Writing is something integrated into our every day lives. Writing is done in order to complete tasks, whether that is an important essay in school or completing a form at a doctor’s office upon being seen. Writing allows us to communicate and express ourselves in many ways. Within therapy, writing is a big goal for most of our kiddos because of its importance. Parents often have many questions on how to get their kids to write, whether they are practicing their already dev

Reading and writing are simple tasks that most of us take for granted on a daily basis. The process of learning to read and write is one we all started early and have since then forgotten about. The skills required before handwriting can begin include: bilateral hand skills, body stability, hand and finger strength, thumb opposition, in-hand manipulation and development of palmar arches. The components required before reading can begin include: letter recognition, phonics, de

As your child grows, the way in which they will hold their crayons or pencils will change. This change comes from an increased development of their shoulder and arm muscles which in turn increases their grasp development. You will typically see 4 different grasps that will mature with age. Here are the 4 different grasp patterns: Fisted Grasp: This is the first grasp pattern typically seen around the ages of 1-1 ½ years old. Your child will most likely use their entire arm to

Years ago, occupational therapy was reserved for the mentally ill and the seriously injured or permanently physically disabled. Today, occupational therapists work with children and adults with a wide variety of issues, many of which are temporary or comparatively mild. Children may be referred to occupational therapy for reasons such as fine or gross motor skill impairment, developmental problems, sensory processing issues, or difficulties interacting with other children. In

So let's focus on handwriting for a bit. Most adults don't think twice about picking up a pen to write out a quick reminder or jot down a note, but handwriting is more than just picking up the pencil and writing. Handwriting is a skill that takes practice and must be developed. For kids, it is critically important to consider that these skills develop over time and typically follow a set of developmental milestones. Below are a few milestones to keep in mind when considering