| Occupational therapy is a way of working with | | | | desires, from tall skyscrapers to cars or houses. When |
| individuals to become more engaged with every day | | | | building blocks are around for kids to play with, there is |
| activities. It is needed for individuals who would | | | | usually a crowd. Playing with the blocks and building |
| otherwise be prone to exclusion, and occupational | | | | creates a community space when kids work together. |
| therapists facilitate engagement activities to combat | | | | Building blocks are colorful so kids can learn colors |
| this. Occupational therapists practice three areas with | | | | while they play, and building with them improves their |
| their patients: physical health, mental health, and | | | | motor skills because they have to practice control |
| community. Preschool toys are often designed to | | | | when stacking the blocks to build. |
| focus on these areas as well, and that is why | | | | Playing with preschool toys might seem minimal to |
| occupational therapists encourage play with preschool | | | | some people, but for occupational therapy it is vital. |
| toys for their patients. They encourage activities that | | | | Playing with a puzzle and making it come together can |
| involve problem solving, improving motor skills, | | | | be difficult for someone with memory loss but, doing |
| communication, concentrations, community, and | | | | this activity will help them improve their day-to-day life. |
| sequence. The practices and goals of occupational | | | | Preschool toys allow occupational therapists to do their |
| therapists are paralleled to the affects that preschool | | | | job by helping their clients perform daily activities and |
| learning toys have on children. | | | | help them develop strength. For occupational therapists, |
| Most preschool toys are designed to focus on | | | | preschool toys aren't just used for kids ranging from |
| memory, matching, community, motor skills, and | | | | ages three to four. They use the toys for clients of all |
| creativity. Let's take a look at a very basic toy that | | | | ages. The activities they facilitate create an outcome |
| you most likely have in your home and have seen in | | | | in which their patients will be able to life their life to the |
| other places such as libraries, doctor's offices, hospitals, | | | | fullest by performing daily activities, overcome an |
| and dentist's offices. A very basic, yet fun and | | | | impairment or disability, prevent injuries, and lead a |
| educational toy, that occupational therapists use are | | | | more independent life. The use of preschool toys plays |
| building blocks. Playing with building blocks allows a child | | | | a large role in the positive outcomes of occupational |
| to become creative and build whatever their heart | | | | therapy. |