How Occupational Therapy Supports School Readiness

When children are preparing to start school, there’s a lot more to it than simply learning their ABCs. School readiness involves a wide range of skills, including cognitive skills, social-emotional development and fine motor/ gross motor coordination. Occupational therapy (OT) plays a crucial role in helping children get ready for school by developing skills that set the foundation for academic success and positive sense of wellbeing.

Occupational Therapy can support school readiness by:

1. Developing Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills are essential for many classroom activities, such as holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, buttoning clothes or opening lunchboxes. Children who struggle with fine motor skills may find tasks like writing or drawing challenging. Occupational therapists work with children to strengthen these skills through engaging activities, such as:

• Threading/ beading: These help children develop hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills.

• Playdough or Clay: Rolling, pinching, and molding playdough can strengthen hand muscles.

• Drawing, Tracing and Colouring: These activities improve pencil grasp and control.

  
  

These skills not only help children with daily activities but also give them confidence when it comes to school-related tasks.

2. Improving Sensory Processing

Children experience the world around them through their senses, and for some kids, certain sensory experiences can be overwhelming. Occupational therapists help children understand and manage their sensory needs, whether that means providing calming activities for children who are sensitive to noise or helping them engage with sensory-rich environments in a balanced way.

Some strategies OT may use include:

• Sensory Breaks: Simple exercises like stretching or jumping can help children self-regulate when they become overwhelmed.

• Weighted toys and/ or flexible seating options: These offer proprioceptive input which can help children feel calm and focused.

• Fidget Tools: Small, portable tools that allow children to focus their energy in a non-distracting way.

  
  

When children can manage sensory input, they are better equipped to handle the classroom environment, which can often be noisy, bright, and full of distractions.

3. Enhancing Self-Regulation and Emotional Skills

School readiness isn’t just about academic skills—it’s also about emotional development. OT plays a key role in helping children develop emotional regulation and coping skills. Kids need to be able to manage their emotions, stay calm in stressful situations, and interact positively with peers and teachers.

Therapists work with children on:

• Calming Techniques: Breathing exercises, relaxation methods, or visualization techniques.

• Social Skills: Role-playing scenarios where children practice taking turns, sharing, and responding to others appropriately.

• Emotion Recognition: Learning to identify and express their feelings, and understanding how others might feel.

  
  

By fostering emotional resilience and self-regulation, children are better prepared to navigate the social and emotional demands of school.

4. Building Visual-Motor Integration

Visual-motor integration involves using visual input (like looking at a picture or words) and coordinating it with physical movement. This is an important skill for activities like reading, writing, and even physical activities like sports.

OT helps children improve visual-motor integration through activities like:

• Tracing and Copying Shapes or Letters: These exercises help improve hand-eye coordination and writing abilities.

• Ball Games: Throwing, catching, and kicking balls help develop visual tracking and spatial awareness.

• Cutting with Scissors: This helps strengthen hand control and eye-hand coordination.

  
  

Children who have strong visual-motor skills are more likely to succeed in activities that require fine motor coordination and visual attention.

5. Promoting Independence and Self-Care Skills

Before starting school, children need to have a level of independence, especially when it comes to self-care tasks such as dressing, feeding, and using the bathroom. Occupational therapists help children develop these important life skills so they can manage their personal needs without relying heavily on adults.

Some areas of focus for OT in this regard include:

• Dressing: Teaching children how to put on their own shoes, button a shirt, or zip a jacket.

• Feeding: Helping children use utensils properly or drinking from a cup without spilling.

• Toileting: Encouraging self-sufficiency when it comes to bathroom routines.

  
  

Developing these self-care skills not only supports a child’s independence but also boosts their confidence in social and classroom settings.

6. Building Attention and Focus

In a school setting, children need to be able to focus for extended periods, follow instructions, and complete tasks independently. Occupational therapists work with children to improve attention and focus, helping them build stamina for the school day.

Strategies might include:

• Structured Routines: Helping children establish daily routines that include time for focused work and play.

• Attention Games: Activities that encourage children to stay focused, such as memory games, sequencing tasks, or following multi-step directions.

• Movement Breaks: Short breaks to release pent-up energy, so kids can return to their tasks with more focus.

  
  

Children with extended attention spans are more likely to stay engaged in classroom activities and succeed in academic tasks.

School readiness involves so much more than being able to recite the alphabet or know how to count to ten. Occupational therapy addresses the developmental and functional skills children need to navigate the school environment successfully. By focusing on fine motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation, visual-motor integration, self-care, and attention, OT helps set children up for success both inside and outside the classroom.

Parents, educators, and therapists all play vital roles in supporting children’s readiness for school, and with the help of occupational therapy, children can develop the necessary skills to thrive in their educational journey.

Jordan Dunn - Occupational Therapist at Kids Inspired