Beside the Sea Tidings-July 2022

Childhood occupations: self-care and communication and play, play and more play!!!

Occupations are all the things we want, need, and must do in our daily and seasonal life. Occupations are in our waking, sleeping and all of our activities in between. Occupations require our heart, body and mind to work together in learning/work, self-care, rest, and play. Occupations are done with others or on our own, indoors and outdoors, in rain or shine. Occupations are important when we make our choices, as they help us to live life well. Our activities and occupations describe who we are, our various life roles and are ever-changing as we grow, learn and mature from babyhood to adult. A child's occupations include play, communicating their needs, learning to care for themselves, and exploration of the world. Developing skills for everyday occupations is an ongoing process for all of us. Challenges, curiosity, inquiry and by developing a little above our skill level - we can experience flow in our work, self-care, rest, and play. Wellbeing is supported when our occupations hold purpose and meaning and when our environment supports our participation. Daily occupations can be challenging at times for children, young adults and adults alike. Developing skills for performing our everyday occupations consistently can help us develop inner confidence, creativity, problem-solving focus, resilience, memory, and clear thinking. Happiness in our daily life's challenges follows learning in a secure environment where we are valued for who we are.

Occupations include:

• play: helps us to integrate new learning, find joy

• productive activities: learning, volunteer or paid work

• social activities: attending school, family get togethers, leisure or community groups

• rest and restorative activities: sleep, walking in a park, reading a book, drawing, noticing birdlife

• self-care activities: showering and dressing, cooking, communicating our needs and managing our feelings and emotions Occupations require performing tasks such as:

• fine and gross motor skills

• being on time, ready to participate

• being organised with our belongings and equipment

• greeting others and joining in conversations, teamwork, family or group activities

• having all we need to take a shower, dressing appropriately for our bodies or the weather

Occupations require us to understand:

• our needs, values and motivation - inner knowledge

• our preferred environment - for participation in daily, seasonal occupations

• our bodies, feelings and emotions - for effective self-regulation and co-regulation

• our social communication style - our and other's perspective, for ways to connect with others well

• our unique attention, focus, memory, planning and executive functioning skills

• creative problem-solving, have curiosity

• our sensory interface experience with the world around us - individual and collective caring sensory integration skills