Ms. Esther – Mechanics of OT

In my role as an occupational therapist, one of the areas I'm passionate about is helping students enhance their visual motor skills. This involves guiding you through a variety of enjoyable tasks and activities aimed at improving your coordination between what you see and how you move. Visual motor skills involve an array of skill sets that come together and allow us to produce efficient and coordinated movements. These complex skills require the interpretation of visual information in order to create an appropriate motor response (action) with our arms, legs, and body. Curious about why your little one might find it challenging to catch a ball, write neatly, or create simple drawings? Well, you're not alone in your concern, and there might be an interesting explanation rooted in their visual motor skills. Visual motor skills play a pretty big role in their development. In simple terms, visual motor skills involve the ability to understand what we see (visual information in our surroundings) and respond with the appropriate physical action. Picture this: visual motor skills are like the superstar duo of understanding what we see and responding with the right physical moves. It's like when your kiddo looks at something and then knows exactly how to react – whether it's grabbing a toy or doodling a masterpiece. As moms and caregivers, we've all been there – scratching our heads when we see our child having trouble with things at school. I mean, isn't Kindergarten all about fun and games, a bit of nap time, and making friends? Well, turns out, there's more to it than meets the eye. Embracing the Kindergarten journey is a delightful adventure, and oh my, how the landscape of learning has evolved! Amidst the giggles and games, the curriculum has taken on a new shade. It's not just about cooperative play and classroom rhythms anymore – our little champs are also diving into the world of writing. Here are some activities performed in the classroom that rely on visual motor skills: Building Blocks Stringing Beads Scribbling and Tracing Coloring Drawing Writing Cutting and Pasting Copying Catching a Ball The Building Blocks of Visual Motor Skills As the name implies, there are two primary components of visual motor skills. That's right, you've guessed it, vision and motor! To be more specific, the ability to process visual input and respond with an appropriate motor response (action). When these two skills are mastered separately and integrated, we have a more complex visual motor skills system. Part of being able to process what comes in through our eyes involves the magic of making sense of what we see. It's about more than just seeing clearly but correctly understanding and interpreting the visual information before us. You might have encountered those little ones who struggle to locate their bright red homework folder, even when it's right on the desk among their other belongings. Or perhaps the kids who can't spot a pair of socks in a drawer, find that elusive puzzle piece or avoid bumping into people and objects around them. On the other hand, motor coordination is all about gracefully orchestrating your arms and legs to achieve a specific action. Think of activities like crawling, clapping, and marching – they're a dance of coordinated movement. But there's more to it than meets the eye! Motor planning, timing, sequence, speed, direction, and even muscular tension play a role in this skill set. It's like the symphony that makes movement look so effortless. Visual motor skills are like a puzzle of abilities that work in harmony, enabling us to perform tasks smoothly and efficiently. It's all about taking in what we see and using that information to make our arms, legs, and body respond in just the right way. Think of it as a fascinating journey towards better coordination and movement! Visual Motor Skills and Eye-Hand Coordination You may have noticed that "visual motor skills" and "visual motor integration" are often used interchangeably. Another term that pops up frequently is "eye-hand coordination." When we think of eye-hand coordination, we often conjure images of sports or physical activities like playing with building blocks, catching a ball, enjoying a game of cornhole, mastering juggling, or even bouncing a ball off a wall – all activities that are not only fun but also require precise coordination. However, it's crucial to distinguish between these terms. Visual motor skills and visual motor integration are typically associated with activities that may not involve physical movement as much but are equally vital for daily life. These skills come into play when we read, cut with scissors, or perform various paper-pencil tasks such as tracing, drawing, writing, and copying. These skills are critical in education and occupational therapy in a school setting. Occupational therapy practitioners work diligently to help students hone their visual motor skills, ensuring they can excel in these tasks with confidence and precision. Fostering Visual Motor Skills at Home Nurturing and boosting visual motor skills within the comfort of your home can pave the way for increased confidence in the classroom. Engaging in playful activities with your little ones, such as exploring their favorite toys, perfecting the art of coloring within boundaries, and even getting creative with scissors to follow a line, all contribute to this exciting journey of growth and empowerment. These simple yet valuable steps are like building blocks, creating a solid foundation for their future endeavors. So, next time you're wondering why your child is finding some things a tad tricky, remember, it's all part of their amazing journey of growth and development. Seeking a little help from an occupational therapy practitioner might just be the ticket to helping your child shine. "Always remember, empowering our children goes a long way in helping them become independent and build their self-esteem."

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