Motor Planning - Occupational Therapy

What is motor planning?

We use motor planning (sometimes referred to as praxis) for everything we do! We use it to get dressed, throw and catch a ball, write, draw, cooking a meal, and wash out hands. Motor Planning (or praxis) requires fine motor, gross motor and cognitive skills to understand the task, plan out an action in response to the task, and carry out that task successfully. We need to organize any incoming information from our environment and our body and integrate that information into our plan.

How do OTs help improve motor planning skills?

We have to start from the beginning! We work on all of those underlying skills needed for motor planning. It is very hard to play hop-scotch if you find hopping difficult. Once we have gained the skills, we can then move on completing tasks that require children to think about what their next movement will be. Hopscotch, Simon says, and twister are all activities that promote motor planning.

If you are looking for occupational therapy assessment or intervention, contact us to arrange an appointment at our new centre in Oak Rd, Kirrawee. Email info@kidsinspired.com.au

- Rachel

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