Rhythmic Movement Training and RMT Courses

Rhythmic Movement Training and RMT Courses

What is Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT)?  It is a movement based, primitive (infant or neo-natal) reflex integration program that uses developmental movements, gentle isometric pressure and self-awareness to rebuild the foundations necessary to help overcome sensory, emotional and behavioral challenges for children and adults. (this post contains affiliate links)

Who provides rhythmic movement training?  Pediatric occupational and physical therapists can become trained in rhythmic movement training.  Other practitioners can also be trained such as speech language pathologists, parents, teachers, etc.

How does RMT help children develop sensory motor skills?  The active movements facilitate bilateral coordination skills, muscle strengthening, mid range control and balance skills.  In addition, the repetitive, rhythmic movements provide vestibular input which many children find very calming and relaxing to help prepare the body for learning new skills.

Where can you get trained in RMT? Move Play Thrive is currently offering an online RMT course with open enrollment until 10/31/17. This online training will help you to learn in-depth, extensive tools to facilitate effective neuro-sensory-reflex movement programs for all ages. Find out more at the Move Play Thrive website.

Reference: Rhythmic Movement Training International.  Retrieved from the web on 8/31/17 at http://ift.tt/2eJ4Y2q

 

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Handwriting Speed Associated with Manipulation and Visual Perceptual Skills

The British Journal of Occupational Therapy examined 39 typically developing 6-8 year old children to determine whether visual perceptual, visual-motor integration and in-hand manipulation skills were associated with manuscript handwriting speed.  Each participant completed Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration – 6th edition (DTVMI), the Developmental Test of Visual Perception – 3rd edition (DTVP-3), the Test of In-Hand Manipulation – Revised (TIHM-R), and the Handwriting Speed Test (HST).  Results indicated the following:

• significant correlations were found between visual perception, visual-motor integration, and in-hand manipulation skills and total letters written and total letters per minute.
• the DTVP-3 eye–hand coordination and visual closure subscales and the TIHM-R were significant predictors of total letters written.
• the DTVP-3 copying and visual closure subscales and the TIHM-R were predictive of total letters written per minute.

The researchers concluded that visual perceptual abilities, specifically visual closure skills, plus in-hand manipulation skills appear to be significant predictors of children’s printing speed.

Reference:  Ted Brown and Julia Link. The association between measures of visual perception, visual-motor integration, and in-hand manipulation skills of school-age children and their manuscript handwriting speed. British Journal of Occupational Therapy March 2016 79: 163-171, first published on September 24, 2015 doi:10.1177/0308022615600179

Visual Perceptual and Handwriting Practice Pages are activities to practice letter formation, visual motor, visual discrimination and visual spatial skills. Each letter page includes double line (Handwriting without Tears® style) and dotted line (Zaner-Bloser® style) format plus a visual perceptual activity related to the letter.  Find out more information and download a sample page.

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