Gross Motor Interventions

Gross Motor Therapy

Gross Motor Interventions

By encouraging your child to participate in different gross motor activities, we provide them with an opportunity to practise using their bodies. This is particularly important for children who have underlying movement disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Co-ordination Disorder or chromosomal abnormalities. Support for gross motor development is also indicated for children who are ‘clumsy’ and for children who tend not to enjoy much physical activity and prefer sit-down activities such as drawing, Lego® or screen time. Often children who have motor skills challenges and/or co-ordination difficulties avoid physical activity, which provides them fewer opportunities to catch up on the skills of their peers.

Our Approach

Occupational therapists know that gross motor skills are integral for performing everyday activities such as getting dressed, riding a bike, walking, climbing stairs and using the playground. You can never underestimate how important gross motor skills are in daily life. Gross motor skills are also important for fine motor skill development as your child needs adequate core strength to sit at a table and shoulder stability for using hands.

How does it work?

Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) is the gold-standard treatment approach employed by Occupational Therapy Whitsunday for Children experiencing difficulties managing performance and movement tasks. The CO-OP Approach is an evidence-based treatment approach for children (and adults) who experience difficulties performing the skills they want to, need to or are expected to perform. CO-OP is a goal directed, specifically tailored, active client-centred approach that engages the individual to solve performance problems and focuses on enabling success.

Steps we take.

Gross motor goals are developed after careful assessment of your child’s developmental level, as well as family and curriculum requirements. What we focus on is dependent on your child’s needs and special interests. You and your child, with guidance by your OT will develop appropriate and achievable goals. OTW has worked with many children who have successfully achieved their gross motor goals. These goals can be as varied as getting dressed, riding a bike, managing the local playground equipment, doing the monkey bars at school, using a swing independently, doing a cartwheel, skipping rope, catching a ball or playing football and handball.

Intervention plans are usually carried out in therapy rooms or in school but can involve ‘natural environment visits’, for e.g. the park or pool, and are structured to the family’s lifestyle and accessibility.

Gross Motor Interventions

Services

Gross Motor Therapy