Occupational Therapy at Home: Simple Strategies to Support Daily Function

At Lume Health, we believe in empowering families and carers with the tools they need to support children’s development right at home. Whether you're a parent, carer, or support worker, there are many small, effective ways you can help your child develop important daily living and motor skills—no special equipment needed!

This blog focuses on simple occupational therapy strategies you can implement in your daily routine to boost fine motor skills, encourage independence with self-care, and provide meaningful sensory input.

Building Fine Motor Skills Through Play

Fine motor skills are essential for tasks like writing, dressing, and using cutlery. The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) suggests everyday activities that help strengthen the small muscles in the hands:

Easy Ideas You Can Try at Home:

Playdough fun – Squeezing, rolling, and pinching playdough builds hand strength and coordination.
Tweezers or tongs games – Use kitchen tongs to pick up cotton balls or small toys for a fun game that boosts finger control.
Threading beads or pasta – Try stringing beads or dried pasta onto shoelaces or pipe cleaners.
Sticker peeling – Let your child peel and stick stickers onto a chart or paper—great for finger isolation and patience.
Clothes peg races – Squeeze and clip pegs onto a cardboard edge or around a bowl.

Encouraging Independence in Self-Care

Supporting your child to be more independent with daily routines helps build confidence and life skills. Start small, and make it part of your everyday routine.

Self-Care Strategies:

Break tasks into steps – For example, break teeth-brushing into “put toothpaste on,” “brush front,” “brush sides,” etc.
Use visual supports – A simple picture chart for tasks like getting dressed or packing a bag can support sequencing.
Offer choices – Let your child choose between two outfits or snacks to build decision-making and independence.
Practice dressing skills during play – Try dolls or dress-up costumes to develop zippering, buttoning, and lacing skills.

Sensory Strategies for Regulation

Many children benefit from simple sensory activities throughout the day to help them feel calm, focused, or energised. These strategies can be especially helpful for children with sensory processing differences.

Home-Friendly Sensory Ideas:

Heavy work activities – Carrying groceries, pushing a laundry basket, or crawling through a tunnel can provide calming deep pressure input.
Movement breaks – Jumping on a trampoline, stretching, or animal walks are great for energy regulation.
Calming sensory box – Fill a small tub with rice, sand, or fabric scraps for quiet sensory exploration.
Create a “calm corner” – A cosy spot with cushions, noise-reducing headphones, or weighted items can be a great place for self-regulation.

Final Tip: Make it Fun and Part of the Routine

The best way to support skill development is to make these activities enjoyable and consistent. You don’t need to set aside special time—many of these can be done while cooking, playing, or getting ready in the morning.