Occupational therapy in the preschool classroom - Promoting fine motor and visual motor skills for kindergarten readiness

ABSTRACT

Fine motor performance skills are essential for children’s successful educational participation. Kindergarten curriculums are increasingly academic with less emphasis on play-based learning. Increased expectations for kindergarten readiness do not align with developmental milestones. Occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to support students and teachers with preparing for kindergarten. This six-week collaborative intervention utilized fine motor and sensory activity centers, integrated within the classroom, to promote kindergarten readiness for 16 preschool students. Pre- and post-testing indicated clinically significant gains in readiness skills. Results of this pilot study support the effectiveness of integrating occupational therapy within the preschool classroom to improve kindergarten readiness skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Kindergarten readiness skills
• preschool
• integrated occupational therapy
• fine motor
• sensory
• teacher collaboration
• classroom centers