Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting Hannah and Veronica from Rebound Health, Frenchs Forest, for an engaging and practical presentation on occupational therapy for children. Their insights not only illuminated the role of OT in supporting children’s everyday skills and emotional regulation but sparked thoughtful connections to Montessori teaching methodology. The child-centred, hands-on and purposeful learning environments at Forestville Montessori School all contribute to support sensory and emotional regulation for all children.
Read on to discover more about Occupational Therapy and how it is reflected in the Montessori learning environment.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy helps children participate in everyday activities—playing, learning, and self-care—by improving skills such as fine and gross motor coordination, sensory processing, and attention. The ultimate goal is to empower children to succeed at home, school, and in their community, fostering independence and confidence.
Independence, confidence and community are foundational aspect of Montessori learning. At Forestville Montessori, children begin to embed these principles in daily life as early as age 2, in our toddler program.
Sensory Processing and Daily Routines
OTs recognise that sensory processing can significantly impact a child’s ability to engage in daily routines, including learning. For example, a child who is sensitive to noise or touch may struggle with tasks like getting dressed or participating in group activities. OTs work to help children manage these sensory challenges, enabling smoother, calmer transitions and a greater capacity to participate in everyday life, and of course, at school. In Montessori the efforts made in this area at home are well supported by the teaching and set up of our preschool and primary school classrooms.
Emotional Regulation and Behaviour
A key focus of OT is supporting children in recognising, understanding, and managing their emotions. Therapists use sensory strategies—movement, breathing, communication, and sensory input—to help children regulate their bodies and emotions. This approach is deeply aligned with Montessori practices which emphasise emotional awareness, need for movement, and respect for each child’s personal pace, space and learning needs.
Supporting Everyday Skills
OTs help children develop skills needed for daily living, such as handwriting, using scissors, tying shoelaces, and balancing for play. These skills are mimicked in the learning materials used at Forestville Montessori School from our toddler community and into the preschool years.
OTs working with young children provide activities that support executive functioning skills—memory, attention, sequencing, planning, and organisation—all of which are essential for following routines and managing schoolwork. Montessori nurtures these same skills with specific stage-specific learning materials and through practical life activities which encourage children to practice tasks independently, and learn through exploration, analysis and critical thinking.
Families are welcome to visit our school and see some of the activities and materials in action (reach out here if you’d like to book a class observation).
Common Questions from Parents
Parents often ask why everyday routines feel so hard for their children. The presentation explained that routines involve complex tasks—planning, attention, coordination, sensory processing, and emotional management. When a child faces challenges in any of these areas, even simple routines can become overwhelming. Montessori educators and OTs both advocate for breaking tasks into manageable steps, providing visual supports, and creating predictable routines to reduce anxiety and build independence.
When to Seek Support
The presenters shared signs that a child may be struggling with sensory processing or overwhelm and shared this helpful handout with strategies to help parents recognise and manage their child/ren’s needs. They emphasised that for children who consistently struggle with daily tasks, early support from an OT or allied health professional can make a significant difference. Waiting too long may lead to frustration and impact confidence and learning. Montessori philosophy also encourages observation and timely support. Forestville Montessori teaching staff work with families through observation, feedback and integration of professional support when needed.
We are big believers in early intervention because it is beneficial all round.
Practical Strategies for Home
The presentation offered practical, real-life strategies for parent:
- Predictable routines: Help children know what to expect, reducing anxiety.
- Visual supports: Checklists and picture schedules foster independence.
- Breaking tasks down: Small, manageable steps and ample time make routines easier.
- Practice through everyday activities: Dressing, packing school bags, preparing snacks—all build skills.
FMS staff use similar strategies—visual aids, social stories, and sensory regulation tools to support children’s learning and emotional well-being.
Shared Philosophies: Montessori and Occupational Therapy
Both Montessori and occupational therapy:
- Centre the child’s needs and interests.
- Emphasise independence, self and co-regulation, and practical life skills.
- Use hands-on, sensory-rich activities to build confidence and competence.
- Value observation, timely intervention, and collaboration with families and other professionals.
These shared philosophies create environments where children feel supported, capable, and motivated to learn and grow.
Rebound Health’s presentation highlighted the profound impact occupational therapy can have on children’s – and parent’s – daily lives. The similarities with Montessori teaching methodology, especially in fostering independence, emotional regulation, and practical skills underscore the value of our holistic, child-centred approach in education.
We are grateful to Hannah, Veronica and the team at Rebound health for sharing their expertise with our community.
Download their Support for Sensory Processing guide here, or learn more about Rebound Health here.
