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OT Activity of the Day:
Sticky Leaves
Target Age: 4 and up
Finger gym is back and it has a Fall theme! Here I'm challenging those fingers by placing paper leaves on a sticky surface. I used "press 'n seal", but any sticky surface will work. I have a timer and the goal is to use your fingers to pick up as many leaves as possible before the timer runs out.
It's time to stretch out those fingers and get to work. Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Hole Punch Leaves!
Target Age Range: 4 and up
As of last Thursday, it's officially Fall here in Northern Virginia. Which means that the leaves will soon change and fall to the ground. While I'm looking out my window and seeing all green, there's no reason why we can't fast forward a bit here in the clinic!
My last hole punch activity was a real hit with all the clients. So I decided to break out the hole puncher again. Here we drew a tree and then used hole punch clippings as the leaves. Now I used the three colors that I associate with Fall, however I know every kid is different so feel free to use whatever colors you, or your child, would like!
As an added bonus, you can have the child draw the tree. They can either copy what you have drawn or they can come up with their own idea. Another good idea, have them color in the tree trunk so that they are targeting fine motor control in addition to their visual motor/ideation skills. As always, the hole punch is an excellent way to build hand strength. A skill very important to ensure success in everyday school life.
Happy Fall, enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Twister
Target Age Range: 6 and up
As a therapist, I love this game. It's a great way to focus on right and left discrimination. It's a great way to focus on gross motor coordination. And it's a wonderful way to work on balance and core strength.
I have to say, the newest version of this game is amazing. In addition to the regular stuff, it target's a child's ability to ideate and come up with various ideas for a given hand or foot. And for those kiddos that struggle with this ability, there are ideas on the back of the spinner. Perfect!
So here's how I play. First we establish right from left. If this is tricky I usually put a sticker or stamp on the dominant hand for visual assistance. Then one person spins and the other person plays. In addition to spinning, the spinner also has to count 7 spins (managing two tasks at once). At the end of 7 spins the spinner rolls the dice and based on the number rolled, the player on the board has to hold that position for the specified amount of time ( a great way to target core strength and balance). Usually it's just me and another kid playing, but this can easily be done in groups.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Sensory Ideas
Target Age Range: 2 and up
This post is for the many kiddos who need a little extra movement during the day. I will often have parents talk to me about how "fidgety" their kids appears, or that their child has a hard time calming down at night, or they're just always on the move. While our therapy will often focus on establishing an individualized sensory diet, I do have a few "go-tos".
In this picture I have a "crash pad" that I have created out of extra throw pillows and a fitted sheet, I have a hippity hop, and I also have a scooter board. Without getting technical, these three items will generally provide most children with the input they are seeking. The best part is, these items are easily added into any daily routine. For example, I may play a game with the hippity hop and crash pad. I might set the cards of a game, like Candyland, on one side of the room and have the child hop on the hippity hop to the pillows, then jump into the pillows, grab a card from the other side of the pillows, and then ride the hippity hop back to take their turn. You can easily substitute the scooter board in this scenario. Again, this is just one example.
As always, if you feel like your child can relate and seems to need more movement than other children their age, don't hesitate to reach out to an OT. Occupational therapy can help provide you and your child with strategies that you can use on a daily basis to assist in your child's regulation.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Wacky Hair
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Looking for another way to get your small child interested in snipping with scissors? We've got just the thing! Meet Jack, and he needs a hair cut! All you need for this activity is an empty toilet paper roll, paper, tape, crayons, and most importantly child friendly scissors.
Take the empty toilet paper roll and wrap the top in some paper and tape the paper so it's secure. Next cut small strips in the paper so that the "hair" can hang down. You can chose to decorate a face like I did, or not, that's entirely up to you. Lastly, take a pair of scissors and help our friend Jack out.
Now I used tissue paper here, it's easier to cut and rip for those younger kiddos. But if you have an older kiddo you can easily use construction paper or even cut into the toilet paper roll itself.
Happy snipping! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Lacing and Apples
Target Age Range: 3 and up
By the age of three child are developmentally ready to string beads and/or lace with string. Why should you care? Lacing with string helps develop hand-eye coordination needed for them to engage in tasks that require finger dexterity and hand stability. In short, you're targeting the skills needed to be able to tie a shoe lace, manage buttons on pants, and buckle a belt.
So here's how you do it at home. I took a paper plate and punched holes around the edge. Then I took a some yarn, put a little tape around the top to keep it from fraying, and began to lace. It doesn't have to be an apple, this could easily be a pumpkin, or just multicolored string wrapped around a paper plate. Either way, you're targeting those wonderful fine motor skills.
Happy lacing! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the day:
Sock Puppet Grip Support
Target Age Range: 3 or early 4
If the pinch and flip method is too complicated for your young child you can always make a sock puppet. This idea is really for those 3s and young 4s. After that age, you really want your child to be able to independently hold the writing tool without this type of support, though it can still be fun from time to time!
First, find an old sock. Next, have your child put their dominant hand into the sock and make small snips for their thumb and index finger. When the sock is off their hand you can make larger holes. Then comes the fun part, you and your child can decorate the sock however you would like! I used yarn for hair and googley eyes.
Lastly, have your child put the sock on their dominant hand and let them color, draw, or write! The sock will naturally fold their middle, ring and pinky fingers into the natural writing position while the index and thumb support the writing tool from the top and the side.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Pinch and Flip Method
Target Age Range: 4 and up
The best way to ensure that a child has the proper pencil grip is to introduce proper habits from the start. I know it's tempting to manipulate your child's hand and pencil so that the end result is the tripod grasp, however this does not provide your child with the proper strategy to ensure carryover.
The best way to teach your child how to hold the pencil in a tripod grasp is the "pinch and flip" method. First, place the pencil on the table so that the tip of the pencil is facing your child. The next step is highlighted by the picture. Have your child use their dominant hand and pinch the tip of the pencil with their thumb and index finger. The last step, and the most fun, is to then flip the pencil so that it rests between the thumb and index finger web space. The index finger should be on top of the pencil, thumb on the side and the middle finger providing support from the bottom.
And there you have it, you've just taught your child how to properly hold their pencil! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Pip Squeaks and Stickers for the Little Ones
Target Age Range: 2 and up
The last two days I have talked about pencil grips for the older kiddos. Today I want to give tips for how to promote an ideal grip in your younger child. As your child gets older they will be expected to display more of a tripod grasp. However at the younger age, we're simply looking for the marker, or crayon, to rest in the index finger and thumb web space and for the fingers to be closer to the tip of the writing tool.
I know I've already said that broken crayons are the best at promoting an ideal grip, however I know markers are always more fun. For those kiddos who enjoy a good marker, opt for the Pip Squeaks. These markers are smaller and naturally allow for the fingers to be closer to the tip of the marker. If this isn't enough, you can always place stickers at the tip of the marker for a visual reminder for those fingers. If you don't want to go through your markers and place stickers on them, simply remind your child to keep their fingers on the "squiggly line".
Color and enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Pencil Grip Fun
Target Age Range: 4 and up
Yesterday I highlighted pencil grips that you can buy. Today I'm showcasing a way to adjust your child's pencil grip with an item you may have at home. So in this picture, you'll see I'm holding a pom in my right hand (if you don't have a pom, you can easily use a cotton ball). Please note that I'm only holding the pom in my pinky and ring finger. This will force, or promote, a tripod grasp as the only fingers available to your child will be the three necessary for a more functional grip.
As I said yesterday, a child's tendency to use a more "non-functional" grip is most likely a result from a decrease in hand strength or stability. In addition to using some of these corrective strategies, it's also important to address the lack of strength or stability. This blog is full of hand strengthen activities so feel free to add any of those activities, in addition to these corrective strategies, to your child's daily routine.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Pencil Grips
Target Age Range: 4 and up
A question I get a lot is whether or not a child should use a pencil grip. In general, there are two types of ways children hold their pencil: functional grips (tripod) and non-functional grips (multiple finger grip or thumb wrap, just to name a few). While both can be used to write, the child using the "non-functional grip" may fatigue more and experience more writing issues. The time to promote, or fix, a grip is as soon as you notice your child developing poor grip habits. Once a child has become more comfortable with writing (First Grade and beyond) it becomes more challenging to fix a grip, though it can be done.
If a child comes to me with a non-functional grip the first thing we work on is improving hand strength. Non-functional grips are typically formed due to a lack of hand strength, or stability, so improving strength is a great starting point. The next thing I usually do is look for a pencil grip that will allow for more stability. In addition to stability I'm also looking at the child's preferences and this process can take a few weeks to work through to make sure that the match is a positive one. As you can see, there are so many different pencil grips to choose from. An OT can help guide you and your child to the right grip for your child's needs.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Apples, trees, and leaves
Target Age Range: 4 and up
This is a great activity for targeting bilateral coordination. All I did was grab a cardboard box and cut out some shapes, in this case an apple, a tree, and a leaf. I then took some yarn and cut a long strip of each color and started wrapping. You can use any color yarn you want, I went with a fall theme but don't feel limited.
I love this activity because you have to stabilize one hand while wrapping with the other. This skill is so important because it helps with writing, cutting, self help skills, and many other tasks.
If you would like to add to the activity you can even have your child color the shape first. You could even decorate with stickers or dot markers before you start wrapping to target those fine motor manipulation skills. If you have an older child they can even make their own shape and cut it out first before wrapping. The options are limitless!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Paper plate Apples
Target Age Range: 2 and up
This activity is for your younger child or the child just learning to cut. All you need is a paper plate, construction paper, crayons, dot markers and glue.
I know I've said that ripping paper is a precursor skill to cutting, so here we're really targeting that skill. You can give your child the whole paper to rip to shreds or you can give them strips of paper to rip. Or if your child has just learned to snip you can continue to practice this by giving them a strip of paper to snip into small pieces. Or if your child is still not cutting you can always give your child dot markers (wonderful practice with twist tops) or crayons to decorate the apple. I used red, however there are yellow and green apples as well.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Fine Motor Heaven!
Target Age Range: 2 and up
It's September and for me this means the start to apple picking, pumpkins, and all things Fall! So today we're starting off September right with an apple activity. You can easily scale this activity up or down depending on the level, or age, of your child.
If you have an older child, they can absolutely cut out the tree and put the tree together. However if your child is younger you can always pre-make the tree.
I then used both stickers and hole punch remains as the apples. The stickers will be easier to use and wonderful fine motor manipulation practice for the younger kiddos. The hole punch remains will be a great fine motor strength and manipulation exercise for the older kiddos (first they use the hole puncher and then they get to use the remains). I've also seen similar activities where the child is matching letters on the tree.
There are truly so many options! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Whistles, balloons, and gum
Target Age Range: 2 and up
When children are seeking input they are simply looking for ways to make their body "feel better". The start of school is a huge transition and often children will find ways of regulating their body, however these makeshift "strategies" are not necessarily appropriate for the classroom. OT can help provide both families and schools with appropriate, and safe, ways that a child can receive the input they are looking for both at home and in school.
At this time of year I will have many parents express concerns that their child is chewing their shirt constantly throughout the day. They will come home with a collar, or sleeve, that is completely soaked. When this happens I usually provide them with a "oral motor grocery list" filled with items and foods that will give their child the input they are looking for without having to chew their clothes. In the picture I have provided, I'm showcasing a few of the ideas that are included on the list. We have balloons, gum, and whistles (there are noiseless whistles out there so don't worry that your house will be filled with high pitched sounds) just to name a few. Other simple ideas include giving your child a sports bottle to drink water out of throughout the day or giving them crunchy or chewy foods for snacks or in their lunch.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
A wall of strategies
Target Age Range: 2 and up
So after all the questions about seated attention, the next biggest concern from parents, as their children start back at school, is how to calm them down at the end of the day. Many children, and certainly those needing more input than others, will come home and appear to be very excitable. These children are also more prone to meltdowns at the end of the day.
While I usually say talk to the teacher about strategies that your child can employ during the day, I also suggest creating a "wall of strategies" at home. Pictured is a portion of my wall of strategies that I have made out of googled images, construction paper, tape and markers. I have included movements like time in the big pillows, animal walks, jumping (in general or on a trampoline), wall push ups, squeezing hands, getting a drink of water, running around the house, yoga poses, and play with a large therapy ball just to name a few. The type of strategies you use will depend on the type of input your child craves. (An OT can help provide strategies that will be beneficial to your child's sensory needs.)
I use this wall often and if I notice a child needs a break or just needs to move their body I usually suggest a trip to the "wall". This will give your child the movement, or input, they are looking for and the pictures help with selecting a strategy. I would suggest taking a trip to the "wall" as soon as your child comes home and have them pick 2-3 strategies (completed over 20-25 minutes, or more or less depending on your child) before settling into the afternoon routine. With this added movement you should see positive changes in your child's demeanor at the end of the day.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Therapy Band
Target Age Range: 3 and up
Here's another tool to help with seated attention during school: a therapy band. A therapy band is similar to a standard work out resistance band. While I ordered this one from a therapeutic website, www.abilitations.com, you can easily go to Target or again, order off Amazon. I would suggest medium resistance!
All you have to do is tie the band around the front two legs of the chair and you've installed a very effective tool for sustained regulation. Your child will be able to kick against the band or even wrap their feet in the band for deep touch, calming, input. I do remind children that the band should be quiet and not to be snapped during writing tasks. Most children enjoy the band so much that this ground rule is easily followed.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Wiggle Cushion
Target Age Range: 3 and up
School is here! In honor of school starting back up, I've decided to use this platform to help give advice and answer many questions parents ask at the start of the school year.
Today we are going to talk about a wiggle cushion, also known as a disc'o'seat. A major concern for many parents is how to get their active child to stay seated and attend to tasks during the school day. While many children are able to independently sit and attend during school hours, there are many that are unable to do so without assistance. For starters, this is why movement throughout the day is so incredibly important for kiddos, after that, there are plenty of other options that will give a child the input that they are looking for while helping them stay in their seat.
Cue the wiggle cushion! When placed on a child's chair, or in their spot during circle time, it gives the child a bit of movement while in their chair and allows for longer seated attention. You can buy these from therapeutic websites like www.abilitations.com, or Amazon, or at Target. It is important to remember to fill the wiggle cushion only partially and to not over fill as it will then be too wiggly and provide the opposite affect that you're looking for.
If you feel like your child struggles with seated attention and is not currently monitored by an occupational therapist, don't hesitate to reach out. Assistance early in development is so important and really sets the tone for your child's academic career.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Letter Stamps
Target Age Range: 3 and up
This is a great activity for those younger kiddos. Many young kiddos show interest in letters and while writing them can still be very challenging, stamping them is not! Not only is this an activity that allows for expose to letters, but this activity also promotes fine motor manipulation and hand strength through manipulation of both the play doh and stamps.
For an added bonus, you can have your child use play doh and actually build the letters (based off a model) if stamping is too easy or you're just looking to build upon the activity.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Drawing with our feet!
Target Age Range: 3 and up
So yeah, that's my foot, and yes I am drawing a smiley face. Why? Because this is a great way to work on trunk stability in kids and adults alike. Trunk support is important for our kiddos because it helps them maintain a seated posture throughout the day. Children who do not have appropriate trunk stability are those kiddos that you see propping themselves frequently on the table or during circle time. In order for your child to be successful in their seated tasks at school this is a very important skill to work on.
All you need for this activity is a large piece of paper, tape (I used painters tape so not to ruin the wall), markers/crayons, and a foot. Tape the paper to the wall (I taped it pretty low to the ground so it's pretty easy), place a marker in your child's foot and have your child go to town. If they end up tiring out quickly, no worries, having your child color on a vertical surface is also a great way to work on shoulder stability, another necessary skill for successful writing.
Enjoy!