Tracking Skills

Definition and Importance

• Tracking skills refer to a child's ability to proficiently observe and follow moving objects with their eyes, without moving their heads.
• These skills are crucial for a host of everyday tasks and activities such as reading, playing sports, and even walking and running.
• Therapists observe these skills in order to assess a child's visual motor integration, muscular strength and coordination, and overall focus and attention span.

Incremental Stages in Development

• In newborns (up to 1 month), the primary focus is on viewing faces and high-contrast patterns, with little ability to track motion.
• At 3 months, babies typically begin to follow moving objects with their eyes.
• By 6 months, babies can easily track objects moving in any direction without moving their heads.
• At 9-12 months, babies can usually follow quick and complex motion, indicating sophisticated eye muscle control and visual perception.

Occupational Therapy Assessment

• In an assessment situation, the therapist may move a toy or other objects in various directions to see how the child's eyes follow the motion.
• The speed, smoothness, and accuracy of the child's eye movements are evaluated by the therapist.
• Difficulties in tracking can indicate developmental delays, visual impairment, or neurological conditions.

Therapeutic Interventions and Home Practice

• Activities to promote tracking skills include playing catch, tracking a torch light on the wall, or visually pursuing bubbles as they float around.
• Moving toys in different directions and encouraging the child to follow with their eyes can also enhance these skills.
• Parents and caregivers can support development through daily activities such as pointing to and discussing objects in the child's environment, participating in back-and-forth play, and reading books together.

Possible Challenges & Signs of Struggle

• Children with underdeveloped tracking skills often exhibit signs like losing their place while reading, difficulty in playing catch, rubbing eyes excessively, and appearing easily distracted.
• They may have difficulty in school, struggle with attention, and exhibit clumsy or uncoordinated movement.
• In such cases, the intervention of an occupational therapist may be required to run an in-depth assessment and design a treatment plan.

Role of Occupational Therapy

• An occupational therapist can identify the underlying problems causing the difficulty rather than just alleviating the symptoms.
• Through a series of exercises and activities tailored for the child, therapy can significantly improve tracking skills and enhance overall development.
• The ultimate goal is to help the child develop the ability to function independently, aiding their performance in daily life and school activities.

Remember, tracking skills are only a small fraction of a child's overall development. They are, however, essential for many day-to-day tasks. Thus, it is crucial to provide effective support for their development.