Question 1

Why can't my child sit still at carpet time?

Accepted Answer

If your child is constantly moving, lying down, touching other children, getting up or struggling to listen during carpet time, there may be more going on than simply not wanting to sit still.Some children need more movement to stay focused, find sitting on the floor physically difficult or become overwhelmed by noise and other sensory input.Occupational therapy can help identify why carpet time is hard and develop strategies to support attention, regulation and participation.

Question 2

Why is my child so rough with other kids?

Accepted Answer

My child is often described as rough in the playground, pushes too hard, bumps into other children or doesn't seem to realise when they are hurting someone.This can sometimes be linked to difficulties with body awareness, sensory seeking, force control, regulation or understanding personal space.An occupational therapist can help work out what is driving the behaviour and support your child to better understand their body, control their movements and take part in play more safely and successfully.

Question 3

Why won't my child copy actions or join in games like Simon Says?

Accepted Answer

Some children avoid copying actions, action songs, movement games or activities like Simon Says because they find motor planning, coordination, attention or body awareness difficult.An occupational therapist can assess whether your child is having trouble planning and copying movements and help build the skills they need for everyday activities, play, sport and classroom participation.

Question 4

Why does my child listen one-on-one but not in a group?

Accepted Answer

Some children can follow instructions perfectly when an adult is speaking directly to them, but struggle in a classroom, kindy group or busy environment.This can happen when there is too much noise, too many distractions or too much information to process at once.An occupational therapist can help understand whether attention, sensory processing, regulation or difficulty following multi-step instructions is affecting your child's participation.

Question 5

Why is my child always bumping into people and things?

Accepted Answer

If your child regularly crashes into furniture, bumps into other children, knocks things over or seems unaware of personal space, they may have difficulty knowing where their body is in space.Occupational therapy can help assess body awareness, sensory processing and movement control and support your child to move more safely and confidently.

Question 6

Why does my child melt down after school?

Accepted Answer

Some children appear to cope well all day at school and then fall apart as soon as they get home.The effort of managing noise, social expectations, classroom demands, transitions and sensory input throughout the day can be exhausting.An occupational therapist can help identify what is overwhelming your child and develop practical strategies to make the school day and after-school routine easier to manage.

Question 7

Why is toilet training so hard for my child?

Accepted Answer

Toilet training can be difficult for children who struggle to notice when they need to go, dislike the feeling or sound of the bathroom, have difficulty sitting on the toilet or become anxious around toileting.An occupational therapist can help identify what is making toileting difficult and develop strategies to support comfort, body awareness and independence.

Question 8

Why does my child refuse to go to school?

Accepted Answer

School refusal can happen for many different reasons. Your child may be anxious, overwhelmed by noise or crowds, struggling socially, finding classroom work difficult or having trouble with transitions and routines.Occupational therapy can help identify which parts of the school day are hardest for your child and work with your family and school to make participation more manageable.

Question 9

Why does my child avoid sport, dance or group activities?

Accepted Answer

Your child may want to join in but find it hard to copy movements, keep up with the group, follow instructions, coordinate their body or manage the noise and activity around them.Occupational therapy can help identify the skills that are getting in the way and build your child's confidence with movement, coordination and participation.If strength, balance or gross motor development is also a concern, paediatric physiotherapy may be helpful.

Question 10

Why does my child walk on their toes?

Accepted Answer

Some children walk on their toes occasionally, while others do it frequently.Persistent toe walking can sometimes be linked to sensory preferences, muscle tightness, strength, balance or the way a child has learned to move.A paediatric occupational therapist or physiotherapist can assess why your child is toe walking and whether any support is needed.

Question 11

Why does my child struggle to make friends?

Accepted Answer

Some children find it hard to join games, understand personal space, notice when another child is upset or know what to say and do in social situations.These difficulties can be linked to regulation, sensory processing, body awareness or difficulty reading social cues.Occupational therapy can help support the skills your child needs to feel more confident and successful when playing and interacting with others.

Question 12

Why does my child seem not to listen or refuse to do things?

Accepted Answer

A child who seems to ignore instructions, refuse activities, run away or become upset may not simply be choosing not to cooperate.The activity may feel too hard, overwhelming, unpredictable or uncomfortable.Occupational therapy can help work out what is behind the behaviour and identify sensory, regulation, motor or environmental factors that may be making participation difficult.

Question 13

Why does my child hate handwriting or homework?

Accepted Answer

If handwriting or homework regularly ends in frustration, avoidance or meltdowns, your child may be finding the task harder than it looks.They may struggle with pencil control, hand strength, letter formation, writing speed, sitting posture, attention, planning what to write or keeping up with the amount of written work expected at school.An occupational therapist can assess what is making handwriting or homework difficult and help build the underlying skills your child needs. This may include fine motor skills, handwriting, posture, organisation, attention and strategies to make written tasks feel more manageable.

Question 14

Why won't my child try new foods?

Accepted Answer

If your child eats only a very small range of foods, refuses new foods, avoids certain textures or becomes upset at mealtimes, there may be more going on than simply being “fussy”.Food selectivity can sometimes be linked to sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills, anxiety around unfamiliar foods, difficulty with change or previous negative experiences with eating.An occupational therapist can help identify what may be contributing to your child’s eating difficulties and support gradual, positive experiences with food. Depending on your child’s needs, this may also involve working alongside other health professionals.

Question 15

Why does my child always want to wear the same clothes?

Accepted Answer

If your child refuses certain clothes, insists on wearing the same outfit, avoids seams or tags, or becomes upset when asked to wear something different, they may be reacting to how the clothing feels on their body.Some children are more sensitive to textures, tightness, temperature, seams, labels or changes in how clothes fit. For others, wearing familiar clothes can also make getting dressed feel more predictable and manageable.An occupational therapist can help identify whether sensory sensitivities, body awareness or difficulties with change are contributing and develop practical strategies to make dressing easier and less stressful.

Who We Work With

Children & Families We Support

Common Reasons for Referral

At Home

At Kindy/School

Daily Participation

Families Often Reach Out When Their Child Is

Frequently asked questions