If you’ve ever found yourself overwhelmed by the unfamiliar jargon you may hear during your child’s therapy sessions, do not fret! In this blog post, we’ll explore the nuances of the occupational therapy (OT) language, breaking down complex concepts into smaller pieces that are much easier to understand. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or simply curious about the world of OT, the aim is to equip you with knowledge so you can better support your child on their therapeutic journey. So let’s dive in and demystify the language of OT together!
Fine motor skills:
Fine motor skills are those intricate movements our hands and fingers make to accomplish everyday tasks. It’s like when we use our fingers to grasp tiny objects, hold a pen, or fasten buttons on a shirt. These skills are essential for activities such as writing, drawing, cutting, and even tying shoelaces. Fine motor skills allow us to perform tasks with precision and agility.
Similar to how we strengthen our muscles through exercise, children can improve their fine motor skills by engaging in various activities. This could involve playing with toys that involve small pieces, coloring with crayons, or solving puzzles that require finger dexterity. Sometimes, kids might need some extra practice or support to boost their fine motor skills, and that’s perfectly okay! As they practice and play, they’ll grow more confident and proficient in using their hands for different tasks.
Handwriting skills:
As OTs, we help kids improve their handwriting skills by teaching them the right way to hold a pencil and move their hands and fingers. We also work on making their letters with the correct sizing and shape and orientation on the lines.
By practicing writing letters and words, kids can get better at handwriting over time. We might also use fun activities and games to strengthen their hand muscles and improve their coordination, making it easier for them to write neatly and comfortably.
Handwriting is a skill that kids will use every day in school and beyond, so as OTs, improving handwriting skills is important because it helps them communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly on paper.
Gross motor skills and postural stability:
Gross motor skills are the big movements our bodies make using large muscle groups. Think of activities like running, jumping, climbing, balancing, and throwing a ball. These skills are important for everyday tasks and activities like playing sports, climbing stairs, and even sitting up straight.
Postural stability, which includes core strength, is all about how well your child can hold their body in different positions without falling over. It’s like the foundation of a building – if it’s strong and stable, everything built on top of it stays steady.
As pediatric OTs, when we talk about gross motor skills and postural stability, we’re looking at how your child can sit, stand, walk, and move around without losing their balance or getting tired too quickly. We help children develop and improve their gross motor skills through fun activities and exercises designed to strengthen their muscles, improve coordination, and build balance. By working on these skills, children can become more confident and independent in activities that require movement and physical coordination, such as playing sports, riding a bike, or even just sitting still and upright at school.
Oral motor skills (Feeding v. Eating):
The act of having a meal can be broken down into two components that can be addressed with OT– feeding and eating. Eating refers to the “keeping and manipulating food or fluid in the mouth and swallowing it (swallowing is moving food from the mouth to the stomach)” (AOTA, 2014). Difficulties in eating can be due to sensory sensitivities and oral motor skill deficits. Feeding refers to the “setting up, arranging, and bringing food [or fluid] from the plate or cup to the mouth” (AOTA, 2014). This includes manipulating utensils, management of food on the plate (cutting and scooping), and things like pouring juice or syrup. These skills require developed praxis and motor coordination.
Oral motor skills refer to the ability to use the muscles in and around the mouth for tasks like eating, drinking, speaking, and making facial expressions. In pediatric OT, we focus on helping children develop these skills so they can eat, drink, and communicate effectively.
OTs are able to prepare the child for the act of feeding by practicing utensil usage, refining eating habits, and working on the coordination needed to bring the utensil to their mouth. This can be done using these utensils during a meal or even using fun activities to practice the motion and strengthen the muscles needed.
Just as we need strong muscles in our legs to walk around, we also need strong and coordinated muscles in our mouth, face, arms, and hands to do things like chew food, swallow safely, form sounds, hold utensils, and coordinate utensil movement. As an OT, we can use fun and enticing activities and exercises to help kids strengthen and coordinate these muscles, which can improve their ability to eat a variety of foods, drink from different types of cups, and speak clearly. It’s all about helping kids build the skills they need to do everyday tasks with confidence and independence.
Visual perception skills:
Imagine your brain as a computer, constantly processing the images your eyes send its way. Visual perception is like the software that helps your brain make sense of these images, allowing you to understand what you’re seeing and respond accordingly. It’s what enables you to recognize shapes, colors, and patterns, and understand how objects relate to each other in space. For example, it’s what allows you to distinguish between a stop sign and a traffic light, or to navigate through a cluttered room without bumping into things.
But visual perception goes beyond just seeing things – it also helps you make sense of the world around you. It’s what allows you to judge distances, estimate sizes, and understand the layout of your environment. In kids, developing strong visual perception skills is crucial for learning and everyday tasks. It’s what helps them recognize letters and numbers, locate objects amongst other objects, understand math concepts, and read books.
When discussing your child’s visual perception skills, it means that we are working to fine tune their system so they can navigate the world around them with ease and confidence.
Visual motor skills:
Visual motor skills are like the connection between what kids see and how they use their hands. It is what you visually perceive and the motor movements produced. It’s the art of syncing up eyes and hands to make things happen, whether it’s grabbing a favorite toy or drawing a masterpiece. These skills are behind many of our kids’ daily activities, from writing their names neatly to kicking a ball straight into the goal.
To help our kids become masters of visual motor skills we can get them involved in fun activities that combine seeing and doing. Think of coloring inside the lines, building towering block structures, or even tossing a ball back and forth. With each interaction, they’re honing their ability to understand what they see and respond with precise hand movements.
By working on these skills, we’re essentially empowering our kids to interpret visual cues and turn them into smooth, coordinated actions. And as they become more adept at this visual motor dance, they’ll tackle tasks like writing, drawing, and playing sports with confidence and finesse.
Executive functioning skills:
Imagine your child’s brain is like a busy office, with lots of tasks to manage and decisions to make every day. Executive functioning is like the boss of that office – it’s responsible for keeping everything running smoothly. One of the main jobs of executive functioning is to help your child plan and organize their tasks. It’s what allows them to break down big tasks into smaller steps and decide what needs to be done first. For example, it helps them figure out how to start their homework and prioritize their chores.
Executive functioning also helps your child control their impulses and make good decisions. It’s what helps them resist the urge to grab a snack before dinner or to think before they speak when they’re upset. It’s like having an internal traffic light that tells them when to stop and think before they act.
Another important aspect of executive functioning is working memory – it’s like their brain’s notepad. It helps them remember important information, like their schedule or their friend’s birthday. Without it, they might forget what they were just about to do or lose track of what they’re doing. So, when we talk about working on executive functioning skills in occupational therapy, we’re essentially helping your child strengthen their brain’s boss, so they can stay organized, make good decisions, and manage their emotions more effectively in everyday life.
Flexible Thinking
In occupational therapy, flexible thinking is a crucial cognitive skill that empowers children to navigate the complexities of daily life with adaptability and resilience. It involves the ability to shift perspectives, adjust plans, and problem-solve effectively when faced with new or unexpected situations. Imagine a child who typically follows a set routine for their day. Flexible thinking enables them to handle changes to that routine, such as unexpected schedule adjustments or transitions between activities, without becoming overly upset or anxious. Instead of feeling stuck or frustrated when things don’t go as planned, they can calmly consider alternative options and adjust their approach as needed.
Through occupational therapy, children learn and practice strategies to enhance their flexible thinking skills. This may involve engaging in activities that encourage creativity, such as imaginative play or art projects, where there’s no single “right” answer and they must explore different possibilities. They may also work on problem-solving tasks that require them to think outside the box and consider multiple solutions. By developing flexible thinking abilities, children become better equipped to handle the dynamic challenges of everyday life. They learn to approach situations with an open mind, adapt to changes with greater ease, and navigate social interactions more effectively. Ultimately, flexible thinking fosters resilience and empowers children to embrace life’s uncertainties with confidence and creativity.
Motor planning/praxis:
Motor planning, also known as praxis, is like the brain’s GPS system for movement. It’s what allows your child to figure out how to do new actions and coordinate their muscles to carry them out smoothly. Think of it like this: when your child learns a new skill, like tying their shoes or riding a bike, their brain has to come up with a plan for how to do it. This plan involves breaking the action down into smaller steps and coordinating the movements of their muscles to carry out each step in the right order. For example, when your child learns to ride a bike, their brain has to figure out how to balance, pedal, steer, and brake all at the same time. Motor planning helps them coordinate these movements so they can ride smoothly without falling over.
Motor planning is also what allows your child to adapt to new situations and environments. For example, if they’re playing a new sport or trying out a new game, their brain has to quickly come up with a plan for how to move their body to meet the demands of the activity. In occupational therapy, we work on motor planning skills to help your child become more confident and capable in their movements. We might do activities that challenge their ability to plan and execute new actions, like obstacle courses or games that require them to follow multi-step instructions. By practicing these skills, your child can become more skilled and independent in their everyday activities.
ADLs:
ADLs, or Activities of Daily Living, are basically the tasks we do every day to take care of ourselves and our homes. ADLs are like the building blocks of our daily lives. They include things like getting dressed, brushing our teeth, eating meals, and even cleaning up around the house. These activities might seem routine, but they’re super important for our independence and well-being.
For example, imagine your morning routine. You wake up, brush your teeth, take a shower, get dressed, and make breakfast. These are all ADLs! ADLs are not just physical things either, they can include time management, making decisions, and problem-solving. They’re the little steps that help us start our day off right. As parents, understanding ADLs can help us support our kids as they grow and develop. By encouraging them to take on age-appropriate tasks and teaching them essential skills, we’re helping them become more independent and capable individuals.
Play skills:
When you hear an OT discussing play skills, we’re referring to the abilities children need to engage in different types of play, from imaginative games to structured activities. This includes things like taking turns, sharing toys, following rules, and using their imagination to create stories or scenarios. OTs work with kids to strengthen these play skills, whether they need help with social interaction, coordination, or sensory processing. Through playful activities and structured interventions, children can learn how to play independently, engage with others, and navigate different types of play environments.
Play skills also involve physical abilities, like running, jumping, climbing, and using fine motor skills to manipulate toys and objects. For example, building with blocks, drawing pictures, or stringing beads are all activities that help develop fine motor skills while also encouraging creativity and problem-solving.
Play is much more than just having fun—it’s how kids learn, explore, and develop important skills they’ll use throughout their lives. By focusing on play skills, we’re not only helping children have fun and enjoy their childhood, but we’re also laying the foundation for important developmental milestones and future success in various areas of life.
Social interaction skills:
Social interaction skills are like the building blocks of friendships and relationships. Just as kids learn to ride a bike or tie their shoes, they also learn how to talk, share, and play with others. As an OT, we help kids develop these skills so they can feel comfortable and confident when they’re with friends or in social settings.
We work on things like making eye contact, taking turns, and understanding body language. These are important for starting conversations, making friends, and getting along with others. We also help kids learn how to express their feelings and thoughts in a way that others can understand, which is key for building strong relationships.
OTs can target these skills through role play activities and through games to practice listening and problem solving with peers. With practice, children can enjoy more positive social interactions with others.
Proprioception skills:
Proprioception helps you know where your body is in space and how to move without having to constantly look or think about it. Think of it as your body’s sense of position and movement. When you reach for a glass of water without looking at it, it’s proprioception that helps you know where your hand is in relation to the glass and how much force to use to pick it up without spilling.
In OT, we help children develop and improve their proprioceptive sense through activities that engage their muscles and joints, like pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying objects of different sizes and weights. This helps them better understand and control their movements, improving their coordination, balance, and overall motor skills.
Vestibular system/ balance:
Your child’s vestibular system is their built-in balance system. This system is located in the inner ear and sends messages to their brain about the position and movement of their head and body. When your child plays on the swings, spins around, or jumps on a trampoline, their vestibular system is hard at work, sending signals to their brain to help them stay balanced and oriented. It’s like their body’s way of keeping them upright and stable, even when they’re moving around.
As OTs, we understand how important the vestibular system is for your child’s overall development. We use fun activities and exercises to help strengthen and improve their vestibular function, which can enhance their balance, coordination, and motor skills. So, the next time your child is playing and having fun, just remember that their vestibular system is working behind the scenes to keep them safe and steady!
Interoception:
Interoception, often called our “internal sense,” is like our body’s way to send messages, like when our stomach growls or our heart races, signaling thirst, hunger, or excitement.
Understanding these signals is crucial for managing emotions and daily tasks. OTs specialize in helping children decode these bodily cues. Through fun activities and exercises, they teach kids to recognize what their bodies are telling them. This might involve simple techniques like deep breathing or mindfulness exercises. By mastering interoception, children become better at recognizing when they’re hungry, tired, or in pain. This empowers them to handle daily activities more confidently and stay focused in school. With OT support, children develop a stronger connection between their bodies and minds, paving the way for better emotional regulation and participation in everyday life.
Attention to task:
Attention to task is all about how well your child can stay focused on what they’re doing. It’s like their ability to concentrate and stick with an activity without getting sidetracked. Just like building muscles at the gym, attention to tasks is a skill that can be strengthened over time.
During sessions, OTs can work with your child using games, puzzles, and other engaging activities to boost their attention span and concentration. These sessions are tailored to your child’s interests and abilities, making learning fun and effective. Working on this skill can aid your child in developing the focus they need to succeed in various daily tasks, such as completing homework, following instructions in class, or playing with friends. With practice and support from their OT, your child can improve their attention and thrive in all aspects of life.
Seated endurance:
Seated endurance refers to how long your child can comfortably sit and engage in activities without feeling fatigued or uncomfortable.
OTs can focus on helping children build their seated endurance to participate in various tasks for longer periods of time. This endurance not only focuses on physical ability, like posture, but maintaining attention and focus during seated activities also plays a crucial role.
Whether it’s sitting through a classroom lesson, completing homework at a desk, or enjoying activities with friends, having good seated endurance is essential for success in daily life. OT can help improve seated endurance by incorporating exercises to strengthen core muscles, providing strategies to improve posture and sitting tolerance, and introducing sensory tools to enhance comfort and attention during seated tasks. By working on seated endurance in therapy sessions and implementing strategies at home, we can help your child feel more comfortable and confident while sitting, leading to better participation and success in various activities throughout the day.
Sensory processing:
Sensory processing refers to how our brains interpret and respond to the sensory information we receive from our environment. This includes everything we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. For some children, their sensory systems might be sensitive, making them feel overwhelmed by certain sensations. They might cover their ears at loud noises or avoid certain textures in their food. Others might seek out sensory input, like spinning in circles or jumping on trampolines to feel more grounded.
OTs specialize in helping children regulate their sensory systems so they can better navigate the world around them. Through fun activities and games, OTs work with kids to develop coping strategies and build tolerance to different sensory experiences.
For example, if a child is sensitive to loud noises, an OT might use activities like listening to calming music or playing with noise-canceling headphones to gradually desensitize them. If a child seeks out sensory input, the OT might incorporate activities like swinging or playing with textured toys to fulfill their sensory needs in a safe and structured way.
By addressing sensory processing challenges, occupational therapists empower children to feel more comfortable and confident in their surroundings, allowing them to participate fully in everyday activities and thrive in their daily lives.
