OT
OccupationalTherapy

When a very young child is asked to draw a picture of a person often times they will draw a face with arms and legs and no body. The picture here was drawn by a 4year old – it is his mommy… or rather the way he perceives his her. This rendition or view is quite typical and age appropriate. Although most toddlers can easily identify these parts by name there is still a lack of understanding and awareness of how each major part, neck, shoulders, hips and torso each function.

Occupational Therapy addresses body awareness through play.

Some children who appear to be ambidextrous can actually have a hidden processing disorder. More often than not, these children end up with two, unskilled hands. These kids need lots of two-handed activities- especially those that cross the middle of the body or ‘midline’. Crossing midline activities activates both hemispheres of the brain enabiling them to ‘speak to each other.’

Services are provided to infants and toddlers who have, or are at the risk of having processing or developmental delays. Specific examples of in – gym (therapies) play activities include: making large X’s and figure 8’s with arms in the air, cross crawling (wheelbarrow walking but crossing hands), cross walking (alternating crossing feet front and back) obstacle courses, popping bubbles with one hand behind back and reaching for soft objects across midline then throwing at a target.