Community Therapy Services, P.C.

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Occupational therapy gives us skills for the job of living. Occupational therapy enhances body awareness, improving attention, and developing hand functions for success during play activities, school tasks, and daily living. Through occupational therapy, children develop their sense of self as they interact with family, friends, and others to learn and play. Occupational therapy can promote self-confidence and independence through the development of:

Attention skills
Sensory processing skills
Organizational skills
Hand dexterity / fine motor skills
Visual - spatial skills
Motor planning
Age appropriate skills of daily living
Visual - motor skills

"Today, your child will stack one block upon another -- eyes, fingers, nerves, muscles working together -- never realizing that in this simple task he's laying the foundation for all those tomorrows when he'll spell his name, compose his first story, write his first love letter, and, before you know it, a best-selling novel, and then, of course, win the Nobel Prize.

"Early childhood is such an important time for learning, skill development, and growth. But not all children develop the same way. Some need extra help with motor control and coordination, eating, playing, and other areas necessary for success at school and in life. Occupational therapy can help children who have developmental delays, birth or learning disabilities or other conditions to make the most of their abilities. With OT, children can learn to live with disability so they can be as independent and competent as possible. (American Occupational Therapy Assn., www.aota.org)

The following are indicators that your child may benefit from occupational therapy.

Infant:

appears to have stiff or weak muscles
avoids using one or both arms
demonstrates trouble grasping toys or holding a bottle
unable to follow moving toys with his or her eyes
drools excessively or demonstrates decreased oral motor skills
resists cuddling
appears distressed by sudden movements such as swinging, rocking, etc.

Preschooler:

demonstrates difficulty learning new self-help skills such as toileting or dressing
appears to hold crayons and scissors awkwardly
resists messy activities like finger-painting or sand play
shows anxiety with movement on swings or slides
uses repetitive rather than creative play
demonstrates more parallel play than cooperative play

School-Age Child:

seems clumsy
has poor balance
resists numerous kinds of touch, such as tooth-brushing, haircuts, or tickling
shows poor attention to school tasks
is unable to properly gauge the appropriate amount of pressure on writing utensils (e.g., holds a pencil too tightly, possibly breaking it)
still lacks hand preference after age 6

Sensory Processing, Attention to Task, and Organization

Fine Motor Skills

Visual Skills

Neuro-Developmental Therapy

Ideas for Parents on Fine Motor Skill Development in Children

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