Occupational Therapy

Gross Motor Skills

• Movements relating to the large muscle groups such as our legs, arms and trunks

• OTs can work with children to improve motor planning, sequencing, coordination, strength and balance to allow them to develop functional skills such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, & ball skills

Fine Motor Skills

• Movements relating to the smaller muscle groups such as the hands and fingers.

• OTs can work with children to improve fine motor coordination, grasp and release, object manipulation, hand strength and dexterity

Printing & Writing Competence

• Pencil grasp, letter recognition and formation as well as written organization

Sensory Processing

• Our ability to take in information from our senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, gravitational changes & body awareness), and process them accurately

• Sensory processing challenges can lead to difficulties with self-regulation, attention, motor planning and many other functional skills.

Regulation

• Self-regulation: The ability to adjust and maintain appropriate arousal levels for given situations or tasks

• Emotional regulation: The ability to identify, manage and cope with emotions.

Social Skills

• Perspective taking, group participation, functional peer & adult interactions, and flexibility

Play Skills

• Pretend play and functional peer play skills including sharing and turn taking

Visual Motor Integration

• Ability to coordinate visual perception and fine motor skills

• These skills are important for functional tasks such as printing

Assistive Devices & Environmental Adaptation

• Implemented devices or adaptations to an individual’s environment that allow for maintenance or increase in independence of the child in everyday life

Enviromental Modifications

• Classroom/home modifications, accommodations, equipment and assistive devices to improve participation in daily activities.

Cognitive Skills

• Executive functions, attention, information processing, self-monitoring and learning skills

• Participation in daily routines including grooming, washing, feeding and dressing

Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking

Handwriting Without Tears

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Sensory Integration

Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)

Vital Links Therapeutic Listening

Astronaut Training

Willbarger Therapressure Protocol

The Alert Program

The Incredible Five Point Scale

SOS Feeding Program

DIR/Floortime

Zones of Regulation