Occupational therapy helps affected people of all ages to perform their day-to-day activities better. These people could have injuries due to accidents or have gone through some trauma. Some might have difficulty due to congenital disorders. Congenital disorders are those that are present since birth.
The term “occupational” refers to daily tasks. Occupational therapists are those who have formal education to deal with such cases. They help affected people with special techniques. So that they can perform their daily activities in a better way. As they might be facing issues with sitting, standing, or picking up things. Moreover, training with some special equipment is also taught. This helps them with mobility and freedom.
For kids, occupational therapy helps them with their day-to-day routine. Which eventually helps them to play and perform better at school. An occupational therapist helps kids with :
- Better hand-eye coordination
- Fine Motor Skills
- Mastering life skills
- Learning positive behaviours
Occupational Therapy Clinic is available now. One such center is Thera Kids Occupational Therapy in Noida.
However, there are some signs that you as a caregiver can check if your child needs Occupational therapy.
6 Signs Your Child Need Occupational Therapy
Young children learn by observing the people around them. They slowly develop their life skills by exploring the environment. If the child is slow at picking up daily activities. An occupational therapist can help them to bridge the gap. Moreover, they can train children with well-tested techniques that will help them to express and perform better. However, the caregiver should be vigilant to notice if the child is facing any issues. Awareness of the caregiver plays an important role. Moreover, their contribution helps children to grow into independent adults. Here are some common signs that you can notice in your child before taking them to occupational Therapy Clinics :
1. Difficulty in Fine Motor Skills:
Fine motor skills are the small movements that we make with our hands and feet. Just notice if the child is facing any difficulty in holding objects. Ask them to do some simple activities like buttoning their clothes or using scissors (under supervision). Also, analyze if activities such as coloring and tying shoelaces are getting affected. Furthermore, let them hold a pencil and write some letters. Hand movements and coordination should improve with practice as they are new learners. If there is no improvement then it can be a matter of concern.
2. Developmental Delay:
Milestones are the activities that most children can perform by their age. Like by the age of 4 months, infants can hold their neck. Further, they start rolling, sitting, and then crawling. Around their first birthday, they may start walking while holding furniture. You should notice if they struggle with learning, playing, or social skills appropriate for their age.
Note: Every child is different, some children may achieve their milestones late. However, persistent delays or concerns should be discussed with professionals at occupational therapy clinics.
3. Difficulty with Social Skills:
Social interaction is important for building relationships and expressing oneself. Make them spend some time with the children of their age. This is a very important part of their growth. You can notice if they are sharing their toys with other children. The child should be able to play with other family members and peers. While at school, they should be able to participate in group activities. If the child stays alone in school, talk to them about their insecurities. You should also track their language development. They might need support developing these essential skills.
4. Sensory and Visual Processing:
Talk to your child and develop a good relationship with them. This will help them to express themselves more to you. You can ask them to read the billboard or the letters in your book. Notice if they are facing any difficulty in copying or recognizing letters. You can ask them to find objects while playing and turn this into a game. You can observe if the child is over or under-responding in a situation. The occupational therapist suggests that if the child shows certain responses such as :
- overly sensitive to light
- overly sensitive to touch
- showing high pain tolerance
- under-responsive/ overly responsive to sound
Then the caregiver should reach out to the Occupational Therapy Clinic near them.
5. Uncomfortable in Learning and Playing:
Some children face difficulty in concentrating on activities. Either it is about learning or playing. However, being a bit distracted is common to young children. However, if you feel that the child is not able to grasp new things and concepts, they might be showing signs of developmental delay. Some of the signs such as :
- Not exploring the toy appropriately.
- Unnecessarily wandering.
- Playing repeatedly for extended periods.
- Difficulties with imitative play.
You can also try some Home Activities To Improve Fine And Gross Motor Skills.
6. Daily Activities:
There are some day-to-day activities that a child should be performing on their own after a certain age. You can observe if they are facing a problem in performing these. They should be able to :
- Dress and undress themselves at the age of 5.
- Able to comb hair.
- Feed themselves.
These activities are an important part of their being independent. Early recognition and support from occupational therapists are vital to help the child catch up and thrive in their development.
Procedural Details of Occupational Therapy
Pediatric Occupational Therapy supports children in acquiring new skills. However, like other procedures this also takes time. You can search for “occupational therapy center near me” on your Google search to find the best Occupational Therapy in Noida.
In the initial evaluation, the Occupational therapist will test the child’s abilities and potential. The session can last up to one or two hours and they ask the child to perform some activities like:
- Tear paper into strips
- Use tweezers to pick up small objects, such as buttons or beads
- Play with Lego pieces and create buildings, vehicles, animals, or people
- Draw a picture of family members
- Play catch
- Sort coins into piles
Note: A parent or caregiver should be present, but siblings shouldn’t share the room.
After proper observation of the child while performing the activities. Occupational therapists develop a plan and design activities further. With each session, they will try to achieve goals that will help the child to improve. As a caregiver, you should ask your occupational therapist questions and discuss your concerns freely. If you are a resident of Noida then all you have to do is search on your Google search “Occupational therapist near me ” and the algorithm will suggest the best option near you.
Your therapist will design a plan according to the child’s age and temperament.
After some sessions, you will notice the change in your child as occupational therapy offers many benefits. Some key benefits are discussed in the next section.
Benefits of Occupational Therapy
For kids, an Occupational therapist is like a helper. They help to bring confidence to the child and help them to perform better in school. Their everyday tasks become simpler. Some major benefits that a child can get after opting for occupational therapy are given below:
- Get better at holding and letting go of toys. They will get better at using a device like a computer.
- Improve how their eyes and hands work together, like playing or copying from the board.
- Learn important life skills like bathing, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and eating on their own.
- Understand good behaviours and how to deal with feelings like frustration and anger.
- Use special tools like wheelchairs, splints, or devices for bathing and dressing to be more independent.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, occupational therapy helps children overcome social, emotional, or physical barriers. If a child needs therapy, they will show some signs. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to be observant. And take the child to the nearest therapy center. One such center is Thera Kids, which is ranked as the best Occupational Therapy in Noida. The occupational therapist here, will first observe the activities of the child and then design the further plan accordingly. Moreover, after some sessions, therapy surely enhances a child’s skills.
