How can Occupational Therapists Help Children?
Occupational therapists work to help children master daily life skills. Just as occupational therapy can help adults function better at their jobs, occupational therapists help children succeed in the important areas of their lives. Depending on a child’s needs, they could work with a therapist on anything from improving their handwriting to taking part in social activities.
Why Might My Child Need to See an Occupational Therapist?
Children see occupational therapists for a variety of reasons including concerns with:
- Handwriting skills: difficulty or inaccurately holding writing tools (pencils, crayons etc…, poor or difficult to read handwriting, slow or sloppy handwriting, letter reversals and much more.
- Finger skills (Tabletop or Fine Motor skills): difficulty with scissor skills (coloring, drawing, handwriting), opening lunch bags, manipulating toothbrushes, tying shoelaces, feeding independence.
- Feeding: Sensory concerns; limited diet, eats only certain textures or colors.
- Whole body skills (Gross Motor skills): difficulty with running, jumping, swimming, bike riding ball skills, posture at the table, crawling, walking.
- visual processing Skills: inaccurately interpreting visual information that helps skills such as literacy ( difficulty with reading, writing)
- sensory processing (for concentration and learning): toe-walking; covering ears with loud noises; inconsolable meltdowns, poor regulation and modulation; difficulty with remaining still, seems to be in constant motion, feeding concerns.
- Executive functioning: difficulty with learning including skills such as working memory, flexible thinking, multi-tasking and self-control of concentration and attention task completion, focus and attention.
- Self-care: daily life skills such as dressing, toileting, hygiene, eating, sleeping, completing chores etc.
- Self-management: general organization, keeping track of personal items, understanding time, and using money.