Empowering Kids Through Play

HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Wellness is spotlighting the invaluable role that occupational therapy (OT) plays in helping children overcome developmental challenges and thrive in everyday activities. 

Occupational therapists make a difference in children's lives through innovative, play-based interventions that target essential skills like motor coordination, planning, and independence. 

“At HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Wellness, we believe in the power of play as a therapeutic tool,” said Tammy Probst, Rehab and Wellness Director at St. Anthony’s. “Through engaging, hands-on activities, children not only have fun but also work on developing crucial skills they may be lacking. Our therapists use these activities to turn therapy into an enjoyable experience that helps children gain independence and reach their fullest potential.”

1. Improved Visual-Motor Skills
   Visual-motor skills are essential for tasks like reading, writing and catching a ball. Play-based activities such as puzzles, drawing and stacking blocks help children strengthen these skills by developing their ability to integrate what they see with their movements, improving their accuracy and coordination.
2. Enhanced Fine and Gross Motor Coordination
   From threading beads to climbing on playground equipment, both fine and gross motor coordination are vital for a child’s physical development. Therapists use play-based activities like building towers with blocks, balancing on a beam, or playing with a ball, all of which promote muscle strength, coordination and overall motor control.
3. Motor Planning (Praxis)
   Motor planning, or praxis, is the ability to conceive, plan and execute a sequence of movements. Play-based activities such as obstacle courses, pretend play (like pretend cooking), and movement games challenge children to think critically about how to move their bodies and sequence actions. 
4. Building Independence in Dressing Skills
   Dressing is a daily life skill that can be a challenge for children with motor difficulties. Occupational therapists use activities like “dress-up” games, buttoning, zipping, or matching socks to help children develop both fine motor skills and the cognitive ability to sequence steps in dressing. 
5. Supporting Sensory Integration
   Sensory integration is how the brain processes input like touch, sound and movement. Play-based activities such as swinging, playing with textured materials, or deep pressure games help children better respond to sensory information. Therapists also offer additional support by guiding caregivers in how to create sensory-friendly environments.
6. Facilitating Reflex Integration
   Primitive reflexes are automatic movements that babies are born with. As the brain grows, these reflexes usually fade, but if they don't, they can affect things like balance, focus and coordination. Through playful exercises like animal walks, rolling or rhythmic games, therapists help reduce retained reflexes, helping build strength and control, supporting better posture, attention and emotional regulation.
7. Developing Emotional Regulation Skills
   The ability to recognize and manage emotions is key to participating in home, school and social settings. Through play-based therapy, children explore emotions using games, storytelling or pretend play. Therapists may also use calming tools like breathing exercises or feeling cards. These playful approaches help children identify how they feel, practice coping strategies and gain tools to manage big feelings in a socially appropriate way.

A Holistic Approach to Therapy
HSHS St. Anthony’s Rehabilitation and Wellness focuses on creating an environment where therapy feels natural and playful. The hospital recently announced plans for a new Center for Pediatric Therapy, which will include recreational elements that support physical and emotional development, such as a climbing rock wall and an adaptive playground. The center is projected to open in August 2025.

Photo Caption: Through playing balloon volleyball, occupational therapists Rose Borries and Avery Pacella work with Emmie Sidwell to improve her balance, core strength, hand-eye coordination and motor planning skills, among others. The session combines touch, movement, and visual activities to support sensory development, improve focus and coordination, in a fun and engaging way.