NBCOT Occupational Therapy Certification Practice Exam

What initial strategy should an OT use for promoting visual skills in a child with coordination issues?

1. Engaging in complex crafts that require fine motor skills

2. Encouraging unstructured play with various objects

3. Targeting simple games that require eye-hand coordination

4. Utilizing digital applications for visual tracking exercises

The correct answer is: Targeting simple games that require eye-hand coordination

Targeting simple games that require eye-hand coordination is an effective initial strategy for promoting visual skills in a child with coordination issues. These games are designed to be straightforward, enabling the child to focus on developing their visual-motor integration skills without the additional challenges presented by complexity or difficulty. Engaging in simple games allows the child to practice and refine their eye-hand coordination in an engaging manner. This form of play not only incentivizes participation through enjoyment but also provides opportunities for the child to see, track, and interact with objects in their environment. This practice can enhance their overall visual perception, tracking abilities, and coordination, which are essential for more complex activities and skills. In contrast, engaging in complex crafts might overwhelm the child and lead to frustration, as these tasks demand significant fine motor skills in conjunction with visual processing. Encouraging unstructured play could be beneficial for creativity and exploration, but without specific targeting of visual skills, it may not provide the focused improvement needed for a child with coordination challenges. Utilizing digital applications for visual tracking exercises might also be beneficial, but hands-on activities are crucial for developing the necessary coordination skills in a real-world context, making simple games more pertinent as an initial strategy.