Which Motor Skills Should We Target First in ABA/OT?
Aarianeilia Locklear August 25, 2025 1 min read
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Which Motor Skills Matter Most, and How Do ABA and OT Build Them Together?
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.
