This OT Week, we are celebrating the theme Participation Matters and recognising just how important participation is for every child.
As paediatric occupational therapists, participation is at the heart of what we do. Childhood is filled with opportunities to play, learn, explore, connect with others and develop independence, and these everyday experiences are an important part of growing up. For one child, participation might mean joining their friends in a game at school, while for another it could mean getting dressed in the morning, sitting with their family at mealtimes, communicating that they need a break, attending a birthday party or having the confidence to try something new.
Every child is different, which means meaningful participation will look different for every child too.
What Does Participation Look Like for Children?
When we think about children’s participation, we are talking about the everyday activities that they need, want and enjoy doing. This can include:
- Play: Playing with toys, using their imagination, exploring the playground or sharing an activity with others.
- Learning: Participating in classroom activities, handwriting, completing projects, following routines and accessing the school environment.
- Self-care: Getting dressed, brushing teeth, using the toilet, showering, eating and helping with everyday routines.
- Friendships and social connection: Spending time with peers, communicating needs, joining group activities and developing relationships.
- Family life: Participating in mealtimes, outings, household routines, celebrations and time together.
- Community activities: Going to the shops, playing sport, visiting new places or participating in hobbies and extracurricular activities.
Participation does not mean a child needs to complete these activities independently or in exactly the same way as other children. They may need extra time, visual or sensory supports, movement breaks, help from an adult, changes to their environment or a different way of completing an activity. There is no single right way for a child to participate.
When Participation Is Hard
There can be many barriers that make participating in everyday activities more difficult for a child. A classroom may feel too noisy, getting dressed may involve uncomfortable textures, a morning routine may have too many steps to remember, a playground game may feel unpredictable or sitting through a family meal may be difficult when a child’s body needs to move.
When a child is finding an activity difficult, it can be easy to focus on what they aren’t doing. Occupational therapy encourages us to look a little deeper and consider “What might be making this difficult?” and “What does this child need to participate?”
The answer may involve developing a new skill, but it can also involve adapting the activity, changing the environment, adjusting expectations or providing additional support. Understanding what is getting in the way helps us find an approach that works for the individual child.
How Can Occupational Therapy Support Participation?
Paediatric occupational therapists work with children and the important people around them to understand what may be getting in the way of participation and identify practical ways to support them. This can involve developing fine or gross motor skills for play and school, supporting emotional regulation, exploring sensory preferences, developing independence with self-care routines, building executive functioning skills or adapting an activity or environment to make it more accessible.
Small changes can make a big difference to a child’s ability to participate. For example:
- A visual schedule can make the morning routine easier to understand and follow.
- A movement break can support a child to return to classroom activities feeling ready to engage.
- Changing how a task is presented can make it easier for a child to understand what is expected and show what they know.
- Practising dressing skills can help a child take a more active role in getting ready each day.
- Finding a quieter space at a community event can help a child continue to enjoy the experience with their family.
The aim is not for every child to do everything in the same way. It is about finding ways for each child to be involved in the activities and experiences that are meaningful to them.
Celebrating the Little Moments
When working with children, progress does not always look like a huge milestone. It can be found in the everyday moments that gradually make activities feel more manageable, enjoyable or accessible.
It might look like:
- Joining a group activity for a few minutes longer.
- Asking for help or communicating the need for a break.
- Putting on one part of their school uniform independently.
- Finding a comfortable way to join a playground game.
- Exploring or interacting with a new food without the expectation to eat it.
- Recognising what their body needs and communicating this to an adult.
- Trying an activity that previously felt too difficult or overwhelming.
These moments matter. Participation is not simply about doing more, becoming more independent or needing less support. Meaningful participation can also mean having more choice, feeling understood, accessing the right supports and being included in a way that works for that child.
Because Childhood Is Happening Now
As adults, we often think about the skills children will need later, whether that is becoming more independent, preparing for the next stage of school or developing skills they will use into adulthood. These goals are important, but childhood is not simply preparation for the future. Childhood is happening now.
Children deserve opportunities to play, belong, explore their interests, build relationships, make choices, experience success and be part of their families, schools and communities.
This OT Week, we are celebrating the many different ways children participate in the world around them, as well as the families, educators, therapists and communities who help make that participation possible. When children are provided with the right supports, environments and opportunities, they have greater opportunities to be involved in the things that are important to them.
And that is why Participation Matters.
