OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Masnad Health Clinic is a child and family centered service that aims to empower children and their families to nurture their development across childhood.
How can Occupational Therapy help?
Occupational Therapists support children who need support in a range of different areas. These are some of the things to look out for:
Self-Care :
Difficulty with buttons, zippers, shoelaces
Difficulty with opening and closing your lunchbox , or unscrewing your water bottle
Trouble ‘orienting’ clothing
Poor sequencing within tasks (dressing or packing bag)
Trouble with skills such as brushing hair or teeth, toileting, bathing or using a knife & fork
Sensory Processing :
Sensitivity to certain auditory input (sounds), tactile input (touch – textures, temperatures, pressure), visual input or vestibular input (movementi>)
Seeks some sensations (e.g. deep pressure, vibration, spinning or light touch)
Easily overstimulated, or generally low level arousal (flat affect, hard to engage)
Clumsy or awkward movements :
Falling or tripping over
Bumping into people or objects
Social, play and Emotional skills :
Making friends
initiating interactions and responding appropriately with others
Taking turns with other
Sharing
Separating from parents
Managing and regulating emotions and feelings
Sequencing in play, and learning how to play appropriately with toys
Drawing & Handwriting :
Difficulty tracing over lines
Difficulty drawing shapes
Immature or restrictive pencil grip
Poor letter formation
Reversals
Poor spatial organisation/setting out or neatness
Reduced writing speed
Experiencing pain when writing
Poor coordination :
Difficulty throwing or catching a ball
Difficulty climbing, riding a bike and/or coordinating movements of arms and legs
Poor balance:
Difficulty with steps, walking on a line or balance beam
Standing on one leg
Hopping
Copying :
Trouble copying from the board or textbooks
Omitting letters or words
Poor spatial organisation
Reduced speed (difficulty ‘keeping up’ in class)
Cutting Skills :
Holding scissors awkwardly
Tense or asymmetrical posture
Decreased accuracy and neatness
Poor planning
Swapping hands
Changing direction when cutting
Our vision is to deliver a culturally diverse, family-centred service, incorporating evidence-based practice, to work with your child’s strengths in order to empower you and give you a sense of ownership in your child’s learning and development.