Is it proving challenging for your youngster to succeed in school? Do you have problems with your child’s day-to-day practices at home, school, or society? Do they face difficulties that most ordinarily growing children do not? If this is the case, pediatric occupational therapists could be able to assist your child.
Occupational therapy may be beneficial to your child. Look at your child’s behavior at school and home if you need assistance determining whether or not they need occupational therapy.
The following are five indicators that your child may require occupational therapy:
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Achievement of age-appropriate developmental milestones is difficult.
A youngster is falling behind in learning skills expected at a certain age or throughout a specific period, consider the following examples that require pediatric therapists assistance:
- Neck rising, sitting, moving, and walking developmental stages are not meeting on schedule.
- Not learning at a level that is acceptable for their age.
- Not allowing children to acquire age-appropriate play and social skills.
- Not indicating or communicating age in an age-appropriate manner.
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They avoid eye contact and unwanted social interaction.
Social interaction abilities enable us to form bonds and form relationships with others in our lives and comprehend those around us. If your child exhibits any of the following characteristics, they may have underdeveloped social skills and require pediatric occupational therapists:
- When speaking, avoiding adequate eye contact
- Social interaction with family and classmates is complex.
- Difficulty socializing, interacting and playing with peers who are of a suitable age.
- Adapting to unfamiliar situations and huge groups is difficult.
- Communication or language skills that got delayed
- Can’t function in a school setting
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Playing skills That Are Insufficient or Unsuitable
Children need to play to develop age-appropriate abilities and comprehend their role in the world.
Through play, kids can improve their motor skills, cognitive abilities, problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills.
If you notice any of the following, your child may need to see a pediatric therapist:
- Does not engage in proper toy exploration
- For hours on end, he engages in repeated play (e.g., lining up toys)
- Instead of playing with an adult or a peer, they prefer to play alone.
- Constantly on the go without engaging in meaningful play.
- Attention span is limited. Quickly transitions from one activity to the next.
- When gaming, it’s challenging to connect with peers/siblings.
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General motor and delicate motor skills problems
Gross motor (physical) skills are those that demand whole-body motion and the use of the body’s extensive (core anchoring) muscles to conduct everyday tasks like rising, moving, running, and sitting erect. It also involves skills like ball skills that need spatial visualization (throwing, catching, kicking). They may also struggle in the following areas:
- Inability to roll, toss, notice, or kick a ball in an age-appropriate manner.
- Climbing and descending stairs at an acceptable age
- They must coordinate both sides of the body.
Bottom line
OT has numerous advantages for children. And the earlier a child begins occupational therapy, the more beneficial it is.
If you believe your kid is experiencing any of the concerns listed above, an occupational therapist can help. Occupational therapists would assess your child’s strengths and weaknesses.