Resumo:
Introduction: This Final Course Work aims to analyze, through a literature review, the
contributions of Occupational Therapy in the context of early childhood education, with an
emphasis on promoting inclusion, play, and children's social skills. The research was motivated by
the need to understand how the occupational therapist acts as a mediator between the demands of
the school environment and the singularities of children, especially those with disabilities or
atypical development. From the reflections on the role of Occupational Therapy in early childhood
education, the question arises: "How can occupational therapy contribute to the development of
children's participation and involvement in the context of early childhood education?"
Methodology: To answer this question, a search was carried out in the Lilac, Scielo, and PubMed
databases and in the three Brazilian Occupational Therapy journals, in March 2025. For the search,
the following descriptors were used, in Portuguese, with crossovers: Terapia Ocupacional AND
educação infantil. All articles that presented the theme of Occupational Therapy in early childhood
education in the last 10 years were selected, ensuring that the data were up-to-date. Results and
discussions: As a result of the analyses, 10 articles were selected and from these articles, four
categories that stood out the most in the articles were observed. The following categories were
elaborated that, together, point to the interface of the role of Occupational Therapy in early
childhood education: the possibilities of Occupational Therapy in early childhood education;
articulation between family, school, and Occupational Therapy partnerships; the use of assistive
technologies and Occupational Therapy in the context of inclusive education. Final
considerations: The studies analyzed demonstrate that the occupational therapist, when
articulating knowledge about occupation, environment and child development, acts as a mediator
between the unique needs of children. Collaborative consulting was a relevant finding that brought
many contributions and demonstrates another possibility of the profession's role in the context of
early childhood education, bringing this collaborative action with teachers and families favors the
participation of all children, respecting their singularities. Studies indicate that their presence
contributes significantly to making the school environment more accessible, inclusive and open to
diversity, strengthening children's autonomy and active participation in the educational process.
