Motor Skills
4 Ways to Work on Your Child’s Occupational Therapy Skills During The Holiday Break
Occupational therapy is designed to help people overcome setbacks related to poor motor skills. These setbacks may make it difficult for children to perform well in school, and occupational therapy can work on skills children need, such as writing and typing or tying their shoes.Occupational therapy focuses on fine and gross motor skills and motor planning, and it can also help children who struggle with sensory processing and self-regulation.During the school year, children get plenty of fine motor practice, but this practice can decrease during the holidays. The good news is, there are plenty of ways you can engage your child in occupational therapy skills during the holiday break.1. Cooking and bakingThe holidays are all about food and family, and there’s no better way to spend time with your family than while you’re making food. Measuring, mixing, and pouring ingredients requires a mix of fine and gross motor skills, and it’s the perfect time for your child the practice. It’s important to be patient with them as they work on honing these skills. So, it may be beneficial to start with something small such as making hot chocolate and moving up to baking cakes or helping with Christmas dinner as your child’s motor skills improve.2. Wrapping presentsAn ongoing holiday project is the act of wrapping presents. Instead of putting the burden of wrapping presents on one person, consider making it a family affair. Wrapping presents includes the use of scissors, tape, and fine motor planning. It also requires patience and self-regulation, so it is one of the best holiday projects your child can engage in.3. Playing in the snowIf the weather is nice, don’t hesitate to spend some time outside. There are plenty of ways you can practice fine motor skills outside, whether you are in an area that snows or an area that doesn’t. If you are in a place where it doesn’t snow, consider collecting nature items and turning them into a collage or a tabletop sensory table. If you are in a location that snows, consider making snowballs and throwing them at targets. Both of these activities are great for hand-eye coordination, and they’re a good way to get your child outside for a couple of hours every day.4. Writing Christmas cardsFinally, have your child practice their handwriting skills by writing Christmas cards and a letter to Santa. Children can practice their creativity and their handwriting by decorating the letters in different styles. The best part about this practice is it is another one that your child can do consistently. Writing holiday cards for the whole family, addressing envelopes, and eventually stamping them and sticking them in the mailbox engages a wide variety of occupational skills.Practicing occupational therapy skills doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it can be included in your child’s everyday life. Rather than sitting them down with a set of workbooks, you can incorporate occupational therapy practice into the holiday festivities. Allow your child to work in the kitchen with you, help wrap presents, and even play in the snow.The holiday season is also a good time to consider online occupational therapy with a certified counselor. Programs like Connect Teletherapy can connect you with a virtual therapist, so your child can practice their skills without even leaving their home.
Tips to Help your Child GRASP the Pincer Grip
The coordination of using your thumb and index finger to perform tasks, also known as the pincer grip, is a crucial part of fine motor development. Adults use this grip for all kinds of things, including buttoning shirts, picking up tiny objects, and even using a pencil. This pincer grip exercises is usually considered a baby skill, but toddlers and older children need just as many opportunities to practice the grip as well.Some children have delays in developing the pincer grip due to the increased reliance on technology at a younger age. Unfortunately, this lack of development can lead to difficulty grasping a pencil down the line. It can become a concern for your child’s hand, finger, and wrist muscles.Here are some activities on how to help baby with pincer grasp.1. Threading beadsI bet you didn’t think there was an occupational reason for threading popcorn onto a string, huh? While this traditional holiday task is better suited for slightly older children, toddlers also enjoy practicing their grip in this way. Children get the hang of threading beads onto a string by their second birthday. These pincer grasp activities task not only reinforces the pincer grasp but also helps with hand-eye coordination. There are many bead kits out there for children, or you can make your own with wide beads and thick yarn. this is how to help baby with pincer grasp. This is one example on how to practice pincer grasp.2. Transferring objectsWhile it may not seem like a lot of fun to you, transferring objects from one bowl to another can be very engaging for toddlers and small children. It helps in pincer grip development. The act of transferring small beans or grains of rice with the spoon from one bowl to another takes quite a bit of concentration and coordination to master. While this game is simple on the surface, it allows your child to strengthen their hands, fingers, and wrist muscles. Such pincer grip activities are a must to involve for your children.3. ColoringFinally, one of the best pincer grasp activities to practice the pencil grip is to hold pencil-shaped objects. Children go through several stages with their pincer grip development as their pincer grip gets better. At 18 months, your child should be able to grasp a crayon and scribble on their own. By two years old, they may be able to imitate vertical lines and color inside a large sheet of paper. By three years old, your child should be grasping their crayon with their thumb and first finger rather than using a fist. And by four, their drawings should look identifiable.A child should have a modified tripod grasp mastered by their fourth birthday. If they are having trouble at this stage of development, then it may be necessary to invest in occupational therapy. There are many pincer grip activities & ways to engage in therapy, whether you prefer an in-person therapy session or a remote lesson for better flexibility. Online therapists, such as Connect Teletherapy, offer many remote learning options, pincer grip exercises, including Skype and video calls, to ensure your child gets the therapy they need.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are necessary for children to perform adequately in a classroom setting. These skills include holding and rotating a pencil, coloring, and even going to the restroom unassisted. If a child lacks these skills, it can make classroom tasks incredibly difficult and lead to frustration from all parties. To avoid your child falling too far behind with their fine motor skills, it’s important to know what you can expect at different ages.Fine Motor Skills for Elementary and Middle School ChildrenPre Elementary (4-5 years old)At 4-5 years old, a child should be able to cut along lines continuously, coordinate hands to brush teeth or hair, copy circles, crosses, and squares, and be able to hold a pencil with a tripod or three-point grip. A child should also be able to color inside lines, write their name, copy numbers one through five, and be independently attempting to draw a range of different pictures. At home, your child should have no problem dressing themselves, opening zip lock bags or lunch boxes, or completing puzzles with up to twelve interlocking pieces.Early Elementary (5-6 years old)At the early elementary age, a child should be able to cut out simple shapes, write numbers one through ten independently, and generate letters without assistance. The child should be comfortable writing with a three-finger grip, using a knife or fork for softer foods, and complete puzzle up to twenty pieces.Middle Elementary (6-7 years old)The middle elementary stage is a stage where a child is mostly improving on pre-established skills and developing pencil control and endurance. The child should be able to draw detailed pictures with recognizable objects, build with Legos, tie shoelaces, and be able to write on lines. If a child is having problems dressing, completing puzzle toys, or independently opening zip lock bags, then there is a potential cause for concern.Late Elementary (7-8 years old)As a child nears eight years old, they should be able to write neatly while holding a pencil with a three-finger grip and control the pencil from their fingers, not their wrist. They should also be able to maintain legible handwriting for the length of a piece of paper, form letters and numbers correctly, and be able to cut neatly around a shape. If a child is struggling with building with legos or other blocks, completing complex puzzles, or tying shoelaces, then there may be a need for further development on these fronts.When it comes to early childhood development, there is a lot of variation between children. Sometimes a child may excel exponentially in one category, such as writing or drawing, and maybe a little further back on the scale when it comes to kinesthetic skills. While many of these skills are practiced inside the classroom, if you find that a child is making little to no progress over a few months, it may be necessary to seek an occupational therapist to provide individual and unique resources for the child.If you’re looking for a therapy model that can fit easily into a busy schedule or provide your child with quality help despite social distancing requirements, then Connect Teletherapy is a therapy program designed to make therapy accessible to you and your child no matter what the circumstance.
Fall and Halloween Activities with Children
After months of leisure and unstructured free time in the summer, fall therapy activities are a fantastic opportunity to get back into a routine and encourage children to spend as much time outside as possible.Many children spend most of their free time indoors, playing video games or scrolling through social media. Try to involve them in some halloween themed mental health activities.Too much time spent indoors and in front of a computer may keep children from getting out and engaging in physical activity.Research shows that a lack of physical exercise and a sedentary lifestyle are strongly linked to childhood obesity, mental health concerns, and other health issues. IN such cases you must consider halloween mental health activities.A good fall/halloween mental health activities plan can help create a flexible transition for school-age children, helping them develop and learn while having a wonderful time. It can also be an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your child and bond.So, here are three ideas on how to engage with your child during Halloween or fall therapy activities.1. Pumpkin DecorationPumpkin carving is an indispensable part of Halloween festivities. However, you can turn things around a little and look for halloween themed mental health activities. Encourage your children to be inventive by providing a list of pumpkin decoration ideas. Such physical therapy pumpkin ideas can be fun & engaging.Developmental and Mental Health BenefitsTry some halloween social skills activities. The process of picking pumpkins out, picking out a design, and discussing how they will carve or design their pumpkins has various benefits. Such physical therapy pumpkin ideas can be adapted as a distraction to move children away from their phones / screens.Firstly, your children will spend time outside while picking their pumpkins on the farm.Spending time outside promotes a positive mood, increases confidence, and has a relaxing impact. In addition, some studies have found that exposing children to nature may significantly lower their stress levels.Also, when children choose their pumpkins and designs, they use their language and communication skills, develop their imagination and creativity, and use their executive skills like planning, sequencing, organization, and problem-solving or take halloween mental health therapy activities.2. A Fall-Themed PartyAllow your child to choose fall-themed décor, music, and food. Encourage them to help you decorate the backyard and bake pies and other fall-inspired party snacks.Also, encourage your child to participate in party planning. For example, ask them, “How many treats do we need to plan for guests?” “How will you lay out the decorations?” to foster executive skills and language.When preparations don’t go as planned, urge your child to consider other alternatives (“What can we use to replace that décor?” “What are we going to do if the weather is bad for our party?” etc.).Developmental and Mental Health BenefitsFall therapy activities or halloween mental health therapy activities may help your child develop a love of nature, strengthen their language and motor abilities, and teach them responsibility, independence, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and other vital skills.3. Fall Cooking with ChildrenMaking Halloween treats at home will get you into the mood and help you bond with your children. At the same time, you will foster fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, language skills, independence, and creativity.School-age kids may help measure and add items, use cookie cutters to shape treats, and follow easy recipes.Developmental and Mental Health BenefitsCooking with children can help you bond. In addition, it helps children gain confidence, language skills, and sensory awareness. Also, cooking teaches children basic math and reading skills, encourages independence, and much more. Look for more halloween social skills activities.While brainstorming Halloween cooking ideas, take your children to a nearby farm. This may be a fantastic hands-on chance for children to learn more about seasons, animals, and the natural life cycle.In addition, spending time outside helps your child learn to appreciate nature, become more independent, and understand how the world works.