For example, activities to build fine motor skills might include picking things up with tweezers. Exercises to improve gross motor skills might include jumping jacks or running an obstacle course. For someone who struggles with motor planning, therapists might work on daily routines like getting dressed. They help people learn the initial steps and the sequence of tasks that follow.
Many kids who need OT get it for free at school. This service is usually part of a special education plan. OT can happen one-on-one or in small groups. Fine motor skills. Gross motor skills. Motor planning. For kids, therapy at school might focus on school-related tasks like writing. Private OT might focus more on self-care routines.
When kids see improvement it can boost their self-esteem. Learn about some of the ways occupational therapists work with kids. Some kids may qualify for free OT services at school. That usually happens through a special education plan called an IEP. The evaluation looks at strengths and challenges in many areas. Occupational therapists do the part that looks at motor skills.
A child can gain self-confidence, learn problem solving, and develop social skills through play. Your child may be developmentally delayed if they show one of the following symptoms:.
Remember that all children are different and develop these skill sets at their own pace. However, if you think your child may be struggling with adopting some of the skill areas above, you can contact an occupational therapist. For more help in determining what skills are appropriate for what age, view these developmental milestones for ages two months to five years. Developmental Delay Developmental delay means that a child is behind in developing skills that are common during a particular age or during a particular time period.
These are examples of developmental delays: Not reaching developmental milestones of sitting, crawling, and walking Not learning at an age appropriate level Not developing age appropriate play and social skills. Fine Motor Skills Fine motor skills are small movements made with fingers, toes, wrists, lips, and tongue, like holding a small object or picking up a spoon.
They may also have difficulty with these things: Going up and down stairs at an age appropriate time Coordinating both sides of the body Understanding the concept of right and left Poor ball skills Poor balance Their muscle tone, or muscle tension and resistance, could be higher or lower than the appropriate developmental milestone. They might also: be fearful of feet leaving the ground doesn't cross midline of his or her body during play and school tasks avoids tasks and games that require gross motor skills.
Visual Processing Visual processing is the process we use to make sense of what we see. If your child has difficulty with one of these things, they may have difficult with visual processing: Difficulty with the spacing and sizes of letters Difficulty with recognizing letters Difficulty with copying shapes or letters Difficulty with visual tracking and crossing midline Difficulty finding objects among other objects Difficulty with copying from the board or another paper Difficulty with the concept of right and left Your child may lose his or her place when reading or copying from the board or may have poor eye contact.
Sensory Processing Sensory processing is making sense of information that we receive through our senses, like sound and smell. Your child may be oversensitive to things around them and show the following symptoms: Overly sensitive or heightened reactivity to sound, touch, or movement Under-responsive to certain sensations e.
Social Interaction Skills Social interaction skills are skills that help us have relationships and understand those around us. Your child may have delayed social skills if they show some of the following things: Difficulty interacting socially and engaging with family and peers Difficulty adapting to new environments Delayed language skills Overly focused on one subject e.
Some examples of daily activities that OT can help with are:. Regarding your child, an Occupational Therapist OT can assess and provide therapy to help them respond appropriately to sensory information. The OT can address psychological, social and various environmental factors that may affect the way a child functions in different settings. A child could benefit from using special equipment or having an assistive device for classroom purposes, such as something simple like a pencil grip or computer software.
Children spend their days playing and exploring the world around them, which is important for learning how to interact with others and developing independent life skills.
Trouble with gross motor skills — If your child experiences difficulty with their balance, strength, endurance or their coordination, then OT can be beneficial with strengthening these motor skills.
Later on in life, such deficits can hinder kids from participating in sports or play at recess, which can affect their self-esteem. Occupational therapy can help children who are showing signs of developmental delays.
Issues with fine motor skills — Children that have trouble with fine motor skills typically have a difficult time with simple tasks such as drawing, using scissors or even their utensils, according to the Child Mind Institute. Sensory processing problems — If you that notice your child tends to overreact to touch, taste, sounds or smells, these are common signs, that there could be sensory processing issues.
Occupational Therapy can help with sensitivity to these senses using different exercises.
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