Did you know that the infant through preschool years are considered a “sensitive period” or “critical period” in a child’s early development? The neurological foundations for learning are being set up during this important window of brain development and growth during the preschool years. The years between toddler hood and kindergarten are a time for building confidence while learning how to become more independent at home, school, and the community.
For children who need some help getting ready for kindergarten, occupational therapy lends a unique, developmental perspective to help build specific sensory motor skills that will help set kids up for success in the classroom.
How Occupational Therapy (OT) Can Help Boost Your Preschooler Child’s Development: Occupational therapists help children learn how to play with confidence, while teaching important kindergarten readiness skills. OTs help preschoolers get ready for kindergarten by helping them build important motor, sensory processing, prewriting, self-care, executive functioning, play, and social skills.
The best pediatric practitioners know how to boost your child’s development through playful practice using games, books, pretend play, and fun ways to exercise to help your child get stronger. And, the best part is, all of this “work” happens through play! OT looks at the whole child, therefore, you’ll notice several areas to consider for helping your child prepare for a successful kindergarten year.
If you’re uncertain whether your preschooler is meeting developmental milestones, The Preschool OT Screening Checklist offers a comprehensive overview of common issues and challenges encountered by children of preschool age.
You can obtain a copy of this checklist to initiate discussions with your child’s preschool teachers (accessible via the provided link). Should you notice several challenges listed below in your child’s behavior at home or preschool, it’s vital to address your concerns with their primary care provider or pediatrician and consider seeking evaluation by a pediatric occupational therapist.
Signs your preschool child may need Occupational Therapy:
Utilize this checklist to raise any areas of concern during discussions with your pediatrician, teacher, or therapist. Trust your instincts as a parent and seek further guidance if you believe your child could benefit from additional developmental support.
- Expresses reluctance (“I can’t” or “I won’t”) toward age-appropriate activities.
- Requires more practice than peers to acquire new skills.
- Demonstrates clumsiness and falls frequently.
- Exhibits low muscle tone or appears weak and floppy.
- Collides with furniture or individuals, struggling to gauge body positioning relative to surrounding space.
- Displays aversion to tasks like coloring within lines, completing puzzles, or using scissors.
- Shows excessive activity levels and struggles to settle down.
- Has a short attention span, frequently shifting focus between toys.
- Experiences delayed language development.
- Struggles with self-calming techniques.
- Displays hypersensitivity or over-reactivity to sensory stimuli.
- Dislikes activities such as bathing, cuddling, or haircuts.
- Exhibits extreme pickiness with food, eliminating entire food groups.
- Finds handling unexpected changes and transitions challenging.
- Struggles with following simple instructions (1 to 2 steps).
- Avoids playground activities and prefers sedentary play.
- Shows little interest in activities involving jumping, swings, or being off the ground.
- Struggles to form friendships with peers of the same age.
- Prefers interacting with adults or younger children over peers.
- Demonstrates a tendency to become easily frustrated or lacks confidence in attempting new activities.
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