouts - Developmental Occupational Therapy WA
  • ​Trying New Foods
  • Cutting up Food
  • Mealtimes​​