This is the third in a series of articles about the kinds of skills addressed by occupational therapists working with children. This article will focus on bilateral integration which refers to the ability to use the two sides of the body (and the brain) together effectively to execute skilled and precise actions. A child who […]
Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Part 2: Eye-hand Coordination
This is the second in a series of articles about the kinds of problems addressed by pediatric occupational therapists. The ability to use the eyes and hands together in a coordinated way is the foundation for many skills children need to be successful. It is an integral part of learning to play with toys, gaining […]
It Looks Like They’re Just Playing: Are Activity-Based Social Skills Groups Worthwhile?
As parents and as therapists, we are always looking for ways to help our children build skills while they have fun, through participation in activities that are affordable and that fit with our family culture. Some children are lacking in social skills which makes it hard for them to make and keep friends. The good […]
Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Part 1: Fine Motor Skills
This is the first in a 3-part series of articles about the kinds of problems addressed by pediatric occupational therapists. This article will define occupational therapy and then focus specifically on fine motor skills challenges and provide some suggestions for what you can do if you think your child is having difficulties in this area. […]
Want Your Child to Learn More? Better Get Moving!
Throughout childhood, abstract learning is an outgrowth of things kids learn in concrete ways in their own bodies, through movement. For example, understanding of math begins with a child’s experience of moving forward and backward in space. This is the basis for their understanding of addition and subtraction. The child who has difficulty moving backwards […]
What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
Sensory integration theory and practice is based on the work of Dr. A. Jean Ayres, who spent over 30 years bringing together her knowledge of neuroscience, development, learning, and occupational therapy to pioneer and create the theory, assessments, and treatment principles of sensory integration. Sensory integration is a process in which information from the environment […]