• Difficulty with fine motor tasks (e.g., buttoning, writing, using scissors, etc.)

• Poor handwriting or complaints of pain when writing or drawing

• Challenges in gross motor skills (e.g., jumping, climbing, riding a bike, etc.)

• Clumsiness, uncoordinated movements, and fast-paced nature

• Delays in motor milestones or difficulty learning new movement tasks

Role of occupational therapy: Develop targeted plans to enhance fine and gross motor skills. OT interventions use various tools and activities to improve a client’s ability to perform tasks with the ability to control body movements more precisely, strengthen muscles, coordinate movements, and maintain stability.

• Difficulty differentiating shapes and letters, such as confusing 'b' and 'd' or 'p' and 'q.'

• Challenges in understanding how objects relate to each other in space, such as difficulty in judging distances or sizes.

• Difficulties in following moving objects smoothly with the eyes or problems with reading lines of text without losing one’s place

• Struggling with tasks that require coordination of visual input with hand movements, like catching a ball or handwriting

• Difficulty recalling visual information, such as remembering shapes, faces, or the sequence of objects

Role of occupational therapy: Strengthen the visual perceptual skills essential for reading, writing, navigating the environment, and understanding and interpreting visual information. These skills are crucial for academic tasks like reading and writing, as well as daily activities, such as navigating environments. OT interventions use specific exercises and games to enhance visual tracking, differentiation, and spatial awareness.

• Trouble transitioning between activities or following a routine despite familiarity

• Problems with self-care activities like dressing, eating, and grooming

• Distress during hygiene tasks (e.g., tooth brushing, face washing, nail trimming, etc.)

• Difficulty accepting new ideas

• Challenges with attention and focus

• Problems with managing time, organizing, or planning activities

• Struggling with task initiation, completing tasks without frequent reminders, or problem-solving

• Irregular sleep patterns or difficulty with sleep routines.

• Eating difficulties, such as extremely selective eating or problems with different food textures

Role of occupational therapy: Develop executive functioning skills like organizing, planning, and transitioning between tasks. OTs address challenges in daily routines by implementing strategies to improve self-care skills and independence in daily activities.

• Behavioral challenges that are linked to frustration with tasks

• Discomfort with sensory inputs like bright lights, loud noises, or strong smells

• Preferences or aversions affecting daily life, such as wearing the same clothes, picky eating, discomfort with messy play or physical contact, etc.

• Constant fidgeting

• Tendencies like mouthing non-food objects or overeating

• Preference for repetitive play

• Withdrawal from busy environments

• Fear of heights

• Impulsivity

• Demonstrating toe-walking or W-sitting

• Frequent rocking, running, skipping, jumping, climbing, and/or swinging

• Challenges in understanding or processing verbal instructions

• Over- or under-reactivity to sensory experiences (e.g., touch, taste, sound)

• Seeking or avoiding certain textures, movements, or sensory inputs

• Misjudgment of personal space, speed, distance, and force

• Lack of awareness in play, leading to frequent self-injury or breathlessness

Role of occupational therapy: Sensory integration therapy helps children who struggle with processing sensory information and implements strategies to respond to sensory information more effectively. This includes managing behavioral responses linked to sensory processing difficulties and creating tailored sensory diets that help children engage more effectively in their environments. OT interventions in sensory processing impact barriers rated to being overly sensitive to sensory stimuli or seeking excessive sensory input to help them feel just right and promote functional engagement in various environments.

Understanding a child's behavior can sometimes be challenging. Children often act out not because they want to be difficult but because they don't have the tools to respond differently. It's essential to recognize the difference between sensory issues and behavioral problems; although they might appear similar, they are fundamentally different. An OT can provide invaluable insight in distinguishing between these two, which can guide you in understanding whether a child's actions are a response to sensory overload or other behavioral challenges, helping you respond effectively and supportively.

• Difficulty managing emotions, leading to frequent tantrums or meltdowns

• Struggles with coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, or frustration, such as becoming easily overwhelmed or having difficulty calming down

• Inconsistent emotional responses that are not typical for the situation or developmental stage

• Struggles with adapting to changes in routine or environment

• Difficulty understanding and expressing feelings, leading to social challenges or isolation.

Role of occupational therapy: Support children as they learn to understand emotions. Then, develop strategies for managing and expressing feelings appropriately. OT interventions implement a variety of tools and activities to teach clients how to identify their emotions, understand their triggers, and find healthy ways to respond.

• Challenges in understanding and responding to social cues, such as missing nonverbal signals or misinterpreting others' emotions

• Difficulty in forming friendships or interacting with peers appropriately, including struggling with sharing, turn-taking, or playing cooperatively

• Difficulty in forming friendships or interacting with peers appropriately

• Delayed speech development or difficulty in articulating thoughts and needs, impacting the ability to communicate effectively in social settings

• Poor boundaries or understanding of safety skills around different people, such as being overly familiar with strangers or not recognizing personal space

• Limited interest in social interactions or preference for solitary play

• Difficulty in participating in group activities or following group norms, leading to social isolation or peer conflicts

• Overly aggressive or passive behavior in social situations, indicating an imbalance in social approach strategies

Role of occupational therapy: Provide support in developing social skills, which are vital for building relationships and interacting successfully with peers. This includes teaching social cues recognition, turn-taking, building relationships, understanding personal space, and identifying appropriate responses in social interactions. Role-playing and guided play sessions are often used to build these skills. Play is a child’s primary occupation!

• Environmental Modifications: OTs recommend and help implement modifications in homes, schools, or other environments to create sensory-friendly and accessible spaces to better support each client’s sensory and functional needs.

• Parent and Caregiver Education: Empower parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to support the client’s progress and development outside therapy sessions by encouraging active caregiver participation. OT interventions aim to enable parents and caregivers to effectively support the client’s therapy goals at home.

• Collaborative Care: OTs often collaborate with other professionals, such as speech therapists, physical therapists, educators, and psychologists, to provide comprehensive care tailored to the client’s needs.