Adolescent years bring about many changes including taking on responsibilities in the home, more demands at school, employment, driving, bodily changes, relationships, money management, increasing independence as they prepare for adulthood, and more.
Occupational therapists come alongside adolescents to help support and increase their independence in these daily occupations, or everyday activities one engages in. More specifically, within the OT Practice Framework (AOTA, 2014), daily occupations consist of ADLs and IADLs. Activities of daily living (ADLs) are considered to be nine activities: bathing/showering, toileting and toilet hygiene, dressing, swallowing/eating, feeding, functional mobility, personal device care, personal hygiene and grooming, and sexual activity; whereas, instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) encompass 12 activities that “require more complex interactions than those used in ADLs” including care of others, care of pets, child rearing, communication management, driving and community mobility, financial management, health management and maintenance, home establishment and management, meal preparation and cleanup, religious and spiritual expression, safety and emergency maintenance, and shopping (AOTA, 2014, p. S19).
An occupational therapy session with this age group can include so many functional, important skills, while keeping the session fun! When working with adolescents, a treatment session might include activities such as hygiene tasks including brushing teeth, applying deodorant, nail trimming, and combing hair, dressing skills, simple household chores such as separating and completing laundry, bed making, loading and emptying a dishwasher, sweeping, or vacuuming, meal prep and cleanup, and kitchen and food safety. Other sessions might include walking to a nearby restaurant or store to complete a point of service transaction to purchase items, going for a walk outside to address environmental safety awareness, or completing simulated work tasks such as sorting, stocking, and typing for vocation/job-related skills.
Moreover, when addressing ADL and IADL skills, the occupational therapist is also incorporating skills such as problem solving, organization, planning and ideation, initiation, flexibility and regulation. These skills are important and are used regularly throughout our daily activities. Regulation is also an essential skill during the adolescent years with the various changes these individuals experience. Self regulation can help work through emotional regulation, self consciousness and negative self-talk that is often difficult during these years.
Ultimately, it is the occupational therapist’s goal for each child to be as successful and independent as possible in order to participate in their daily activities and fulfill their dreams and aspirations!
