Through the use of play, occupational therapy can help children increase fine motor skills, visual motor skills, sensory integration, as well as help expand social-emotional development. A child's imagination helps them create opportunities that form their physical, cognitive, and emotional strength which makes play important for healthy brain development. 

 

When children play they are developing their fine motor skills by strengthening the small muscles in their fingers and hands. They are also developing visual motor skills that involves the coordination of eyesight and hand movement. Fine motor and visual motor skills are important for children because it allows them to be independent with dressing, feeding, participate in sports, and succeed in school.

 

Play is also important for sensory integration which is the way we process information through our senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing) and then figure out what to do with that information. Sensory play encourages learning through exploration, curiosity, problem solving, and creativity. It helps to build nerve connections in the brain that leads to the development of language and motor skills. When children are able to properly process sensory input they are more successful in school because they are able to  block out distractions and focus longer on tasks. 

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For children to be successful in school they need to attain the basic skills of social-emotional development. Social-emotional development is a child’s ability to understand the feelings of others, control their own feelings and behaviors, and get along with peers. Through play, children can express their feelings and learn to cope with emotions such as sadness, anger, and fear. Play can also help children develop social skills such as sharing, cooperation, and communication. 

 

If your child is having difficulty with any of these skills, pediatric occupational therapy can help. Through a variety of playful activities and sensory strategies, occupational therapists can help children develop the skills they need to be successful in school and throughout life.

 

If you are interested in pediatric occupational therapy for your child or would just like to learn more, contact Blooming Tree Pediatric Occupational Therapy. It is our goal to strengthen children's developmental skills while teaching them to play and have fun, in order to be independent throughout life.