A common reason that parents seek OT treatment for their child is because their child demonstrates problems with fine motor skills beyond just printing difficulties.
Fine motor skills involve the use of smaller muscles in the hands. Children with fine motor skill deficits often will have difficulties printing, managing zippers, laces, or buttons, picking up small objects, are messy when eating or coloring, and struggle to use scissors or to manipulate parts of small toys. It is important that these skills are developed to promote independence and self-esteem in children is as they age.
In the following video from our OT-V series, we discuss some of the ways OT’s help children develop these important fine motor skills.