Typical scenarios and inquiries I’ve received from families:
“She loves to read and is really attentive, but struggles with spacing her writing and keeps reversing her letters”
“He keeps his hand raised above the paper when writing and does not always seem to put enough pressure on his crayon… and is still working on his grasp”
“My son really struggles to put on his socks, often pulling so hard he makes holes in them. He’s not yet managing any of his fasteners”
“He does have difficulties with new things, staying focused, managing a classroom setting and following the teachers’ instructions …”
“My daughter is just really impulsive, she gets really distracted by things going on around her, and avoids anything that requires her stay sitting at a table doing work”
“She is super sensitive to touch, hates getting her hands messy, she also struggles sharing and playing with others at her preschool”
Does the above sound familiar?
A parents/caregiver’s instincts and observations, a teacher expressing concerns, or a pediatrician’s recommendation are typically what prompts a referral to private pediatric occupational therapy…but what do occupational therapists do?
Occupational therapists help children develop the skills needed to be able to participate fully in childhood routines and activities. These are their daily occupations. Occupational therapists support a wide range of areas, from fine and gross motor skills, emotional regulation and play skills, to self-care skills.
Here are some of the skills that your child may need support with:
Bilateral Coordination Skills
These skills refer to the ability to use both sides of the body simultaneously. Examples include using scissors to snip paper, fastening buttons on a shirt, and opening snack containers.
Handwriting Skills
Handwriting is a complex process of recording language by hand, typically using paper and a pen or pencil. Developing good handwriting skills involves writing letters with correct formation, maintaining a functional grasp on a pencil, and sitting upright in a chair.
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning encompasses the various tasks performed by the brain that are necessary for thinking, acting, and problem-solving. They involve sustaining attention, emotional control, initiating activities, working memory, organization of materials, and time management.
Self-Care/Life Skills
These skills encompass essential activities that children learn as they grow, which are vital for their independence and well-being. Examples include bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, meal preparation, taking care of their belongings, and personal hygiene.
Visual-Perceptual Skills
Visual-perceptual skills refer to the visual abilities needed to understand, evaluate, and interpret what is seen. Visual perception is made up of a complex combination of various skills and is important for many different school tasks including reading, writing, cutting, copying from the board, puzzles, locating objects, navigating the playground, and eye-hand coordination.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills involve precise and coordinated movements of the fingers and hands. They are essential for completing daily tasks such as dressing (using buttons/zippers), feeding (using meal time utensils), being a student (using a pencil, keyboard, or scissors), and leisure/play activities (drawing, playing many musical instruments).
Sensory Processing Skills
From birth to old age we are constantly receiving information about our world through our sensory systems. An efficient and organized sensory system enables us to focus on one thing, move our bodies in a coordinated manner, and fully participate in play, chores, self-care, and daily routines. Children with difficulties in sensory processing may have inefficient processing of information received through their senses thereby impacting their educational, social, and emotional development.
Visual-Motor Skills
Visual-motor skills involve the coordination of hand movements based on the perception of visual information. For example, you see a baseball and you respond by moving your hands to catch the baseball! Adequate visual motor skills are essential for so many of a child’s occupations, from coloring and tracing on paper, to managing fasteners on clothing or stacking blocks, to kicking and hitting a ball.
