What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy aims to help children build the skills they need to do the everyday things that matter, from getting dressed and using cutlery to concentrating in class, making friends, and joining in at playtime.
Our paediatric occupational therapists at Chatterbox guide children through each stage of development. This means supporting toddlers as they discover movement and play, preschoolers as they transition to kindy, and school-aged children as they strengthen handwriting, concentration, emotional control, and social skills.
Our qualified OTs aim to help children with:
- Gross Motor Development
- Fine Motor Development
- Emotional regulation
- Sensory processing
- Self-Care Skills
- Social Skills
You can learn more about the conditions we work with here.
Your child may find it hard to stay seated, experience challenges with handwriting or coordination, dislike certain textures or garments, or need some extra guidance with everyday tasks, and that’s where we aim to help.
Why Might My Child Need Occupational Therapy?
Children also have occupations, similar to adults. Their daily ‘work’ involves growing, learning, playing, and interacting with others, but for some kids, these tasks can be tougher than they should be.
While many children thrive on practice, others need specific, guided support to build the skills underneath the activity. The focus isn’t on trying harder; it’s on finding an approach to learning that suits them.
Many parents hope their child will eventually catch up, but often these difficulties don’t go away by themselves. It’s not about a lack of effort; it’s about missing the essential skills that make tasks possible. Without proper support, daily activities may become more difficult and discouraging. As kids grow, expectations rise both at school and at home. That’s why early intervention is so important. By building strong foundations from the start, your child has the opportunity to thrive and avoid bigger challenges later. The positive news? Occupational therapy aims to provide that support.
How Occupational Therapy Works at Chatterbox
Starting OT can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not quite sure what to expect. Here’s how we keep it supportive and family-friendly from the very beginning:
1. Initial Assessment
We begin with a warm, play-based assessment to understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and how they participate in daily life. This helps us figure out where support may be needed and what kind of approach may suit your child best.
2. Setting Individual Goals
Once we understand how your child is tracking, we set goals together. We’ll work with you to figure out what matters most, from handling transitions to managing buttons, building play skills, and staying focused in the classroom. Then we break bigger goals into smaller, achievable steps to build momentum along the way.
When developing goals, we factor in your child’s age, growth stage, and everyday challenges so the plan feels realistic, valuable, and customised to how they learn best.
3. Engaging, Evidence-Based Therapy
At Chatterbox, our therapy sessions are:
- Personalised to suit your child’s specific needs, interests, and way of learning
- Grounded in evidence-based strategies and current research
- Structured to enhance abilities and support areas of difficulty
- Centred on building confidence, self-reliance, and involvement
Therapy might include obstacle courses, drawing or handwriting practice, sensory play, mindfulness, role play, or daily living tasks. Whatever helps your child learn, grow, and engage in a way that feels safe and enjoyable. Everything we do is neurodiversity-affirming, practical, and fun.
4. Family Support and Coaching
You are key to your child’s development, so we make it a priority to support you along the journey. Beyond giving strategies, we coach you on putting them into practice in daily life, whether at home, in routines, or during tricky times.
Our focus isn’t only on children: We support the whole family. When you feel supported, your child benefits as well.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
We track your child’s progress in every session, which allows us to adjust goals, activities, and strategies to match their needs at the moment. This ensures therapy stays relevant and achievable for both your child and your family.
Why Families Choose Chatterbox
Our practice follows a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-focused approach.
- We set family-centred goals and tailor therapy plans to your child
- We make sessions fun, engaging, and grounded in real life
- We support multiple areas of development all in one place
- Occupational therapy can be accessed with us either face-to-face or online
- A team of caring, knowledgeable therapists with real experience supports your child
All of this is included in what we provide, but do you know the most important reason?
Families come to Chatterbox for peace of mind, knowing their child is supported by people who provide more than therapy: they truly care.
What’s the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
How are therapy goals set?
We create goals in partnership with you, focusing on what’s most important for your child’s wellbeing, independence, and daily life. Then we turn big goals into smaller, realistic steps that aim to build confidence and help your child succeed.
In planning therapy, we think about your child’s age, stage of development, and individual needs to ensure it’s achievable, relevant, and aligned with the way they learn.
How often will my child attend therapy?
A schedule will be recommended by your clinician, drawing on current evidence and what works best for your child. Typically, ongoing and consistent therapy supports stronger progress.
Chatterbox offers both 60 and 90 minute sessions. Therapy is usually weekly, based on research, but families can also choose extra sessions or intensives – a great way to use school holidays or concentrate on a particular skill.
How long will my child need OT?
This depends on many factors including your child’s age, needs, goals, and how they respond to therapy. Your OT will give you a clearer picture after the initial assessment and first few sessions.
We don’t promise a “quick fix,” but we do focus on progress – helping children build skills steadily for enduring success.
Who will my child see for therapy?
Every therapist on our team is qualified, experienced, and registered with Occupational Therapy Australia. They care deeply about helping children succeed through supportive, evidence-based therapy.
Your child meets with the same therapist every week, allowing a consistent, trusting relationship to form and helping the therapist learn how your child learns best.
Life can be unpredictable, but being part of a strong team ensures support. If your clinician can’t attend, you need to change a booking or add another session, we’ve got you covered. Families have the option to see another trusted therapist whenever necessary.
Because we work closely together, your child’s goals and progress won’t get lost in the handover. And sometimes, seeing a different clinician may even support flexibility and confidence, helping your child generalise skills with different people, just like they do in everyday life.
Do you offer online OT?
Yes, we provide both in-clinic appointments and Telehealth Occupational Therapy to match your family’s needs. Online therapy often works well for busy households, children who prefer home comfort, or those in rural and remote areas.
What funding options are available?
There are several ways to access funding for OT, including NDIS, Medicare, and private health rebates. You can learn more about your funding options here.
Is there a waiting list?
Great news – there’s no waiting list right now, so your child can begin straight away. We understand how important timely access is, and we work hard to keep therapy entry quick and easy.
Where are you located?
At each of our primary locations in Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith, a dedicated team is ready to assist you and your family, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. With free on-site parking available at every clinic, attending assessments or therapy sessions is made easy and stress-free.
While our occupational therapists in Parramatta primarily help people from surrounding suburbs including Parramatta, Rosehill, Westmead, Harris Park, Rydalmere, Merrylands, Granville, Auburn, Newington, Wentworthville, Northmead, Oatlands, Lidcombe, and Guildford, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.