For many families, kindergarten marks the start of real school .
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This is a quote from a parent of a second grader who recently contacted me (at the urging of the boy s teachers)
Motor planning is a large skill that includes our body?s ability to figure out what to do and how to do everyday activities. Difficulties with motor planning can lead to difficulties with learning and difficulties with mastering everyday activities.If difficulties with motor planning are impacting daily life and your child?s ability to participate in age related activities to their fullest potential, an occupational therapy consultation or evaluation might be beneficial. Occupational therapy can assess a child?s individual motor skills, motor planning skills, and overall sensory processing capacity to assist with increase in functional independence.
If summer vacation means that your child has the summer off from Occupational Therapy (or if you just think he/she could use a little work-out for those growing muscles), here are some of my favorite ways to improve grasp and hand strength. Improved hand strength can translate to improved handwriting, better endurance while writing and cutting, and better fine motor and self-care skills.
Is your child experiencing difficulty with self-regulation that is impacting daily life and your child?s ability to participate in age-related activities to their fullest potential? Self-regulation is a person?s ability to maintain their arousal level and a level of alertness that is appropriate for the demands of the environment, and is critical to a child?s learning and development. Children and adults use various sensory-based strategies and techniques in order to participate in social activities, daily living activities, and other age appropriate activities.