Cindy's Helping Hand - Occupational Therapy Day
Cindy (not her real name) is a cheerful and curious 5-year-old child with hearing loss since birth. Like many children her age, Cindy is eager to learn and explore the world around her. Her parents enrolled her in Canossaville Preschool. At K1, Cindy’s preschool teachers found that she also faced challenges with fine motor skills that made activities like writing difficult for her. She used a palmar grasp—clutching her pencil with her whole hand—making it hard for her to control her strokes. She could only copy basic shapes and struggled with letter recognition.
With her parents’ support, Cindy now receives the assistance of an occupational therapist, through the Canossian Child Development Unit (CCDU). CCDU, located just above Canossaville Preschool, is made up of a team of multidisciplinary team of professionals supporting the children and their families across the areas of learning, behaviours, and psychosocial needs.
Occupational therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to participate fully in daily activities, from schoolwork to play. Cindy thus receives tailored interventions to improve her fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and pre-writing abilities.
Her occupational therapist works closely with her, introducing fun, engaging activities like finger-strengthening exercises, sensory play, and guided writing practice. Slowly but surely, Cindy is starting to show progress.
After just five months of intervention, Cindy can now hold her writing materials using a functional grasp, giving her better control and precision. She has also shown great improvement in writing and copying uppercase letters that contain vertical and horizontal lines—a milestone she once struggled with. Even more importantly, Cindy can now identify the letters she writes, a step forward in both her literacy and confidence!
The impact of occupational therapy extends far beyond the mechanics of writing. For Cindy, it has opened doors to more independence, boosted her self-esteem, and laid the foundation for her to thrive in school and beyond.
Cindy’s story is a testament to the importance of occupational therapy in helping children with diverse needs achieve their potential. It highlights the power of early intervention in shaping brighter futures, one small, determined step at a time.
This Occupational Therapist’s Day, let us celebrate the therapists who transform lives, giving children like Cindy the confidence they need to succeed.
Happy Occupational Therapist’s Day!
Help children like Cindy receive the support that they need.
Donate today: https://www.giving.sg/donate/campaign/HL25