Developmental Physical Therapist for Infants, Children and Adolescents
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Children’s Motor Development
Are your children preparing for preschool or first grade?
Here’s a fact you should know:
Between 5-10% of kindergarten and schoolchildren (ages 3-8) with normal cognitive abilities, have difficulty with basic daily functions, such as: jumping, running, cycling, tying shoelaces, buttoning, ball games, climbing playground facilities and using cutlery. In addition, they may also avoid or struggle with drawing, arts & crafts and have low graphic skills for their age.
These are children who constantly lose their belongings, break stuff, and seem generally clumsy. They prefer to spend their time with any type of screen, playing computer games or reading books. They avoid playgrounds and going outside, and prefer to stay in class even during recess. When sitting, they lean on their hands, backrest or wall, they slouch more than any other child and their attention span is shorter.
They are the last ones to be picked when the class is divided into soccer or dodgeball teams, and they’ll prefer to spin the jump rope for others or perform any other function to avoid being active participants in an activity.
These children avoid sports activities and gradually distance themselves socially. This behavior may harm their self-image and social image, eventually developing into an actual emotional issue.
Improvement in motor and functional abilities does not happen by itself over time; nor does it simply ‘go away’. It only changes form and manner of expression. The issues remain and the child usually grows accustomed to living with their motor difficulties.
This kind of behavior and limited movement patterns become fixated, making it even more difficult to motivate them to move in the future or participate in sports activities that greatly contribute to good health and wellbeing.
An experienced developmental physical therapist will be able to diagnose whether this is an issue of poor muscle tone, lack of practice or a Developmental Coordination Disorder also known as motor clumsiness (Clumsy Child).
Proper treatment and guidance can make a significant difference and improve motor function while improving self-esteem, body image and social and emotional skills.
Early intervention leads to improvement and even reduction of functional and social disparities. Properly treated children will achieve their developmental milestones such as graphomotor skills and writing, strengthen their muscles and be able to sit in class for longer periods, maintain eye contact with their teacher, be able to listen, maintain their attention and willingly go outside during recess. They will more confidently participate in sports activities with their peers and they will expand their range of skills giving them broader choices.
Do not diminish your child’s options; don’t say ‘it will pass’; don’t say ‘I was like that’; allow them the full range of choices and freedom to be children.
Preparing For Preschool and First Grade
Are you excited? Afraid?
You definitely want your child to be ready for the next step in their life. Any transition requires mustering tremendous energies that are expressed by excitement, confusion and concerns.
What can help them and us as parents?
As parents, we must give our children the best tools to deal with new situations, not just intellectually. Reading and writing is important, but they need much more to be able to cope with life challenges.
What do they really need?
They need to know how to cope with challenges, assess new situations and be able to choose from a set of skills they have acquired and should acquire prior to their transition.
What do they need to know and be able to do?
First, they should be independent in a variety of everyday skills: dressing up, undressing, personal hygiene, organizing their personal belongings, and finding their way around a new space.
Second, they should be able to deal with challenges and solve problems: how to get organized quickly, what to do when they don’t understand a subject, how to deal with class tasks.
Third, they should be able to cope emotionally and socially in new and unfamiliar situations: how to establish new relationships, what to do when offended, how to deal with the school’s rules.
How can developmental physical therapy help and support the transition to first-grade or preschool?
In physical therapy sessions, children practice and improve age-appropriate motor skills, strengthen muscles and improve posture. They also cope with motor challenges that have been shown to encourage and support learning processes. Many studies have found a direct link between motor learning and didactic learning. These sessions and challenges enhance and improve self-image and self-efficacy, while playing in a pleasant atmosphere that encourages development.
For more details and inquiries - contact me.
Roi (4.5 years old came to you for the first time carried in my arms .. The doctors predicted for him that he would no longer walk on his own and have already adjusted the walker for him. With determination and sensitivity step by step proof that the impossible can be done. Runs, jumps, dares, integrates and crystallizes with his peers in a regular council garden that catches gaps.
Talia Shalev Roi's mother (5.5 years)
