Fine & Gross Motor Skills Therapy
From messy handwriting to clumsy movement, we help children build the coordination, strength, and motor planning behind everyday play and schoolwork.
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About this service
Fine & Gross Motor Skills Therapy
Motor skills are the foundation for almost everything a child does — holding a pencil, doing up buttons, climbing at the park, catching a ball, and keeping up with classmates. When fine motor (small, precise movements) or gross motor (large, whole-body movements) skills lag behind, children can feel frustrated, avoid certain activities, or fall behind at school.
Our occupational therapist assesses the building blocks underneath the difficulty — grip and hand strength, core stability, coordination, and motor planning — then builds a playful program that targets the right level for your child. Progress is measured against real goals like legible handwriting or independent dressing, not vague benchmarks.
Movement & Milestone Checklists
Vitality Kids Family Physiotherapy and Wellness Centre
When to reach out
Signs your child might benefit
Messy, slow, or painful handwriting, or an awkward pencil grip
Avoids drawing, building, or fine-motor play
Trouble with running, jumping, catching, or riding a bike
Struggles to plan and sequence new physical tasks
Difficulty with scissors, buttons, zippers, or doing up laces
Clumsy or uncoordinated movement, frequent tripping or bumping
Tires quickly during physical activity or seems “floppy”
Why Vitality Kids
Why Ottawa families choose us
Paediatric-focused care
Play-based & goal-driven
Family-centred plans
Connected team
Our approach
How we help
01
Find the root cause
02
Build skills through play
Make it functional
Coach home and school
Heard From Ottawa Families
“We finally feel like we have a plan. The sessions feel like play to our daughter, but the progress at home is real.”
— Parent of a 7-year-old, Findlay Creek
- Ottawa location
- Parking
- Transit
- Insurers we direct-bill
Meet Our Registered Occupational therapist
Monika Lebouthillier
Book an appointment with Monika Lebouthillier
Occupational Therapist · Riverside South
Languages: Bilingual in English and French
Monika LeBouthillier is a registered Occupational Therapist with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. She holds a Master of Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy from the University of Ottawa and provides services in both English and French.
Monika works with children and families to support participation and independence in everyday activities. Her areas of practice include sensory processing and regulation, emotional regulation, feeding, fine motor and gross motor skill development, self-care skills (activities of daily living), handwriting, visual-motor integration, and executive functioning. She has experience supporting children with a variety of developmental, sensory, and neurodiverse profiles.
Monika takes a collaborative, family-centered approach to care and strives to create engaging, meaningful interventions tailored to each child’s unique strengths and goals. She is committed to providing evidence-informed services that promote confidence, skill development, and successful participation at home, school, and in the community.
Questions, answered
Frequently Asked Questions
My child’s handwriting is messy — is that an OT issue?
What’s the difference between fine and gross motor skills?
How long until we see progress?
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Let’s help your child with motor skills
Visit Us
Vitality Kids — Riverside South, Ottawa
Click any concern below to learn about signs, our approach, and how we tailor therapy for children in Riverside South and across Ottawa.
Vitality Kids — Riverside South
Address
Earl Armstrong Plaza
160 Blanca Street, Unit 9
Gloucester, ON K1V 2V6
PHONE
Areas We Serve
Riverside South, Findlay Creek, Barrhaven, Manotick & Greater Ottawa
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Vitality is a physiotherapy and wellness centre with four locations in Ottawa, Kemptville, and Kanata, Ontario, Canada.
Locations
Vitality Kids
Earl Armstrong Plaza- 160 Blanca Street, Unit 9
Hours
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