When your child is in school with other children, that might be the first time that you start to notice if they aren't keeping up with others or seem different from other kids. You may notice some issues and problems, but be unsure whether they are fine or need help from a professional. Here are some of the signs that would indicate that your child could benefit from the assistance of an occupational therapist.
Difficulty with Motor Skills
One of the biggest signs that a problem exists is that your child seems to be lagging behind others with various skills. In particular motor functions could be troublesome. Does your child seem unable to button their coat? Are they unable to use scissors properly? Do they seem to favor activities and games that don't have much hand involvement? If so, they could need to see a professional who can help them work with their hands and develop the kind of fine motor skills that will be helpful to them in school and beyond.
Bad Organizational Skills
You might think nothing of a messy backpack, but it's important that you are aware that poor organizational skills could cause problems that could affect your child's schoolwork for years to come. A messy backpack is one thing, but it's vital that you find out whether your child is disorganized in other ways. Are they putting toys back when they've finished playing with them? Do they forget or ignore tasks given to them by their teacher? If so, they could use the help of an occupational therapist to teach them techniques that could help them to be more orderly and organized during their entire school experience.
Inability to Make Friends
While you may think that making friends is not a problem right now, you need to pay special attention to the reasons why your child seems to be unable to relate to those around them. If there are communication problems or developmental delays that cause your child to feel embarrassed or unwelcome by others, having them work with a professional therapist can help them to improve to the point where making friends becomes easier.
If you're seeing your child deal with some of the issues that have been detailed above, you might want to consult a qualified occupational therapist. Through sessions with a professional, you may be pleased with the progress you see in your child over time. Hands-On Physical Therapy can help.
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