ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) in Children: Why Does Occupational Therapy Focus on Daily Routines? Children’s ADLs and Occupational Therapy
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Activities of daily living (ADLs) are essential self-care tasks necessary for independent living, including personal care, mobility, and eating. In children, difficulties in performing ADLs can significantly impact their independence, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in supporting children with ADL challenges by focusing on developing skills related to self-care, feeding, toileting, sleep, and other daily routines. Early intervention is particularly important during childhood, as it can shape the development of cognitive, motor, and social-emotional skills. OT interventions for children may include the use of adaptive techniques, assistive devices, behavioral approaches, and environmental modifications to promote participation and independence. Common challenges in ADLs among children include developmental delays, sensory processing issues, and physical impairments. Additionally, OT interventions often extend to instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) like meal preparation and transportation, which are crucial for children’s transition to independent living. Family-centered practice is fundamental in pediatric OT, ensuring that interventions are tailored to the specific needs of children and their families. Emerging trends such as telehealth and technology-based interventions are shaping the future of pediatric OT, promoting greater accessibility and engagement. This paper highlights the significant role of OT in improving ADL performance, promoting social participation, and enhancing the overall quality of life for children with disabilities.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
The authors retain copyright and permit the journal the copyright of first publication
Articles, once having passed the review process and accepted for publication in the CDMH Journal, are copyrighted under the CDMH Journal, Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health. Please be aware distribution of CDMH Journal content for commercial purposes without permission is expressly prohibited. However, distribution with intent to educate, advocate, or spread awareness within the general public and research communities is permitted and encouraged with the understanding that the CDMH Journal Editorial Board do not hold jurisdiction or liability for any accompanying comments, text, or information from third parties, either in favor for or against the original article’s assertions, conclusions, methodology, or content.
References
Ahn, S. N., Yoo, E. Y., Jung, M. Y., Park, H. Y., Lee, J. Y., & Choi, Y. I. (2017). Comparison of Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance and conventional occupational therapy on occupational performance in individuals with stroke: A randomized controlled trial. NeuroRehabilitation, 40(3), 285–292. https://doi.org/10.3233/NRE-161416
Clark, G. F., & Kingsley, K. L. (2020). Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Early Childhood: Birth-5 Years. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 74(3), 7403397010p1–7403397010p42. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.743001
Colver A. (2009). Quality of life and participation. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 51(8), 656–659. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2009.03321.x
Elbasan, B., Kayıhan, H., & Duzgun, I. (2012). Sensory integration and activities of daily living in children with developmental coordination disorder. Italian journal of pediatrics, 38, 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/1824-7288-38-14
Eshraghi, A. A., Li, C., Alessandri, M., Messinger, D. S., Eshraghi, R. S., Mittal, R., & Armstrong, F. D. (2020). COVID-19: overcoming the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families. The lancet. Psychiatry, 7(6), 481–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30197-8
Fard, F. G., Mirzaie, H., Hosseini, S. A., Riazi, A., & Ebadi, A. (2023). Vision-related tasks in children with visual impairment: a multi-method study. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1180669
Gao, J., Yang, Y., Xu, X. et al. Motor-Based Interventions in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. Sports Med - Open 11, 59 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00833-w
Gibson, R. W., D'Amico, M., Jaffe, L., & Arbesman, M. (2011). Occupational therapy interventions for recovery in the areas of community integration and normative life roles for adults with serious mental illness: a systematic review. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 65(3), 247–256. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.001297
Gronski, M., & Doherty, M. (2020). Interventions Within the Scope of Occupational Therapy Practice to Improve Activities of Daily Living, Rest, and Sleep for Children Ages 0-5 Years and Their Families: A Systematic Review. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 74(2), 7402180010p1–7402180010p33. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.039545
Hong, E.-K. (2013). Systematic Review on Occupational Therapy for Children with Cerebral Palsy. The Journal of the Korea Contents Association, 13(6), 318–330. https://doi.org/10.5392/JKCA.2013.13.06.318
James, S., Ziviani, J., & Boyd, R. (2014). A systematic review of activities of daily living measures for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 56(3), 233–244. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.12226
Kaldenberg, J., & Smallfield, S. (2020). Occupational Therapy Practice Guidelines for Older Adults With Low Vision. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 74(2), 7402397010p1–7402397010p23. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.742003
Ko, E. J., Sung, I. Y., Moon, H. J., Yuk, J. S., Kim, H. S., & Lee, N. H. (2020). Effect of Group-Task-Oriented Training on Gross and Fine Motor Function, and Activities of Daily Living in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Physical & occupational therapy in pediatrics, 40(1), 18–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2019.1642287
Laver, K., George, S., Ratcliffe, J., & Crotty, M. (2011). Virtual reality stroke rehabilitation--hype or hope?. Australian occupational therapy journal, 58(3), 215–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1630.2010.00897.x
Linde, B. W., van Netten, J. J., Otten, B. E., Postema, K., Geuze, R. H., & Schoemaker, M. M. (2013). Development and psychometric properties of the DCDDaily: a new test for clinical assessment of capacity in activities of daily living in children with developmental coordination disorder. Clinical rehabilitation, 27(9), 834–844. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215513481227
Mlinac, M. E., & Feng, M. C. (2016). Assessment of Activities of Daily Living, Self-Care, and Independence. Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists, 31(6), 506–516. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acw049
Omairi, C., Mailloux, Z., Antoniuk, S. A., & Schaaf, R. (2022). Occupational Therapy Using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 76(4), 7604205160. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.048249
Ostadzadeh, A., Amini, M., Hassani Mehraban, A., Maroufizadeh, S., & Farajzadeh, A. (2023). The Effect of Occupation-Based Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy on the Participation of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. Iranian Journal of Child Neurology, 17(2), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v17i2.37654
Perlmutter, M., Kaldenberg, J., & Weisser-Pike, O. (2023). Introduction to the OTHC Special Issue: Visual Impairment and Low Vision Rehabilitation. Occupational therapy in health care, 37(3), 313–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2023.2223098
Pfeiffer, B. A., Koenig, K., Kinnealey, M., Sheppard, M., & Henderson, L. (2011). Effectiveness of sensory integration interventions in children with autism spectrum disorders: a pilot study. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 65(1), 76–85. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2011.09205
Rainey, L., Elsman, E. B. M., van Nispen, R. M. A., van Leeuwen, L. M., & van Rens, G. H. M. B. (2016). Comprehending the impact of low vision on the lives of children and adolescents: a qualitative approach. Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation, 25(10), 2633–2643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-016-1292-8
Roberts, P. S., & Robinson, M. R. (2014). Occupational therapy's role in preventing acute readmissions. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 68(3), 254–259. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2014.683001
Savundranayagam, M. Y., Montgomery, R. J., & Kosloski, K. (2011). A dimensional analysis of caregiver burden among spouses and adult children. The Gerontologist, 51(3), 321–331. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnq102
Schaaf, R. C., Cohn, E. S., Burke, J., Dumont, R., Miller, A., & Mailloux, Z. (2015). Linking Sensory Factors to Participation: Establishing Intervention Goals With Parents for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 69(5), 6905185005. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.018036
Scott, M. W., Wood, G., Holmes, P. S., Marshall, B., Williams, J., & Wright, D. J. (2023). Combined action observation and motor imagery improves learning of activities of daily living in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder. PloS one, 18(5), e0284086. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284086
Smits-Engelsman, B., & Verbecque, E. (2022). Pediatric care for children with developmental coordination disorder, can we do better?. Biomedical journal, 45(2), 250–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2021.08.008
Steultjens, E. M., Dekker, J., Bouter, L. M., van de Nes, J. C., Lambregts, B. L., & van den Ende, C. H. (2004). Occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review. Clinical rehabilitation, 18(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr697oa
Torkan, S., Khanjani, M. S., Abdi, K., & Vahedi, M. (2023). Comparison of Priority Occupational Performance of Children with Cerebral Palsy from the Perspective of Children, Parents, and Occupational Therapists in Isfahan in 2021. Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.5812/mejrh-133218
Tse, K. K. (2024). Occupational therapy’s role in low vision throughout the lifespan. https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.12384
Wallen, M., Ziviani, J., Naylor, O., Evans, R., Novak, I., & Herbert, R. D. (2011). Modified constraint-induced therapy for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized trial. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 53(12), 1091–1099. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04086.x
Wallisch, A., Little, L., Pope, E., & Dunn, W. (2019). Parent Perspectives of an Occupational Therapy Telehealth Intervention. International journal of telerehabilitation, 11(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2019.6274
You, H.-J., Park, S.-W., & Lee, H.-S. (2015). Correlation Between the Activities of Daily Living Assessment and Gross Motor Function Measures in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy, 27(6), 425–429. https://doi.org/10.18857/JKPT.2015.27.6.425
Zobel-Lachiusa, J., Andrianopoulos, M. V., Mailloux, Z., & Cermak, S. A. (2015). Sensory Differences and Mealtime Behavior in Children With Autism. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 69(5), 6905185050. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.016790
