As parents or guardians, watching a kid grow up maybe one of the most rewarding and joyful experiences of life. Watching them achieve new milestones and adding new achievements to their lists has to be an out-of-this-world feeling. It makes you wonder how can you contribute to their development to help them achieve their personal best each day. Well, if you are wondering the same, your answer is Pediatric Occupational Therapy by Developing Hands.
In this post, we will be learning more about Pediatric Occupational Therapy and what roles it plays in a kid’s development journey.
What does a pediatric occupational therapy do?
The role of a pediatric occupational therapist is to help kids reach developmental milestones that are important during their growing up journey. Some factors such as developmental delays, injuries, physical impairment, etc can interfere with your child’s ability to perform and do age-appropriate tasks.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy is aimed at supporting children by providing them with appropriate tools that can aid in their development of critical skills which will help them transform into independent and healthy adults in the future.
Whether you’re trying to help your child overcome a physical disability or simply develop their fine motor skills, occupational therapy can be an excellent form of treatment. Here are some reasons why you should consider bringing your child to an occupational therapist as soon as possible.
Structured programmes
Children develop at different rates, and if your child is struggling with fine motor skills or has a physical disability, pediatric occupational therapy can help. Occupational therapists are trained to create structured programs of activities that encourage a child’s development through fun games and activities. Through these sessions, your child will learn coordination and socialization skills that will help him function on a daily basis.
Hands-on activities
As children grow, their muscles and bones grow too. Sometimes, these are out of sync with each other. For example, kids can have different kinds of posture – some stand up tall and others lean forward or backward more than is normal. Children may also have trouble carrying out fine motor tasks like buttoning a shirt or writing legibly because their small muscles aren’t fully developed yet.
Group interaction
Children are especially busy these days, and they’re often juggling school, after-school activities, and family obligations. Because of these extra responsibilities, many kids simply don’t have time for traditional play dates. A pediatric occupational therapist can work with your child on developing active play opportunities that also encourage imagination and creativity. And beyond stimulating her brain development, your child will be interacting with other children in a constructive environment, which is important for teaching life skills like teamwork and cooperation.
Low stimulation settings
Children who are withdrawn or have trouble communicating can benefit from occupational therapy. Because these kids may be introverted, it’s a good idea to bring them out of their shells by taking them on outings that offer low stimulation. These settings could include museum visits, parks and movies.
Family involvement
Families play a critical role in helping kids with special needs reach their full potential. One way they can do that is by participating in therapy sessions. At first, some parents may have trouble getting comfortable with occupational therapy activities and terminology, but it’s important to remember that occupational therapists are trained professionals who know how children learn best. If you trust them and actively participate, your child’s OT sessions will be more successful.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
