Occupational Therapy Articles

Handwriting is a complex skill that many children begin to acquire as toddlers. Handwriting starts with scribbling or drawing. Drawing/scribbling allows children to develop the skills needed for writing such as fine motor skills and visual motor integration.

In the first five years of life, children experience the most significant rate of learning and development that will occur throughout their lifespan. Development refers to the changes that occur from birth to adulthood.

Gross motor skills are the skills that involve the whole body including the muscles of the core (stomach, back and neck), legs and arms.

Occupational Therapy is a health profession that understands the abilities of an individual, in order for them to engage in meaningful daily activities.

Children have two main occupations; learning and play. Through play, children learn and understand about the world around them.

Fine motor skills refer to the movements of the small muscles in the forearms, wrists, hands and fingers. Coordinated movement of these muscles enables us to perform tasks such as writing, cutting, brushing our teeth or feeding.