Occupational Therapy at Shelby Hills Early Childhood Center

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Kristin Miller is a Registered and Licensed Occupational Therapist at Shelby Hills Early Childhood Center. She graduated in May of 2010 from the University of Toledo with her Occupational Therapy Doctorate Degree. Kristin has been part of the Shelby Hills team since August of 2010. In her spare time Kristin enjoys running, baking, and spending time with her family.

Lisa Rush is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Shelby Hills Early Childhood Center. She received her Associates Degree from Sinclair Community College and has been a practicing therapist since 1995. Lisa has been part of the Shelby Hills team since the fall of 2007.  In her free time Lisa enjoys spending quality time with her two children.

Joanna Homan is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant at Shelby Hills Early Childhood Center. She was added as a member of the Shelby Hills team in August 2011.

At Shelby Hills the Occupational Therapy Department works with a variety of children who may have difficulties with their fine motor skills. The therapists use a variety of play based interventions to improve a child’s fine motor coordination and strength. The therapists at Shelby Hills also work with children who may have difficulties with sensory processing. Sensory Processing Dysfunction occurs when a child has difficulty organizing and regulating sensory input from his or her environment. Children with Sensory Processing Dysfunction may display reactions that are not proportional to the stimulus or experience. For example, a child may have a negative reaction to loud noises, slimy substances, or distractions in a classroom. The Occupational Therapists at Shelby Hills work individually with each child who may have sensory needs to discover how he or she is best able to respond to his or her environment.

Ideas for Fine Motor Play

• Stack various items (boxes, blocks, cans)
• Play with Play-Doh
• Pick up small cereal pieces using thumb and index finger
• Use tweezers or tongs to pick up small items
• Play with stickers
• String varying size beads
• Complete puzzles
• Remove caps/lids of different containers
• Color pictures while attempting to stay in the lines
• Attempt to use fasteners (zippers, buttons, snaps, etc.)
• Blowing bubbles and popping them with your fingers