What are contrived activities?

Contrived activities are designed to simulate or replicate the skills and tasks found in real-life situations, though they might not be entirely authentic. These activities provide opportunities for individuals to practice relevant skills in a controlled environment. By incorporating aspects of the occupation, contrived activities help individuals build competence and confidence in those skills, even while they may involve some level of artificiality. This makes them particularly useful in therapeutic settings, where the objective is to prepare clients for actual tasks they will encounter in their daily lives.

The defining characteristic of contrived activities is their ability to bridge the gap between the therapeutic setting and real-world application, enabling clients to develop functional abilities in a safe context.