Health Management

Does your child have a health problem that requires daily management? Is your child having difficulty understanding the importance of their health problem and how they have a role in its management? Health management is known as the activities related to developing and maintaining healthy routines, with the goal of improving or maintaining health and wellness to support participation in other occupations. Read on to see how OTs can help your child manage their health and well-being.

Young girl wearing doctor costume and playing doctor on a stuffed toy

Social and emotional management:

  • Collaborate with your child on managing emotions, expressing needs, and seeking social engagement

  • Practice mindfulness activities (yoga, deep breathing, muscle relaxation) to develop coping skills related to stress/anxiety

  • Educate the child and family on calming sensory strategies such as a sensory bottle

  • Educate parents on giving their children s sense of control by giving them options

Condition management:

  • Provide education to your child and family on risk factors for other conditions (physical and mental) based on current health

  • Collaborate with your child to create a safety plan in case of a health flare-up when the child is away from the parent

  • Help your child in understanding medication uses, side effects, and importance of a medication regimen

  • Educate your child on the types of medications and dosage required

  • Create schedules to ensure medication is taken at appropriate times (i.e. alarms)

  • Create a checklist/log so that your child can mark off when their medication has been taken

  • Collaborate with school team to ensure medications are taken during appropriate school times

  • Collaborate with your child to ensure they know how to manage devices related to their health (i.e., glucose meters, EpiPen)

Physical activity:

  • Collaborate with child to create physical activity routine to improve health and wellness

  • Encourage your child to journal sedentary and physical activity throughout the week to identify patterns

  • Educate your family on planning weekly activities at home to promote daily movement (i.e., jump rope, going on walks, playing sports, gardening)

Nutrition management:

  • Educate your child and family on nutrition and hydration recommendations and establishing a healthy diet as an entire family

  • Assist your family in locating healthy choices that are financially appropriate

  • Collaborate your child and family to establish a weekly meal plan that gets your child involved in meal preparation and grocery shopping

What will an OT do?

  • Complete an Activity Analysis to determine any barriers to your child engaging in healthy habits

  • Collaborate with your child to set achievable and measurable goals

  • Establish a healthy reward for achieving goals

  • Modify activities or the environment based on your child’s health needs