Blog
Handwriting: Part 1
Occupational Therapists (OTs) play an integral role in both handwriting development and intervention. Handwriting is a complicated and complex skill that can often be taken for granted. As OTs, we are able to address the many factors that affect handwriting, both with the client and within the environment to improve the quality and function of handwriting.
Handwriting is defined by both: “the act of writing” and “someone’s particular style of handwriting”.
Handwriting is writing performed by the hand with a utensil (ex: crayon, pen, or pencil). Further, it is the motor skill of the hand with the ability to form letters.
Social Skills Training: Improving In-Person Communication
In today’s digital age, the majority of our young generation’s communication is based on email, text, social media and less on in-person communication. While texting and social media may be convenient and sometimes easier, it lacks real social interaction.
It can be difficult for them to convey, read and interpret intention and tone in a text or Facebook post. As a result, youth today struggle with resolving conflict, peer interaction, developing genuine friendships, and personal communication. These superpowers are also known as “social skills”.
Help for Picky Eaters
A lot of children are picky eaters. Picky eaters are selective in what they will eat. The problem occurs when the "picky eating" behavior progresses and the variety of foods they eat diminishes. They tend to only eat one or two foods over and over. Then one day, they decide that they do not want to eat that food anymore.
Picky Eaters can be a challenge. Here are some ideas to help increase the variety in your child's diet by helping them overcome anxiety related to food.
Using a Sensory Diet to Improve Attention, Behavior, and overall Activity Levels
A sensory diet is a group of activities that are scheduled into a child's day to assist with attention, alert state and their overall response to stress and change. A sensory diet looks at a child's sensory processing and provides tools to help them with self regulation.
Sensory Diet can be very helpful to manage behaviors in children with Autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder.
More than Just Fidgeting: Understanding the Difference between Inattention and Sensory Seeking Behaviors
All children and adults have sensory needs. Some have more than others. A child with “sensory needs” will demonstrate either sensory seeking or sensory avoiding behaviors.
When provided with the right balance of this, it can help the child to stay focused and on task.