Occupational Therapy: Developing Motor Skills

Occupational Therapy is often misunderstood and confused for physical therapy, but occupational therapy targets specific areas that are widely important for a person and their day to day! Literally, "occupations," refers to meaningful activities that a person takes part in. While those can be different for every person, occupational therapy can help those with disabilities or changes in mobility and function learn how to adapt and recover to continue doing those activities. So - how is developing motor skills part of this? 

What are Motor Skills?

Motor skills refer to skills that require the coordination and movement of muscles in the body. The movement and coordination of these muscles performs a task like writing, using scissors, or zipping a zipper. The nervous system, muscles, and brain all have to work in coordination with each other to perform these tasks. 

Gross vs. Fine Motor Skills

Gross motor skills involve activities that require large muscle movements, like sitting, pushing, crawling, and more. Fine motor skills require the use of smaller muscles to perform activities like writing, drawing, or grasping items. 

Both gross and fine motor skills are developing at the same time, but often fine motor skills don't feel fully developed in children until a few years later than their gross motor skills are developed. For example, a child may walk steadily at 4, but not use a pair of scissors confidently until 6 or 7. 

How Does Occupational Therapy Help? 

Occupational therapy utilizes exercises and a lot of play activities to enhance the areas of weakness that a child might have. Some arm and core strength may be playing into the development of their fine motor skills, or they may not have had access to a lot of items that would improve fine motor skills. 

Individualized care plans that can coordinate with activities at home are also super important. Our individualized plans mean that your child has unique activities and exercises that will specifically target the areas they're needing to grow in. And, parents and family members can be included in the process at home, allowing for the most development and growth. 

What Can I Do? 

If you're looking to help your child's motor skills develop, we recommend some of the following activities.

Fine Motor Skills: 

• Playdough and putty
• Painting 
• Water play
• Threading beads onto pipe cleaners
• Pasta necklaces
• Weaving

Gross Motor Skills: 

• Trampoline
• Playground use
• Hopscotch
• Tricyles, scooters, and pedal cars
• Obstacle courses

Needing Help? 

If you're feeling like your child is behind on their motor skills, speak with your pediatrician or call us about a referral! We accept pediatric patients in both Tifton and Cordele. 

Tifton: 229.445.3255

Cordele: 229.273.9445