What is it? “The ability to conceptualize, plan, and execute a non-habitual motor act” (Case-Smith & O’Brien, 2015, p. 272).
Why is it important? The ability to motor plan allows for safe navigation through the environment. Praxis is a skill necessary in occupations throughout the lifetime, such as:
- Activities of daily living (feeding, dressing, functional mobility, bathing, grooming, toileting)
- Academic performance (navigating the school environment, writing, cutting, sitting in chair)
- Play and leisure activities (playing sports, playing age-appropriate gross motor games)
- Job performance
- Driving
- Grocery shopping and meal preparation (navigating the store and kitchen, putting food in oven, etc.)
5 activities to try at home:
1. Navigating obstacle course. Tip: Create an obstacle that is the just-right challenge for your child (ask a therapist about this) and has your child moving over, across, under, and through objects.
2. Following lines/patterns on the floor with ball. Tip: Tape patterns on the floor for your child to follow along either by walking, hopping, or moving a ball along. To make it more difficult, try taping hopscotch onto the floor!
3. Playing the floor is lava. Tip: Create “islands” for your child to stay on without touching the floor!
4. Playing on a playground. Tip: Head to a playground and allow your child to motor plan and navigate their way through the equipment!
5. Playing Simon Says with gross motor movements. Tip: For example, “Simon says hop on one foot across the room.”
References American Occupational Therapy Association. (2014). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process (3rd ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(Suppl. 1), S1-S48. Case-Smith, J., & O’Brien, J. (2015). Occupational therapy for children and adolescents (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby, Inc.
Learn More About My Programs
Blue Bird Day is a rotational therapy program structured like a preschool or kindergarten, but instead of teachers all our staff are therapists! This program is designed to foster socialization, sensory regulation, and learning for children ages 2-7 and helps provide children the tools they need to succeed in a traditional classroom.
Eyas Landing is an outpatient therapy clinic that provides services for children ages 0-21. Our multidisciplinary team of therapists provide ABA, developmental, occupational, physical, speech, nutrition and feeding therapy along with early intervention, social work, counseling, and neuropsychological testing at our West Loop clinic, in-home, at school, and virtually.
Merlin Day Academy is a therapeutic day school for children ages 6-14. Our proprietary model utilizes daily therapeutic and educational rotations to support children’s growth, learning, and their transition into the least restrictive environment possible.
