Why Joint Attention Is Crucial in Pediatric Therapy What Is Joint Attention?Joint attention is the shared focus of two or more individuals on an object or event. It has always been a strong focus in pediatric therapy, especially for children with developmental delays, autism, and other communication challenges. Here’s why joint attention matters: Foundation for…
How to Cope with your Child’s Sensory Overload by Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place East Clinic Manager and Pediatric Occupational Therapist Anyone who has children understands that emotions are a part of everyday life. While upset behaviors can often be labeled as “tantrums” stemming from a child not getting their way, sensory overload can often…
Is Occupational Therapy Right For My Child? Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) is a specialty designed to help individuals with developmental, physical, and cognitive delays. Occupational therapists help develop, recover, or maintain skills needed to perform their everyday activities (occupations). A child’s occupation is to play, dress, groom, bath, and perform school work. Factors that may…
Temper Tantrums and Behavior Management by Amanda Mazerall M.S. OTR/L Temper tantrums are ‘behaviors’ that I see on a daily basis. Although Kids Place is an extremely fun and exciting place, it is common for children to get upset while present for therapy. There are a variety of reasons for these upset behaviors: Seeking a…
Ask The Therapist – What is Visual Motor Integration? by Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist Visual Motor Integration, or ‘VMI,’ is a form of coordination that allows us to accurately control our hand movements based off of vision. Poor VMI skills may impact a child’s ability to write their name, catch…
The Important Role of Vision in Child Development By Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist The ability to see, and see clearly is often an overlooked skill. When working with a child, it is best practice to never assume that he or she is able to see until they have been evaluated…
AZOPT Kids Place pediatric occupational therapist, Amanda, define the skills necessary for strong handwriting and how pediatric occupational therapy intervenes to positively impact children with developmental delays. For more information, please visit: Correct Children’s Handwriting Grips Helpful Tips for Your Child’s Handwriting Your Child’s Progressions in Handwriting A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Oral Health Made Fun! By Amanda Mazerall, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Kids often have a hard time tolerating tasks that deal with their teeth. Brushing teeth, going to the dentist, and removing loose teeth are just some of the challenges parents face while children grow. Fortunately, there are fun, preparatory activities to help…
