Embedded Files
What is praxis?
What is praxis?
Praxis is the neurological process by which cognition directs motor action. Put more simply, praxis is our ability to plan and carry out motor tasks smoothly and efficiently. Praxis, although not a sensory system, is heavily reliant on strong sensory processing, particularly tactile, vestibular, and proprioception. Limited motor planning, or dyspraxia, is the functional result of impaired sensory processing.
What activities can improve motor planning?
What activities can improve motor planning?
Any of the activities listed in the previous other sensory pages, particularly the tactile, vestibular, and proprioception pages, will help to improve motor planning. As able, it is also useful to teach the child increased awareness of frequent errors they make in sensory output. For example, increasing the child's awareness of using too much pencil pressure when writing, and challenging them to be more mindful and use less pressure.
At the risk of getting on too high a soap box, there are two major categories of activities that I will recommend in the home environment more than anything else! The two activity categories are, exploratory play, and household chores.
Exploratory play
Exploratory play
One of the most important things a parent of young children can do is encourage children to get out and explore the environment and the materials in it. Children cannot build their sensory processing by only interfacing with screens and controllers. Our senses, our motor strength and endurance, our problem solving, our independence all develop from experiencing the world through our seven (remember, not five) senses! This means getting outside (or even inside) and touching, manipulating, smelling, pushing, pulling, carrying, building, balancing, throwing, catching, the list goes on!
Household chores
Household chores
Exploratory play is always going to be the better option of the two. Firstly, the child will be more likely to WANT to play than to do chores, and when a child is motivated to do, the child is more likely to learn. That being said, because life is often filled with responsibilities and jobs we must do but don't necessarily want to do, requiring children to help out around the house will also improve their ability to perform in less desirable activities too (and this is very important for school performance!) In all hopefullness, the ability to help out and successfully complete a task that helps the whole family will increase a child's sense of importance, appreciation, responsibility and accomplishment. It is obviously important to make sure a task is modified within the child's ability to facilitate success and decrease frustration, building upon their abilities as able.
Report abuse