Early Intervention Matters!
At Skilful Strides Occupational Therapy, we firmly believe that early intervention matters because it lays the groundwork for a lifetime of success and well-being for children. Early identification and support can make a profound difference in a child's development, helping them build essential skills and overcome challenges early on.
Unlock your child’s potential
At Skilful Strides Occupational Therapy, we specialize in early child intervention guided by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Here's how we can help:
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Our experienced occupational therapists conduct thorough assessments to understand your child's unique strengths and challenges.
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We develop personalised intervention plans tailored to your child's goals and needs, focusing on areas such as motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, and social-emotional development.
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Our dedicated therapists provide individualized therapy sessions to support your child's development and enhance their participation in daily activities. We empower families with the knowledge and strategies they need to support their child's progress at home and in the community.
Early Childhood Services we can provide at Skilful Strides:
Sensory
processing
challenges
Fine Motor Skill Development
Behavioural support
Gross Motor Skill Development
Self Care Skills
Social-Emotional Skills
Cognitive Skills
Why Is
Play So Important?
Through play, children explore, experiment, and make sense of the world around them, engaging their minds, bodies, and emotions in meaningful experiences. Play promotes cognitive skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking, while also fostering social-emotional development through interaction, communication, and collaboration with peers. Additionally, play supports physical development by encouraging movement, coordination, and motor skills. By providing opportunities for hands-on exploration, imaginative expression, and joyful engagement, play cultivates a love for learning, resilience, and a lifelong curiosity that prepares children for success in school and beyond.
How The Brain Works During Play:
Dopamine Release
Play triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, and motivation. When children experience enjoyment and satisfaction during play, their brains release dopamine, reinforcing learning and increasing motivation to engage in playful activities.
Sensory Processing
Play engages the sensory systems of the brain, including visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular processing. When children manipulate objects, explore environments, and engage in sensory-rich play experiences, their brains receive and process sensory input, contributing to sensory integration and perception.
Neural Plasticity
Play stimulates neural plasticity, the brain's ability to reorganise and form new connections in response to experiences and learning. Through play, children's brains are constantly adapting and rewiring as they encounter new challenges, solve problems, and acquire new skills.
Emotional Regulaiuton
Play supports emotional regulation by activating regions of the brain involved in emotion processing, such as the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Through play, children have opportunities to express and regulate their emotions, leading to increased emotional resilience and self-regulation skills
