For children this is play, self care (feeding, eating dressing, safety…), school, and social interactions. An occupational therapist studies anatomy, neurology, development, and is able to analyze activities for functional outcomes.
The occupational therapist assesses the whole person while assisting him or her to find and perform activities that are meaningful to their lives, enabling the person to increase function that may be delayed or declined as a result of a developmental disability, accident, medical or mental condition.
The occupation of childhood is to develop skills necessary to become a functional and independent adult. These skills include: regulation and arousal level to attend and participate, sensory discrimination and processing, refinement of motor and visual processing skills, effective social interaction and communication skills, cognitive skills, age appropriate self care skills, and self concept.
Adaptive equipment (such as switches, adapted tools, and splints), sensory integration techniques, and assistive technology may be implemented by the occupational therapist to achieve specific goals.