What Are Daily Living Skills?
A Childhood Occupation
In Occupational Therapy, “occupation” refers to the meaningful activities, routines, and roles that people engage in throughout their daily lives. For children, these occupations are essential to their growth, development, and well-being.
Occupational Therapists work with children to support their ability to participate in these everyday activities, which often include:
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🧸 Play – A child’s primary way of learning and exploring the world.
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🌙 Sleep – Establishing healthy sleep routines for rest and recovery.
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🍎 Eating – Encouraging independence, healthy habits, and managing sensory preferences.
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🌍 Coping with Different Environments – Adapting to home, school, and community settings.
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💖 Emotional Regulation – Understanding and managing feelings in healthy ways.
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🧼 Self-Care – Daily tasks like dressing, brushing teeth, and toileting.
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🏫 School Participation – Engaging in classroom tasks, focusing, and social interactions.
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⚽ Hobbies & Sports – Building confidence, motor skills, and social connections.
When Challenges Arise
When a child struggles to engage in daily activities, an Occupational Therapist evaluates what may be getting in the way of their participation. These difficulties can affect a child’s ability to succeed in their roles, routines, and everyday occupations—from play to school, and everything in between.
Below are some common signs that may indicate your child is facing sensory, motor, or emotional challenges in different areas:
🧸 Play
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Difficulty taking turns or sharing
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Avoids games involving unpredictable movement or other children
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Dislikes swings, slides, or amusement park rides
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Seeks intense movement (spinning, crashing, bumping)
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Fearful of typical movement activities (escalators, slides)
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Struggles with eye-hand coordination (e.g. catching a ball)
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Difficulty manipulating toys or tools
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Prefers repetitive or scripted play
🌙 Sleep
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Trouble falling asleep or waking frequently at night
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Difficulty getting up in the morning or staying alert
🍎 Eating
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Extremely selective or “picky” eater
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Avoids certain textures or temperatures
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Gags at the sight or thought of certain foods
🌍 Coping with Environments
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Has difficulty with transitions or routine changes
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Dislikes noisy or crowded environments (e.g. stores, parties)
💖 Emotional Regulation
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Frequent meltdowns or intense temper tantrums
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Controlling, inflexible behavior or constant negotiating
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Expresses negative self-talk or self-criticism
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Experiences “big feelings” and emotional overwhelm
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Difficulty with problem-solving and adapting to new situations
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Low frustration tolerance and gets upset easily
🧼 Self-Care Activities
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Avoids or resists grooming (e.g. bathing, brushing teeth, haircuts)
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Difficulty with clothing fasteners or putting on shoes correctly
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Sensitive to clothing textures or seams
🏫 School
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Illegible handwriting or trouble staying within lines
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Easily distracted or fidgety during lessons and homework
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Poor organization (e.g. forgetting where things are, trouble copying from the board)
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Struggles with pencil pressure—writing too hard or too light
⚽ Hobbies & Sports
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Trouble focusing during sports or group games
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Impulsive or lacks self-control in active settings
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Difficulty catching, throwing, or kicking a ball
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Overwhelmed by noise or visual activity from peers
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Appears disinterested or withdrawn in group play
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Trouble coordinating both sides of the body (e.g. swimming, gymnastics)
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Struggles to imitate body movements (e.g. "Simon Says")