Posted at 9:00 a.m.
What you need to know above all is that occupational therapy intervenes to improve autonomy and functioning at any age, explains Emmanuelle Beaulieu, occupational therapist in pediatrics. “For a very young child, autonomy starts with being able to sit, crawl, move, walk, run, jump, play…”
Then the child learns to do more complex activities, to eat and dress on his own, too — one more step towards these essential skills that precede kindergarten entry.
“Often, parents discover occupational therapy when their child arrives at school and has difficulty with writing,” says Emmanuelle Beaulieu. But certain clues “can put us on the alert” and allow an intervention well before starting school, she specifies.
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, THE PRESS
Emmanuelle Beaulieu, occupational therapist
“Sometimes we notice that the child [qui a de la difficulté à tenir un crayon et à écrire] had difficulty using his utensils, fastening his buttons, his zipper… He always wanted someone else to do it. »
Of course, there is a learning curve; each child has their own pace, too. But does the child get so discouraged that he just doesn’t want to do it anymore, that getting dressed becomes a struggle? If he still doesn’t succeed after a lot of practice, teaching and demonstration, it may be worth going to consult at this level.
Emmanuelle Beaulieu, occupational therapist
Even if occupational therapy is often associated with motor skills, it can also help children improve their visual perception or intervene in the sensory sphere, in particular.
“There are children who have certain hypersensitivities, therefore hyperreactions to their environment: they don’t like having their nails cut, getting shower water on their heads… Sometimes it can be the textures of clothes , illustrates Emmanuelle Beaulieu. It can create a crisis which, for the parent, can seem like a crisis “for nothing”, because the child does not want to take his bath, because he always wants to eat the same thing and that he refuses to taste new foods. […] The occupational therapist can help the child find the sensations that will soothe him. »
Given the range of reasons that can explain the challenges a child is experiencing, the occupational therapist first conducts an assessment to determine the approach that will be required. And many specialists even offer in-home consultations.
Expose the child to a variety of activities
What is very important to remember is that the child must be exposed to a variety of activities from an early age, insists Emmanuelle Beaulieu. “If you have a child who likes to play with cars a lot, you can color a car with him, cut it out, do a little DIY with a car to stay in his field of interest and stimulate him a little, even if it’s is two minutes a day. At least he will try,” she said.
“We want to expose him to a bit of everything, so he has the chance to practice a bit; he’s not going to come to school and never have thrown a ball, for example. »
Exploring age-appropriate play modules is equally essential, in his opinion. “We really want the child to move, to develop motor skills to be able, after that, to make small movements. It is by doing big movements when they are young – learning to pull themselves up, to climb, to slide, to climb – where they must force and develop their coordination, that their body will be developed enough to be able to stabilize the arm and then be able to write. These are all things that we can work on upstream. »
“School is so much learning that happens quickly that you have to try to ensure that the child has every chance on his side to succeed in following suit. And all these things will enrich his experience and help him afterwards,” she concludes.
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