11 Mar 2018
BY: Bartosz Cybulsk
Occupational Therapists
Comments: No Comments
The forgotten senses
The forgotten senses
Children need to move in order to learn about their body. This begins very early in utero, the most important senses at this stage are the tactile system and three forgotten senses.
Everyone knows about vision, hearing, smell taste and touch. These provide us information about what is going on outside our body.
But did you know there are other senses?
These are foundational to our sensory system. They are: proprioception, the vestibular sense and interoception. These forgotten senses provide information about what is going on inside the body; its position, balance and status of internal organs.
Your child might be super wiggly and find it very difficult to keep still and listen. Being able to sit motionless while watching and listening is achieved only once the vestibular and proprioceptive system have matured.
To help these systems mature a child needs to carry out heaps of ‘heavy work’, running, jumping, spinning, tumbling and build adequate core strength for hours every day. Then they can sit still, listen and hold a pencil to learn to write.
OT can provide strategies to help your child improve their sensory awareness, posture and coordination in daily living and school skills.
For more information about our OT services in the Centre please call Tracey on 9274 7062.
Madeline Minehan
Occupational Therapist
04 Feb 2018
BY: Bartosz Cybulsk
Occupational Therapists
Comments: No Comments
Fine motor skills and children
Ever wondered about fine motor skills and when children should be able to do things? The following is a guide to the fine motor skill of cutting and what children should be able to do at different times:
At two and a half years – children should be able to use scissors to snip paper (one snip only)
At age 3 years: Children should be able to cut a 10 cm piece of paper in two (no lines) & be able to cut along a 10 cm straight line and staying within 1.7 cm of the line.
At age 4 years: Children can cut a 15 cm along straight line, curve & 15 cm diameter circle staying within 1/2 cm of the line.
At age 5 years: Children can cut out a medium size square and triangle in 15 cm square piece of paper.
At age 6 years: Children can cut cloth with supervision and start to cut more complex shapes.
Children have difficulty cutting for a range of reasons. Our Occupational Therapists in the Centre (Madeline and Narelle) are available for assessment and therapy if needed.
Please feel free to contact Tracey on reception for further information on 9274 7062.
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