Role Of Occuptional Therapy

1. Welcome to

2. Role of Occupational Therapist for Child self-care Daily activities Self-care activities such as feeding, dressing, toileting and hygiene are considered activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities of daily living are prerequisite skills your child requires before entering school. If you or your child has difficulty with any of these ADLs, then at Kick Start our Occupational Therapist can help to develop them. Let’s walk you through on how our occupational therapist can help improve you or your child’s activities of daily living!

3. How Occupational Therapist can help your Child with ADL At Kick Start our occupational therapist conducts 1:1 session with your children to help them develop skills to participate in ADLs independently through evidence based interventions. Our occupational therapy activities are designed to be engaging, fun and playful to ensure a child can achieve maximum success without any help. To ensure that maximum progress can be achieved by a child below listed are some of the skills that our occupational therapist works on with your child:

4. Sequencing Improvement Activity: To help improve your child’s ability to process information in an order, by making them perform fun activities designed in specific order. For example wearing socks before wearing shoes etc. Fine Motor Improvement Activity: To help improve your child’s coordination and strength in their small muscles (in their hands/fingers) through different activities, so that they can improve on activities like buttoning shirt, holding spoon etc. Gross Motor Improvement Activity: To help your child improve strength and postural stability in their big muscles (in legs, arms), through different activities. Like wearing pants without falling down or carrying heavy school bags etc.

5. Role Of Occupational Therapy In Treating Children With ADHD? In Treating Children With ADHD? Do you know experts estimate that approximately 5 to 7% of school-going children worldwide have ADHD? ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is commonly found in children and appears in early childhood. This condition makes it difficult for a child to be able to inhibit spontaneous responses. Be it movement, speech or attentiveness, ADHD may cause trouble with a child’s daily routine and behaviour.

6. Common Symptoms of ADHD in a Child • Inattention• Lack of focus• Unable to communicate• Poor control over impulses• Hyperactivity• Executive dysfunction

7. What are the Common Causes of ADHD? According to researchers, it has been suggested that the causes of ADHD remain unclear. Some researchers say genetics plays a big role in it. But it is clear that ADHD is not caused by improper parenting or eating disorders. It is a biological condition. Another probable cause for ADHD is prematurity which increases the risk of it. Doctors suggest that prenatal exposure to alcohol and nicotine also increases the risk of ADHD development.

8. How does Occupational Therapy help with ADHD? There are multiples that an occupational therapist can help a child with ADHD. A certified and trained occupational therapist will be able to develop strategies and help a child practice new skills to cope with ADHD. a child with ADHD may have trouble with focusing, reading, writing and speaking. Since ADHD symptoms are individualized and one’s condition is different from another's, only an experienced occupational therapist can provide the right help and support. They can customize the right solution as per the child’s age and specific requirements.

9. Does ADHD Affect Adulthood? If early diagnosis and treatments are not done, ADHD can also affect adulthood. The symptoms continue and an adult may face trouble with their relationships and work life.

10. Role of Pediatric Occupational Therapist A pediatric occupational therapist is known to work specifically for children. They help a child to develop and improve fine and gross motor skills. Every therapy session is done keeping in mind the child’s specific needs and the severity of the ADHD condition.

11. What Can You Expect From Kick Start Therapy Sessions? At Kick Start Therapy, we make sure that every child is taken utmost care of. We evaluate the child first before starting therapy sessions. During the evaluation process, we discuss with parents to understand the child’s areas of difficulties and struggles that they might be facing with school, social and home life. After a thorough evaluation, we conduct a few tests to identify the child’s weaknesses and strengths that help us determine the right kind of therapy. These tests also rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.

12. A Typical Therapy Session at Kick StartMay Look Like This: • Games and activities involving hand-eye coordination.• Activities that manage aggression and anger.• Practicing handwriting and reading.• Speaking confidently.• Innovative techniques to improve focus and confidence• Practicing social skills and more. So if you are in need of an excellent team of occupational therapists, providing comprehensive ADHD treatments, contact us today.

13. How Can Occupational Therapists Help With Writing Skill Development? Occupational therapy is a client-centered profession that promotes health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to help you participate in the meaningful activities of daily life, including self-care skills, work, daily living skills, and social interaction with peer groups. Occupational therapists work with people to encourage physical and psychological functioning.

14. How Do Children Progress In Handwriting Skills through Occupational Therapy? As kids progress to early elementary years, they strengthen their letter formation skills. They start learning about the placement of lowercase letters with others. Children learn to write within a small space and learn about spacing with words and sentences.

15. Good Handwriting Comprises Two Basic Elements: • Pencil Grip: Children must hold their pencils using some grips. The grip allows adequate movements at their thumb and finger joints and the upper extremity. • ii. Motor Control: It includes two things: • Posture: Children must sit in the correct posture for good handwriting. Ensure that the feet are flat on the floor, with a straight back, and arms resting comfortably on the desk at a 90-degree angle. • Pressure: Children need to offer the right amount of pressure while writing. Very dark writing, heavy indents on the next page, and fatigue of the children’s hands and fingers are the signs that a child is applying too much pressure while writing. On the other hand, without enough pressure, the writing will be too light, making it difficult to read.

16. How Can Occupational Therapists Help Your Child With Writing Skills? The art of writing requires a combination of fine motor skills and visual perception skills. Occupational therapists assess and address a child’s fine motor skills, including the way they use their hands and fingers and the strength in them. The professionals focus on a child’s visual motor skills, which is the simultaneous use of hands and eyes to execute tasks. Besides, they also look for the child’s bilateral hand skills, which refers to the ability to use both hands together. OTs also take into account if the child can sit still, hold the body upright at a tabletop, and their ability to focus on the task of writing.

17. How Do Occupational Therapists Work on The Fine Motor? OTs engage children in developing fine motor skills through fun activities and play to engage all their senses, often referred to as multi-sensory learning. Often OTs use playdoh clay to roll and squish to get your child's fingers and hands moving. They use various textures and crafts to develop the strength and movement of children’s little hands. Furthermore, they execute plans to improve writing skills in children with ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities, and other disorders. 

18. Goals to improve handwriting skills include: • Improving hand dominance • Improving muscle strength of hand • Improving eye-hand coordination and • Improving pacing and timing of tasks.

19. Why Choose Kick Start Therapy? The quest for neater handwriting can be easy. At Kick Start Therapy, we have in-house occupational therapists who support your child with handwriting evaluations and testing to determine why your child struggles with handwriting. They develop effective strategies to support developing and improving your child’s handwriting. One licensed OTs offer one-on-one therapy targeted to your child’s requirements.

20. Contact Us • Phone: +1 905 293 9994 +1 416 827 8274 +1 905 792 1626 • Fax: +1-647-277-1227 • Email: kickstarttherapy@gmail.com • Our Locations: 1. Brampton-Head Office 50 Sunny Meadow Blvd. Unit 213, Brampton, ON 2. Mississauga 3530 Derry Rd E, Unit 212, Mississauga 3. Satellite Locations Square One, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Ontario, Oakville, Ontario

21. Thank You