Preparing for your child’s first OT appointment
- Maddie Connor
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
Preparing for your child’s first OT appointment may seem overwhelming, but the good news is that OT is all about understanding and supporting your child in practical, meaningful ways. With a little bit of preparation, your first appointment can be a really positive and productive beginning.
Your child’s OT may already have shared some of the information below, but if not, it’s a good idea to ask whether they have any suggestions for how you can prepare yourself and your child.
Here’s how to get ready…
Understand the role of OT:
It’s totally okay if you’re not 100% sure what occupational therapy is— you're not alone!
In short, occupational therapy helps children do the everyday things they need and want to do, in ways that work for their unique bodies, brains, and environments. That might include:
Developing independence with daily routines (like dressing, toileting, eating, or getting ready for school)
Supporting fine motor skills (like holding a pencil, using scissors, or tying shoelaces)
Understanding and responding to sensory needs (like noise, textures, or movement)
Building emotional regulation and coping skills in daily living
Supporting play, social interactions, and participation in learning
Creating strategies for focus, transitions, or big feelings
Every OT looks a little different depending on their training and approach—but the heart of OT is about helping your child thrive in their world, and helping you feel confident in supporting them. OTs also work alongside other professionals such as Speech Therapists, Psychologists, Dieticians and Physiotherapists - this ensures that your child receives holistic care depending on their individual needs.
Organise your child’s health checks:
Especially if this is your child’s first time ever engaging with OT, it’s helpful to rule out contributing factors that may be shaping the daily challenges you are facing at home, at school or in their other environments. Prior to the appointment, it might be helpful to consider the following:
Vision and hearing checks: Ensure these are up to date as difficulties in these areas can present like daily living, academic, attention and behavioural challenges.
Talk to your GP, especially if your concerns involve toileting, eating, sleep or attention. They may suggest checking iron levels or other blood tests, they can also provide medical support for constipation and other health needs.
Discuss airway concerns with your GP or other specialist, especially if your child snores, mouth breathes or struggles with sleep and attention.
Your OT might request other checks or assessments if needed.
Send important documents before the appointment:
If possible, send any relevant documents to your OT at least a week before your session. This gives them time to review the information and plan how to best support your child during their first appointment. Useful documents may include:
Paediatrician diagnostic letters,
GP health summaries,
Recent school or Kindy reports,
Reports from other allied health professionals
A list of current medications,
Anything else you feel may be relevant
It’s also helpful to let your OT know ahead of time if your child has any dislikes, sensitivities, or behaviours of concern—especially if certain things are likely to cause distress. Consider sharing if your child has:
Specific fears,
Difficulty warming to certain personalities (energetic, boisterous, professional etc),
Behaviours such as mouthing items, running away or excessive risk-taking.
Prepare your child:
Letting your child know what to expect can ease anxiety and help them feel safe. You might say something like:
“We’re going to visit (insert name of therapist). Their job is to help kids with everyday things. Lots of kids visit them. They’ll talk to me, ask you a few questions, do some fun activities, and work out how they can help us.”
It’s important to let your child know that it’s a safe space where they can be themselves.
It can also help to:
Share pictures of the clinic or the OT (if available),
Share a social story for first appointments if your OT has one,
Let them select a favourite toy or comfort item to help them feel more at ease (it's also a great conversation starter).
Let your child wear whatever is comfortable for them - your OT might ask your child to do some moving to assess their gross and fine motor skills so pants and a shirt is safest!
Prepare yourself:
Occupational therapy is not something that’s “done to” your child—it’s a partnership. You and your OT will work together to better understand your child, find what’s getting in the way, and create strategies that truly support them.
It’s okay if you feel unsure, emotional, or have lots of questions. You’re not expected to have it all figured out—that’s what this journey is for.
What to bring to the appointment:
Here’s a helpful checklist of things you might like to bring:
Your child’s glasses (if they wear them)
A comfort item to help your child feel safe and settled
Videos that show behaviours or skills you're concerned about (consider your child's privacy before sharing)
A written list of your questions or concerns
Notes on what you hope to get out of OT
A water bottle for your child
Helpful tips during the session:
Here are a few things to keep in mind to help the session run smoothly:
Arrive early (15 to 20-minutes). This helps your child to transition and to settle into the environment. It also provides you with additional time if you face any unexpected situations such as traffic, parking difficulties or your child refusing to enter the session (it happens and chances are, your child is not the first!).
Consider how you talk about concerns in front of your child. Children may feel self-conscious or anxious when they hear adults talking about their difficulties. You could:
Prepare your child ahead of time for what will be shared, or
Ask your OT if you can speak by phone before or after the session instead.
If possible, attend without siblings. This allows the therapist to focus on your child. If having a sibling present helps your child feel more comfortable, that’s okay too—check with your OT about what they recommend.
The first OT session is just the beginning of a journey to better understand and support your child. By preparing ahead of time, you’re helping set the tone for a collaborative and meaningful process. Your OT is there to walk alongside you, and together you’ll create strategies that build on your child’s strengths while working through their challenges.
Download your free checklist here to prepare for your child's first OT appointment:
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