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Why your child may benefit from occupational therapy

Handwriting

Writing and pencil grasp are one of the primary reasons for a teacher to refer a child for an OT evaluation. There are many components that contribute to a child's ability to write and hold a pencil successfully. These include but are not limited to: 

  • visual spatial skills

  • visual motor skills

  • sensory processing

  • strength

  • coordination

  • attention

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An OT assessment will help determine the components that are impacting your child's ability to write legibly.

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Sensory Processing

Most people are familiar with the 5 sensory systems  (touch, smell, vision, auditory, and taste), but do you know that there are 8 human senses. The remaining three are the vestibular, proprioceptive, and interception systems. 
Differences with sensory processing require help from an occupational therapist when they impact a child's ability to successfully and confidently participate in activities at school, home, playground, and with peers.

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Play Skills

Beginning in infancy, children learn about their bodies and the world around them through play.  Playful interactions helps them build connections to adults and other children. 
Some kids can have difficulty playing successfully with other children. They may have difficulty building friendships or connecting with other people. They may have difficulty understanding the non-verbal social cues.

Fine Motor Skills

Kids learn to control the muscles in their hands in coordination with their eyes to manipulate objects during play. As children get older, good fine motor skills are important for independence in the classroom and on the playground. Challenges with fine motor skills can look like:

  • poor eye-hand coordination

  • difficulty using scissors

  • difficulty tying shoelaces

  • difficulty using fork, spoon, or knife when eating

  • avoidance of table top activities like drawing and coloring

  • weak hand strength

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Gross Motor Skills

​In the preschool years, children explore their world by climbing, biking, running, jumping, throwing and catching. They are liking to coordinate their arms, legs, and eyes to work together in an efficient manner. Some children have challenges with gross motor skills for example:

  • Difficulty with jumping on or off surfaces.

  • Challenges with throwing or catching a ball.

  • Unable to ride a tricycle, scooter, or bike. 

  • Difficulty learning a new activity involving motor sequences 

  • Challenges with coordination

  • Clumsy or constantly bumping into things like furniture or walls

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​Self-care Skills

As a toddler, kids develop an interest in mimicking the adults in their lives and increasing their independence. Part of this includes a desire to learn to dress themselves. By the time a child has entered 1st grade, they are able to dress themselves and follow a morning routine to get ready for school. 
Challenges with self-care skills can impact a child's self-esteem. Difficulty following a morning routine can impact family dynamics and affect a child's emotional start to their school day.

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