Roles and Functions of Occupational Therapy in Early Childhood Intervention

Abstract

Occupational therapy is based on the belief that purposeful activity, or occupation, may be used to generate adaptive skills of children with developmental dysfunction. Developmental activities such as feeding, movement, play, and interaction with others are the primary occupation of infants and young children. By using intrinsic motivation and purposeful activities, occupational therapy personnel encourage the child to acquire an increasing repertoire of developmental skills and coping behavior patterns. Intervention promotes sensorimotor, psychosocial, and cognitive functions and may prevent disability or decrease dysfunction in order for the child to meet personal needs and adapt to the demands of the environment. Occupational therapy facilitates the occupational performance of parents in coping effectively with the challenges of care giving and family life.