The phone call went a little something like this:
“Hi Heather, my son recently went to his school orientation. They noticed he may need some support with his pencil grip. They suggested we see an OT. Can you recommend one? And by the way… who are they and what do they do???”
Parenting zero to fives can sometimes feel like an onslaught of new information, buzz words and turns of phrase. Medical, social, and developmental issues you’d been blissfully unaware of become a part of your regular vocabulary, and your algorithm a plethora of parenting ‘experts’ and professions that until now, you had been getting along fine without! Suddenly you have a lactation consultant, child physio and paediatric dietitian on speed dial.
So, who are all these people and how can they help you and your baby, toddler or preschooler in these key developmental years. Let’s break it down.
Child and Family Health Centre: located in Avalon, Mona Vale and Brookvale these are hubs for free childhood care for 0-5s. Consisting of early childhood nurses, midwives, doctors, social workers, speech therapists and child psychologists they are a great starting place for new parents to get bulk-billed support and information.
Speech Therapists: Are you noticing your child struggle to produce certain sounds, missing communication cues, or avoiding age-appropriate foods, it may be time to see a Speech Therapist. Paediatric speech therapists diagnose and treat a range of language issues, communication delays, and swallowing disorders. Through individualised plans and therapies such as exercises, games, strategies and devices, they help children improve speech, language, voice, swallowing and social outcomes. At the Owl & The Pussycat Preschool we are fortunate to have a great working relationship with Northern Beaches Speech Language and Reading, who operate out of the same offices as our Warriewood service and have helped many of our families.
Occupational Therapists: Often working hand in hand with speech therapists are occupational therapists or OTs. Are your child’s fine and gross motor skills developing as they should? Can they zip up their jacket, turn on a tap, unwrap their sandwich? Do they still prefer to sit in the “W” sitting position? Are they picking up on socials cues from peers and educators? If you have concerns about any of these areas, it may be time to consult an Occupational Therapist. OTs assess, diagnose and help your child develop the physical and social skills required for everyday activities, learning and play. They collaborate with families through various exercises and therapies to address fine and gross motor function, sensory processing, social and play skills, self-care and school readiness.
Paediatric Nurse or Doctor: Not every family has a paediatrician. If you have a regular GP relationship and a child who is physically and developmentally progressing as expected you may not need a specialist. However, paediatricians are a wonderful resource when general medicine isn’t quite enough. Paediatric nurses and doctors have undertaken extra study specifically in childhood illnesses and issues and are therefore better equipped to hopefully diagnose and treat many common and uncommon childhood ailments such as chronic ear, nose and throat issues that may require further investigation.
Child Physiotherapist: Larger gross motor skill concerns and developmental challenges such as gait abnormalities, hip dysplasia, or musculoskeletal issues come under the care of a child physiotherapist. Physios have been trained to access, diagnose and treat these musculoskeletal conditions, neurological issues and developmental delays through targeted therapies and play based exercises. They can also assist in respiratory or posture problems by exercising and training developing muscles to correct and overcome these challenges.
Audiologist and optometrist: Hearing, balance and auditory processing issues in children can be assessed and managed by a child audiologist. Similarly, eye and vision issues are treated by paediatric optometrists. In NSW, every four-year-old is entitled to a free eye test that is conducted annually in preschool hours by the NSW Health StEPS Program.
Child psychologist and play therapy: Life is a rollercoaster of unpredictable events and challenges. Relationship breakdowns, moving, or family illnesses can all lead to mental and emotional challenges, particularly in children still developing their identity and understanding their place in the world. A paediatric psychologist works alongside your child’s family and community to support them through anxiety, stress, or trauma associated with these and other events. They can also assess and assist with learning difficulties, ADHD, spectrum diagnosis, and other developmental or behavioural challenges. They aim to identify underlying causes to help children develop healthy coping mechanisms, build self-esteem and improve overall well-being of children and their families.
Not to mention paediatric nutritionists and dietitians who assist in ensuring your child’s developmental nutritional needs are met while managing allergies or dietary preferences. Child sleep consultants, who can assist with creating positive sleeping patterns for children and their families. Social workers, school counsellors, play, music and art therapy providers who all assist in creating safe spaces for children to process, learn and grow.
Whatever your current family needs or circumstances, having a basic understanding of these paediatric fields and the services they provide will hopefully enhance your family’s toolbelt on the roller coaster of the early childhood years with the knowledge that you are never alone and help is always at hand.
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