Does your school age child need OT?

Please complete this brief checklist if you have concerns in regards to your school age child’s development.

Fine Motor Skills

Has an awkward grip when using cutlery, pencils, scissors etc
Has “shaky” hands or fingers
Avoids drawing, cutting, fiddly tasks.
Appears to be weak in their hands and complains of pain during colouring or handwriting
Still needs help to open packages etc
Finds handwriting is difficult to produce and difficult to read
Is slow/reluctant to complete written work
Produce work significantly below the standard of the rest of their class /age group

Gross Motor Skills

Is clumsy in moving their body e.g. trips over frequently, bumps into obstacles
Runs or walks awkwardly
Is fearful to walk in the dark, e.g. must have night light
Tires easily and lacks stamina of other children the same age
Afraid to use playground equipment
Slow to learn new movement tasks e.g. hopping, skipping, and swimming
Difficulty with simple ball catching
Has trouble walking up and down stairs with alternate feet

Visual Perceptual Skills

Has difficulty completing puzzles
Has difficulty locating things against a cluttered background
Has difficulty copying shapes and letters
Has difficulty identifying visual symbols e.g. letters, numbers, shapes
Has difficulty remembering visual information
Makes persistent reversals in reading, letter formation and numerals past yr 2.

Self Care/Organisational Skills

Struggles with dressing tasks e.g. buttons, shoelaces, zips, socks.
Lacks independence in tasks easily done by others their age e.g. cutlery, pouring drinks/struggles with hygiene tasks e.g. bathing, brushing teeth, grooming etc
Has difficulty learning and following daily routines e.g. getting ready for school
Has difficulty starting and completing tasks
Has difficulty organising themselves and their materials/possessions

If you ticked some of the boxes above an Occupational Therapy Assessment is recommended as Occupational Therapy can assist development of these skills.