Quick History

The usage of crafts has been a central aspect in occupational therapy since the beginning of the profession. In the first professional journal of occupational therapy, Adolf Meyer stated, “a pleasure in achievement, a real pleasure in the use of activity of one's hands and muscles, and a happy appreciation of time began to be used as incentives in the management of our patients ....". 

Moving into the 1800s, the benefit of occupational engagement was understood more and more. ADL and IADL participation were encouraged alongside arts and crafts. William Rush Dunton, known as “the father of occupational therapy”, was a strong advocate for occupational engagement and eventually formed the National Society for Promotion of Occupational Therapy. 

In today’s current practices, the usage of crafts in therapy is more important now than ever before. The usage of crafts in therapy is a unique way to introduce skills needed to be taught and orchestrated to perform ADLs and IADLs. A craft can intrigue patients of all ages to perform actions that typically feel like work. Crafts blend the idea of work and having fun together to help improve daily functionality. The usage of crafts helps to put patients in a different scenario than that of the run of the mill therapy settings. By performing something different, the patients typically show more interest in performing their activities which help with motivation as well. Performing crafts to help individuals improve in daily functions is what makes occupational therapy the exceptional field that it has grown to become today.