What is occupational therapy?
_Occupational therapists analyze the child's functional performance within different environments to identify the child's strengths and limitations and to identify the variables to be targeted in intervention. The occupational therapist’s goals are to improve the child's functional performance in the areas of self-care, play, and academics (work) and to enhance the child's ability to interact within his or her physical and social environment. We use fun crafts, games, fine motor activities and even sports to facilitate goals. This keeps children engaged and motivated in therapy!
Occupational therapists collaborate with teacher and/or parent as part of the therapy model in order to enhance functioning in all contexts.
Occupational therapists collaborate with teacher and/or parent as part of the therapy model in order to enhance functioning in all contexts.
How do I know if a child may benefit from occupational therapy?
A child may benefit from occupational therapy intervention if significant difficulties are seen in any of the following areas:
Motor Skills:
-motor weakness or tightness
-clumsy, bumps into objects, or trips easily
-confuses right and left
-poor balance and/or coordination
-poor endurance (tires easily)
Self Help Skills:
-cannot use utensils appropriately for age
-has trouble opening milk carton or juice boxes
-has difficulty snapping, zipping and/or buttoning clothes
-needs help maintaining hygeine (blowing nose, keeping face clean, etc)
-cannot aligh a separating zipper
Fine Motor Skills:
-poor pre-handwriting and/or scissor skills
-weak grasp on objects
-switches hands frequently
-poor directionality concept
-tremors/shaking
-problems manipulating clothing fasteners
-immature grasp on writing/coloring tools
Visual Perception/ Visual Motor:
-poor eye hand control
-unable to copy simple shapes
-difficulty recognizing age appropriate shapes
-difficulty recognizing letters and numbers
-poor spatial skills (puzzles, shapes)
Sensory Integration:
-difficulty organizing personal space (bumps into others often, cannot organize book bag)
-seems to be driven by a motor: excessive movement
-dislikes noisy environments
-unusual response to touch (may withdraw, become agitated, etc)
-seems overly emotional
-doesn't seem to hear what you are saying even though child's hearing is normal
Motor Planning / Praxis Skills:
-can not keep up with others
-impulsive/fails to listen before answering
-can not imitate body positions or movements well
-can not follow multi-step directions
-does not like changes in routines
Attention/ Emotional Skills:
-needs more individual attention to complete tasks than other students
-easily upset
-frequent outbursts or meltdowns
-needs frequent prompts to continue or to stay on task
Motor Skills:
-motor weakness or tightness
-clumsy, bumps into objects, or trips easily
-confuses right and left
-poor balance and/or coordination
-poor endurance (tires easily)
Self Help Skills:
-cannot use utensils appropriately for age
-has trouble opening milk carton or juice boxes
-has difficulty snapping, zipping and/or buttoning clothes
-needs help maintaining hygeine (blowing nose, keeping face clean, etc)
-cannot aligh a separating zipper
Fine Motor Skills:
-poor pre-handwriting and/or scissor skills
-weak grasp on objects
-switches hands frequently
-poor directionality concept
-tremors/shaking
-problems manipulating clothing fasteners
-immature grasp on writing/coloring tools
Visual Perception/ Visual Motor:
-poor eye hand control
-unable to copy simple shapes
-difficulty recognizing age appropriate shapes
-difficulty recognizing letters and numbers
-poor spatial skills (puzzles, shapes)
Sensory Integration:
-difficulty organizing personal space (bumps into others often, cannot organize book bag)
-seems to be driven by a motor: excessive movement
-dislikes noisy environments
-unusual response to touch (may withdraw, become agitated, etc)
-seems overly emotional
-doesn't seem to hear what you are saying even though child's hearing is normal
Motor Planning / Praxis Skills:
-can not keep up with others
-impulsive/fails to listen before answering
-can not imitate body positions or movements well
-can not follow multi-step directions
-does not like changes in routines
Attention/ Emotional Skills:
-needs more individual attention to complete tasks than other students
-easily upset
-frequent outbursts or meltdowns
-needs frequent prompts to continue or to stay on task