Resources
Practical ideas and activities for everyday life, along with trusted NDIS, health and education resources. These are shared from lived experience, with the hope of making things a little easier for other parents. This isn’t clinical advice, so always check with your child’s provider before making changes.
← All categories · Occupational therapy
Activities at Home Expert Articles Research Papers
All ages 0 to 2 years 2 to 4 years 4 to 6 years 6 to 9 years 9 to 12 years 12 to 18 years
Motor & sensory Ages 0 to 2 Beginner Tummy Time with Engagement
What this builds: Neck and shoulder strength, sensory tolerance, and the motor foundation for crawling and later fine motor control.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 0 to 2 Beginner Sensory Exploration Basket
What this builds: Sensory tolerance, tactile discrimination, and the neural connections that help children regulate responses to touch and texture.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 0 to 2 Beginner What this builds: Eye-hand coordination, bilateral motor skills, and the early grasping patterns that develop into fine motor control.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 0 to 2 Beginner Supported Sitting with Play
What this builds: Core stability, postural control, and the weight-shifting skills that underpin sitting, crawling, and later table-top activities.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 2 to 4 Beginner What this builds: Hand strength, finger isolation, bilateral hand use, and tactile tolerance. These all directly support pencil grip, scissors use, and self-care tasks.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 2 to 4 Beginner What this builds: Gross motor coordination, motor planning, body awareness, and proprioceptive input. These are areas that OTs target to improve physical confidence and regulation.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 2 to 4 Beginner What this builds: Bilateral hand coordination, wrist rotation, controlled release, and the foundational skills for pouring a drink, serving food, and managing containers independently.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 2 to 4 Intermediate What this builds: Bilateral hand coordination, pincer grip, hand-eye coordination, and the precise finger control needed for doing up buttons, zips, and shoelaces.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 2 to 4 Beginner What this builds: Body awareness, proprioceptive processing, and self-regulation. OTs call this deep pressure input, and it is one of the most effective calming strategies for sensory-sensitive children.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 4 to 6 Intermediate Scissor Skills Progression
What this builds: Hand strength, bilateral coordination, visual-motor integration, and the precise motor control that transfers to writing, crafts, and fine manipulation tasks at school.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 4 to 6 Intermediate What this builds: Self-care independence, fine motor dexterity, bilateral hand coordination, and the confidence to manage everyday tasks without adult help.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 4 to 6 Beginner What this builds: Sensory tolerance, tactile discrimination, fine motor control with tools, and the ability to engage with sensory-rich environments while staying comfortable.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 4 to 6 Intermediate What this builds: Upper limb strength, weight bearing through the arms, core stability, and the shoulder girdle strength that underpins handwriting, drawing, and self-care tasks.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 4 to 6 Beginner Visual Schedule for Daily Routine
What this builds: Sequencing, task initiation, independence in daily routines, and the executive functioning skills that reduce reliance on adult prompting throughout the day.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 6 to 9 Intermediate Pencil Grip and Handwriting Warm-Ups
What this builds: Pencil control, hand endurance, correct grip patterns, and the physical foundation for sustained writing at school.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 6 to 9 Intermediate Coin and Small Object Manipulation
What this builds: In-hand manipulation, which is the ability to move objects within the hand without using the other hand. It is one of the most functional fine motor skills for school tasks and self-care.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 6 to 9 Intermediate Sensory Regulation Toolkit
What this builds: Self-awareness of sensory needs, self-regulation, and the ability to independently manage sensory overload. This is one of the most significant OT goals for autistic children.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 6 to 9 Intermediate Cooking and Kitchen Tasks
What this builds: Bilateral coordination, sequencing, task planning, fine motor skills, and the daily living independence that is one of the central goals of occupational therapy.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 6 to 9 Intermediate Balance Beam and Stepping Stones
What this builds: Bilateral coordination, balance, motor planning, and the vestibular and proprioceptive processing that underpins confidence in physical activities and sport.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 9 to 12 Intermediate Keyboarding and Assistive Technology Practice
What this builds: Functional written communication independence for children for whom handwriting is a barrier, using technology as an occupational performance enabler rather than a concession.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 9 to 12 Intermediate Self-Care Routine Mastery
What this builds: Daily living independence, self-monitoring, executive functioning, and the foundational life skills that NDIS OT goals frequently target for school-age children.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 9 to 12 Intermediate Resistance Band Exercises
What this builds: Proprioceptive input, body awareness, upper limb strength, and the calming, grounding effect of heavy work. This is one of the most effective sensory regulation strategies for older children.
Show the steps
Communication & language Ages 9 to 12 Advanced Organisation and Planning Practice
What this builds: Task planning, sequencing, time estimation, and the executive functioning skills that are frequently targeted in OT for autistic children navigating secondary school demands.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 12 to 18 Advanced Meal Planning and Independent Cooking
What this builds: Daily living independence, sequencing, planning, safety awareness in the kitchen, and the practical life skills that are central to post-school independence. This is a key NDIS goal for this age group.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 12 to 18 Advanced Public Transport Practice
What this builds: Community independence, wayfinding, problem-solving, and the functional life skills that NDIS OT plans commonly target for teenagers approaching adulthood.
Show the steps
Communication & language Ages 12 to 18 Intermediate Study and Workspace Organisation
What this builds: Task initiation, sustained attention, time management, and the self-regulation skills that secondary school and post-school life require. These are frequently targeted in OT for autistic teenagers.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 12 to 18 Intermediate Calming and Regulation Plan
What this builds: Emotional self-awareness, self-regulation, and the ability to manage sensory and emotional overload in school and community settings. This is a core OT goal for autistic teenagers.
Show the steps
Motor & sensory Ages 12 to 18 Advanced What this builds: Vocational and employment readiness, social pragmatics in professional settings, and the daily living skills that support the transition to adulthood. This is a major focus area for OT in the final years of school.
Show the steps
