What Happens in an Occupational Therapy Session? A Guide for Parents
By Ema Bartolo ·
As an Occupational Therapist in Malta, I understand that entering a therapy clinic for the first time brings uncertainty. Many parents wonder what occupational therapy actually involves in practice. Learning what a session entails can help reduce anxiety and prepare your child for a productive experience.
The First Step: Assessment
Before therapy commences, there is always an assessment:
- Parent interview: We begin by listening to you. Your observations about your child are invaluable
- Standardised assessments: Formal assessment tools to measure fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, sensory processing, or other areas
- Clinical observation: We watch how your child moves, plays, interacts, and responds to different sensory experiences
- School or nursery liaison: With your permission, we may contact your child’s school for additional information
After assessment, we provide a written report with findings, recommendations, and therapy goals. This report is also useful for school statementing processes in Malta.
What a Typical Therapy Session Looks Like
To observers, an OT session might resemble play. In many ways, it is — because play is a child’s primary occupation and the most effective way for them to learn. However, every activity is deliberately chosen to target specific goals.
A Session Might Include
- Sensory activities: Swinging, climbing, jumping on a trampoline, playing with different textures, or using weighted equipment
- Fine motor tasks: Cutting with scissors, threading beads, building with small blocks, or practising pencil grip
- Gross motor activities: Obstacle courses, balance beam walking, ball games, or climbing
- Self-care practice: Practising buttons, zips, shoe tying, or using cutlery
- Cognitive and executive function tasks: Sequencing activities, following multi-step instructions, or turn-taking activities
- Visual-motor activities: Puzzles, mazes, copying shapes, or handwriting practice
How Long Is a Session?
A typical paediatric OT session lasts between 45 minutes and one hour. Frequency depends on your child’s needs — some children attend weekly, others fortnightly.
The Role of the Parent During Sessions
At WonderKids, we encourage parents to be part of the process:
- Observe the session to understand the strategies and why certain activities are chosen
- Participate directly when we coach you within the session
- Receive a home programme with what was worked on and what to do at home
The Home Programme
A weekly session is important, but daily practice at home is where lasting change occurs. Home programmes are practical and achievable — simple activities like playing with playdough before homework, practising an obstacle course in the garden, or incorporating specific movements into your morning routine.
How Progress Is Tracked
We set clear, measurable goals and review them regularly. Progress might look like improved handwriting legibility, greater independence with dressing, better attention span, fewer meltdowns, or increased confidence on the playground.
Call us at +356 77048650 or email info@wonderkids.mt.