While You Wait: OT Activities for Home
- littlepeaksot
- Jul 13, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 1
Welcome to our While You Wait resources. The activities and strategies on this page are intended to provide a helpful starting point while you arrange professional support. They offer a general way of looking at skills your child may be developing, and can give you ideas for supporting your child’s everyday growth and learning.
It’s important to remember that every child is unique, and their needs, strengths, and pace of development can vary widely. These resources are not a substitute for professional advice — they are meant to inform and empower you as a caregiver, so you can better understand your child’s skills and consider areas where additional support may be helpful.
For personalised guidance tailored to your child’s specific needs, it’s always best to consult a qualified occupational therapist or healthcare professional. However, I know waiting for occupational therapy services can be tough, especially when you’re eager to help your child thrive. The good news? There are many simple, play-based activities you can do at home to support your child’s development.
These activities won’t replace therapy but can make a real difference while you wait.
Simple OT Activities You Can Do at Home
Fine Motor Fun at Home
Fine motor skills involve the small muscles in your child’s hands and fingers, which are important for everyday tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, turning pages, and using utensils.
Developing these skills takes time, practice, and lots of playful opportunities.
Below are some simple, fun activities you can try at home to help strengthen your child’s hands and fingers. These are just examples—every child develops at their own pace, so choose activities that are safe, enjoyable, and suited to your child’s abilities. Think of them as ways to explore, practice, and build confidence while having fun!
Try these playful activities:
Play-doh time: Roll, pinch, and squish to strengthen finger muscles.
Sticker peeling or tearing paper: Great for finger dexterity.
Tongs and tweezers: Use them to pick up cotton balls or cereal—turn it into a game!
Threading beads or pasta on string: Builds coordination and focus.
Easy Sensory Play Ideas
Sensory experiences help children understand and interact with the world around them. Exploring different textures, sounds, sights, smells, and movements supports the development of body awareness, attention, self-regulation, and everyday skills.
The activities below are simple, playful ways to offer your child new sensory experiences at home. They are meant to inspire curiosity and provide gentle practice. Every child experiences and tolerates sensations differently, so always observe your child’s reactions and adjust activities to keep them safe and comfortable.
Water Play – Splash, pour, and scoop with cups or containers.
Supports: Tactile exploration, hand-eye coordination, fine motor strength, and understanding cause-and-effect.
Sand or Rice Play – Bury toys, sift, or scoop grains with spoons.
Supports: Touch discrimination, fine motor control, attention, and exploratory problem-solving.
Textured Materials – Explore fabrics, sponges, bubble wrap, or slime.
Supports: Sensory discrimination, touch tolerance, and emotional regulation.
Finger Painting & Messy Art – Use paint, shaving cream, or pudding to create.
Supports: Fine motor skills, creativity, self-expression, and tactile exploration.
Sound Play – Shake, tap, or bang on safe instruments, or explore different household sounds.
Supports: Auditory processing, attention, and early rhythm skills.
Movement Experiences – Swing, jump, crawl, or roll in safe spaces.
Supports: Vestibular sense (balance and movement), coordination, body awareness, and sensory regulation.
Smell & Taste Exploration – Discover scents and flavours with safe spices, fruits, or sensory play materials.
Supports: Olfactory and gustatory processing, curiosity, and tolerance for new experiences.
Treasure Baskets – Collect objects of different textures, shapes, and weights for hands-on exploration.
Supports: Tactile discrimination, fine motor planning, and problem-solving skills.
Obstacle Courses – Combine crawling, climbing, stepping, and balancing.
Supports: Gross motor coordination, spatial awareness, sequencing, and proprioceptive input.
Heavy Work Activities – Push, pull, or carry objects like cushions, laundry, or toys.
Supports: Muscle strengthening, body awareness, calming through proprioception, and attention regulation.
Tip for caregivers: Observe your child’s reactions to each activity and let them explore at their own pace. Sensory exploration is about curiosity, confidence, and comfort. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to experience these activities.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills involve the large muscles of the body and are essential for crawling, walking, running, jumping, climbing, and coordination in everyday activities. Developing these skills helps children gain confidence, improve balance, strengthen muscles, and explore the world safely.
Below are some fun, playful activities you can try at home to support your child’s gross motor development. Remember, every child grows at their own pace, so choose activities that are safe, enjoyable, and suited to their abilities.
Jumping Games – Jump over lines on the floor, hop like animals, or play hopscotch.
Supports: Balance, coordination, leg strength, and spatial awareness.
Obstacle Courses – Crawl under tables, climb over cushions, or step around objects.
Supports: Body awareness, coordination, planning, and problem-solving.
Ball Games – Roll, throw, catch, or kick soft balls.
Supports: Hand-eye coordination, timing, bilateral coordination, and social play skills.
Dancing & Movement to Music – Move freely or follow simple dance patterns.
Supports: Rhythm, balance, coordination, and body awareness.
Animal Walks – Bear crawls, crab walks, or frog jumps across the floor.
Supports: Core strength, coordination, gross motor planning, and endurance.
Climbing & Swinging – Use playground equipment, climbing frames, or safe indoor alternatives.
Supports: Strength, balance, confidence, and vestibular processing.
Push & Pull Activities – Push a toy cart, pull a wagon, or drag cushions across the floor.
Supports: Muscle strengthening, coordination, and body awareness.
Balancing Activities – Walk on a line, balance on cushions, or try simple yoga poses.
Supports: Core stability, balance, and concentration.
Skipping & Galloping Games – Practice different ways of moving around the room or outdoors.
Supports: Coordination, rhythm, and leg strength.
Wheel Toys & Scooters – Use tricycles, scooters, or ride-on toys.
Supports: Core stability, leg strength, coordination, and motor planning.
If your child is constantly on the move, fidgeting, or seems to “switch off” during quiet tasks - you’re not alone. And guess what? That movement might actually be what their body and brain need. You may like to trial working some of these into your routines and activities:
Animal walks: Crab walk, bear crawl, frog jumps—fun and functional.
Obstacle course: Use pillows, furniture, or tape on the floor to make a path.
Balancing games: Walk on a line of tape, stand on one leg, or use a cushion as a “wobble board.”
Boosting Self-Care Skills Through Routine
Self-care routines like dressing, brushing teeth, and feeding are excellent practice opportunities for OT-related skills.
Here’s how to make self-care skills manageable and successful:
Dressing Skills
Start with one step: Practice pulling up pants or putting on socks—just one part of the whole routine.
Use visuals: Create a picture schedule showing the order: underwear → pants → shirt → socks → shoes.
Choose easy clothes: Elastic waistbands, tagless shirts, and slip-on shoes reduce frustration.
Toothbrushing
Brush together: Model the routine with your own toothbrush.
Use a visual timer: Sand timers or musical brushes make it fun.
Let them try: Even if it’s not perfect, give them a turn before finishing the job yourself.
Toileting
Consistent schedule: Try sitting at the same time each day, like after meals or before bed.
Use foot support: A small stool helps children feel stable and secure.
Practice undressing/dressing: Encourage pulling pants up/down independently.
Feeding and Mealtime
Let them help: Involve kids in setting the table, scooping food, or pouring drinks.
Practice utensil use: Try chunkier-handled spoons or forks if grasp is tricky.
Keep meals calm: Dim lights, use a table fan if upset by foods with bigger smells, reduce distractions, and keep mealtime routines predictable.
Bonus Tip: Turn Everything Into a Routine
Kids thrive on repetition and predictability. It may be helpful to build routines around:
Morning get-ready time
After school wind-down
Bedtime prep - make a simple picture chart or checklist and celebrate each step your child completes independently.
An Example of a Morning School-Ready Checklist for Kids
(Use pictures or icons beside each step for younger children or non-readers!)
While you wait for OT services to begin, know that the small things you do each day make a big impact. Whether it’s playing together, building a routine, or letting your child try something on their own—you’re helping them grow. If you’re ever unsure where to begin, pick one area (like dressing) and make it a game. Progress will come in their time.
Reach out to Little Peaks OT for personalised advice, resources, and connection.
📧 admin@littlepeaksot.com.au| 🌐 www.littlepeaksot.com.au | 📍 Jervis Bary, NSW and Telehealth Supports Available Now
