My Experience Starting Occupational Therapy (OT) at 1 Year and 7 Months Old: Understanding My Child's Traits and How to Interact with Them Through Developmental Outpatient Care
After receiving a diagnosis at the developmental outpatient clinic, we decided to start "Occupational Therapy (OT)."
"What do you do in OT?"
"Is it meaningful even for such a young child?"
Honestly, I was full of anxiety before starting.
What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
In Occupational Therapy (OT), we provide support to children with developmental traits to
increase the things they can do in their daily lives and play.
Specifically, it includes:
Daily living activities such as getting dressed and eating
Play and physical exercise
Interacting with others (social skills)
and helping them grow in ways that suit the child.
Also,
Support for sensory sensitivities or dullness
Addressing difficulties in group settings (nursery school/school)
are also areas they can look into.
Furthermore, occupational therapists are there to provide concrete advice not only to the child but also to the adults around them, such as parents and nursery teachers, on "how to interact with them."
Content of the OT received at 1 year and 7 months old (play-centered therapy)
I was guided to a room that looked just like a playground exclusively for children.
Ball pit
Slide
Swing
Inside the small room, there were many pieces of play equipment prepared.
In that space, the occupational therapist plays with my child while observing their reactions.
My child's behavior as seen through play
That time was very impressive as a parent.
The way they played happily
The moments they seemed anxious
How their reaction suddenly dulled when faced with something they couldn't do
It might be the first time I've seen my child in this way
It was such a fresh experience that I felt that way.
My child's characteristics observed during OT (reasons for behavior)
Finally, the occupational therapist gave an explanation.
It's not that they don't make eye contact, but rather that it becomes harder for them to make eye contact when they are anxious or dealing with something they find difficult.
Furthermore,
Their range of interests is a bit narrow
It is hard for them to focus even when invited
I was also told about these characteristics.
Key points mentioned by the occupational therapist
This explanation was particularly memorable.
If they don't focus on what you are pointing at for shared attention, it can sometimes make language acquisition more difficult.
And as for the future policy,
From now on, let's focus on developing 'interactive play'.
What is interactive play?
The basis of interactive play is play that involves back-and-forth interaction like playing house.
However, this time, it was explained that we would proceed by
playing together
observing reactions
increasing interactions
while moving our bodies.
Therapy you can do at home (Give and Take)
I was taught to try being mindful of these things at home.
▶ "Give" and "Take" interactions
Give (Choudai)
👉 Clap your hands twice and hold both palms out toward the other personTake (Douzo)
👉 Hold both palms out toward the other person
The key is to do this together while saying the words out loud.
The same concept as Baby Signs
What I thought after trying it was,
👉 "This is the same as Baby Signs!"
Not just words, but also
movements (gestures)
facial expressions
voice
By pairing them together, it becomes easier for the child to understand.
What I felt after receiving Occupational Therapy (OT)
Developmental support is not 'special training,' but an extension of play
There is always a reason for a child's reaction
There are parts that change depending on how parents interact
And above all,
'I learned how to interact with my child'
This was the biggest takeaway.
Summary: Developmental support is a time for realization
Developmental support was not 'special training,' but a time to understand my child's characteristics.
If there is anyone else who feels 'I don't know how to interact with my child,' I think that just hearing the perspective of a professional can change how you see things.
Next time preview
Next time, I will talk about the results of what I actually tried at home and the changes in my child.
I will share the realistic changes in how I incorporated what I learned in developmental support into our daily life.
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