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Katie Zelinski discusses the intricacies of motor planning, also known as praxis, and its impact on handwriting and daily activities. Katie, with over 11 years of experience in pediatric OT and founder of The Well Balanced OT, shares her wealth of knowledge on how motor planning affects children, from dressing themselves to participating in activities like catching a ball. Katie explores how challenges in motor planning manifest in tasks such as handwriting, and she offers insightful strategies to help parents support their children's development through creative play and practice without the pressure of traditional writing tasks. Whether you're a parent or therapist, this episode provides valuable insights into understanding and addressing motor planning challenges in children.

In this episode you'll hear about:

• Katie Zelinski's Background
• Katie's experience of 11 years as an Occupational Therapist (OT).
• Focus on pediatrics.
• Establishment of Katie's business, The Well Balanced OT.
• Discussion on Motor Planning and Praxis
• Definition and explanation of motor planning and praxis.
• Multiple components of motor planning.
• Steps involved in motor planning: Ideation, Sequencing, Execution.
• Practical examples of motor planning in learning activities.
• Differentiation between practicing motor planning as a skill and it becoming innate.
• Observations of Motor Planning Challenges
• Signs of motor planning challenges in children.
• Examples like dressing, catching a ball, play activities.
• Handwriting and Motor Planning
• Connection between motor planning challenges and handwriting difficulties.
• Ideation’s impact on writing.
• Ways motor planning affects holding and using a writing tool.
• Strategies for practicing handwriting without writing.
• Motivating Children with Motor Planning Challenges
• Importance of making learning engaging and incorporating play.
• Use of resources and creativity to support idea generation.
• Avoiding stress by focusing on underlying skills.
• Addressing Motor Planning in Older Children
• Challenges faced by older kids.
• Strategies including using technology and alternative methods.
• Focus on typing and voice-to-text as alternatives to handwriting.

Links and Resources From Today's Show

• Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?
• The Well Balanced OT
• From Clumsy To Capable: The Surprising Impact of Martial Arts on Kids' Motor Skills
• Motor Planning: What You Need To Know
• Motor Planning and Praxis: Understanding, Assessing, and Treating
• How Form Drawing Supports Vision, Handwriting, and Academics
• Blending Sensory Integration and Fitness for Better Handwriting
• Understanding the Handwriting Journey: Tools and Techniques for Homeschoolers
• Reading, Writing, and Growing: The Bigger Picture of Developing Fine Motor Skills in Children
• Crafting Holiday Memories while Building Handwriting Skills
• Making Sense of the Handwriting Puzzle – Homeschool OT Course
• Narration- A Path To Thoughtful Learning
• Connect With Sarah on Instagram

Connect with our Guest, Katie Zelinski

Katie is a pediatric occupational therapist who specializes in regulation and sensory processing. She has a certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration. Katie has worked in various settings including early intervention, preschool, and a pediatric outpatient clinic. She is the founder of The Well-Balanced OT which offers online resources, professional development, and mentorship programs for pediatric OTs.

Connect With Katie On Instagram

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