Which Motor Skills Matter Most—and How Do ABA and OT Build Them Together?

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Motor skills power play, handwriting, dressing, and playground confidence. We coordinate ABA with Occupational Therapy (OT) to make practice motivating and measurable.

Targets we prioritize

• Fine motor: Grasp, bilateral hand use, button/zippers, utensil skills, pre-writing.
• Gross motor: Core strength, balance, hopping, catching/throwing, playground skills.
• Motor planning: Breaking complex actions into doable steps with visual/task analyses.

How we teach

• Shaping & chaining to build multi-step routines.
• Play-based reps (beanbag toss, scooter boards) to increase engagement.
• Reinforcement schedules so effort pays off and persistence grows.

Home ideas that work in Lumberton

• 5-minute “motor bursts” before desk work, visual checklists for morning routines, and backyard obstacle paths for balance + fun.

Mini-FAQ

• Q: Does motor work belong in ABA or OT?
• A: Both. ABA optimizes motivation and practice; OT refines movement quality—together we get faster, functional results.

References:

• AOTA – Pediatric OT & motor development: https://www.aota.org
• CDC – Developmental milestones & motor skills: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/

Ask about coordinated ABA-OT plans available in Lumberton.

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