Preparing Your Child for a Therapy Assessment – What to Expect

As an Occupational Therapist in Malta, I understand that bringing your child for a therapy assessment can feel daunting. Parents often have questions: What will happen? Will my child be tested? Should I prepare them? Will they be upset? These are all completely normal concerns, and I want to reassure you — an OT assessment is designed to be a positive, low-pressure experience for your child and your family.

What Is an OT Assessment?

An Occupational Therapy assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of your child’s skills across several areas of development. It helps us understand your child’s strengths, challenges, and the specific areas where they may need support. We examine:

• Fine and gross motor skills: Hand strength, coordination, balance, and body awareness
• Sensory processing: How your child responds to touch, movement, sound, and other sensory input
• Visual perception and motor integration: How your child processes visual information and coordinates it with movement
• Self-care skills: Dressing, feeding, grooming, and toileting
• Handwriting and school-related skills: Pencil grip, letter formation, scissor use
• Play and social participation: How your child engages with toys, peers, and their environment

What Happens During the Assessment

A typical assessment at WonderKids involves several components, usually completed across one or two sessions:

Parent Interview

We start by talking with you. This is your opportunity to share your concerns, your child’s history, and your goals. We will ask about developmental milestones, medical history, school performance, and what daily life looks like at home. No one knows your child better than you, and your input is essential.

Clinical Observation

We observe your child in a play-based setting. How do they move? How do they interact with toys and equipment? How do they respond to different sensory experiences? Much of this happens naturally as your child explores our clinic space — it does not feel like a test to them.

Standardised Assessments

Depending on your child’s age and presenting concerns, we may use specific assessment tools to measure skills such as fine motor ability, visual perception, or sensory processing. These are structured activities — like building with blocks, copying shapes, or completing puzzles — and we present them in a child-friendly, encouraging way.

Feedback and Recommendations

After the assessment, we discuss our findings with you. We explain what we observed, what the results mean, and whether your child would benefit from OT intervention. If therapy is recommended, we outline a plan tailored to your child’s needs and goals.

How to Prepare Your Child

• Keep it simple: Tell your child they are going to a place where they will play and do some activities
• Be honest: Let them know there will be a new adult who wants to see what they can do and what they enjoy
• Avoid over-preparing: Don’t coach your child or practise specific skills beforehand — we need to see their natural abilities
• Bring comfort items: If your child has a favourite toy or comfort object, bring it along
• Choose the right time: Try to schedule when your child is typically at their best — well-rested and fed
• Stay relaxed: Children pick up on parent anxiety. If you are calm and positive, your child is more likely to feel at ease

What to Bring

• Any existing reports from paediatricians, psychologists, speech therapists, or school
• School work samples — handwriting, drawings, or teacher comments that illustrate your concerns
• A list of your questions so you don’t forget in the moment
• Comfortable clothing that allows your child to move freely

After the Assessment

You will receive a detailed written report summarising our findings and recommendations. This report can be shared with your child’s school, paediatrician, or other professionals. In Malta, this report is often useful for applying for Learning Support Educator (LSE) support or other educational accommodations through the Statementing Board.

Booking an assessment is the first step towards understanding your child’s needs. Call us at +356 77048650 or email info@wonderkids.mt.