Candy Cane

OT Activity of the Day:

Candy Cane

Target Age Range: 4 and up

If you're looking for an activity that works on fine motor manipulation, visual attention and patterning, then we have the holiday activity for you!  Grab a pipe cleaner and some beads and you're all set.  

Between the ages of 2 and 3, kiddos should be able to start beading with large beads, so this activity is perfect for those 4 year olds and older.  For your kindergartners and First Graders, you can also write a few sentences about your favorite holiday treat when you're finished!

Enjoy!

Stocking Grab

OT Activity of the Day:

Stocking Grab!

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This is a great way to target tactile discrimination.  Why is this important?  This is the skill you use to grab something from your desk, back pack, or purse without using your eyes.  For some kiddos, this skill is not a given and needs to be worked on.  These are the kiddos who have to pull everything out of their desk or back pack in order to locate one item.

The best way to boost success is to talk about the items before they go into the stocking.  What is everything?  How does each item feel?  If I'm looking for the block, what do you think I should feel for?  

For the younger kiddos you can have them simply reach their hands into the stocking and guess what it is they have in their hand before they pull it out.  For the older kiddos, give them a specific item they are looking for, so they have to use more of their problem solving and tactile discrimination abilities.  

Enjoy!

Holiday Wreath

OT Activity of the Day:

Holiday Wreath

Target Age Range: 3 and up

This holiday activity is great for kiddos of all ages.  This can be scaled down for those young toddlers, or even scaled up for our Kindergartners, First Graders, and beyond.  All you need is a paper plate and absolutely anything that you want to use to decorate the wreath.  I used crayons (grip practice), dot markers (twisting the lids), and yarn (fun???).  Feel free to use paint and paint with those fingers (finger isolation), or with a paint brush (tool use), or use stickers (FM manipulation), or clippings from a hole puncher (grip strength), etc...  This can be decorated for any holiday, not just Christmas!

For the young kiddos, you can have the wreath precut and for the older kiddos you can have then not only cut the wreath, but write a few sentences about their favorite holiday decoration.

Enjoy!

Decorating With Chopsticks

OT Activity of the Day:

Decorating with Chopsticks!

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This is a fun game for friends and family.  Not only will this be a nice break from the stress of the season but your children will be practicing their bilateral coordination and fine motor manipulation at the same time.

To play this game all you need is some construction paper, dice, markers/crayons, poms (or crumpled up pieces of paper-nice way to really target fine motor manipulation) and chopsticks!  Now I understand not everyone will have chopsticks, just grab a straw and bend it in half, and you have yourself make shift tongs/chopsticks!

I did not design this as a win/lose game, more just a game of fun and to see how many poms can fill up the tree.  This is a great way to practice turn taking and use of chopsticks.  Add movement if you'd like and place the poms on one side of the room with the tree on the other.  If your child is working on using a spoon, forgo the chopsticks and practice scooping and stabilizing with a spoon!  

Enjoy!

Holidays with Popsicle Sticks

OT Activity of the Day:

Popsicle Sticks for all

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This year Hanukkah and Christmas fall around the same time, Hanukkah starts on the 24th while Christmas is on the 25th.  No matter which you celebrate, today we have a craft for both!

Grab your popsicle sticks, markers, stickers, glitter, glue, tape and just about anything else you'd like to use to decorate!  This activity really promotes fine motor manipulation (how your child moves and uses their fingers).  This is important because it's a necessary skill, or ability, for handwriting and fine motor skills.  Coloring on the popsicle stick is a great way to promote fine motor control, another necessary ability for writing.  

This craft can be an ornament for a tree, a window, or even a mantel.  Enjoy!

Holiday Lights

OT Activity of the Day:

Holiday Lights

Target Age Range: 3 and up

With all the holidays that are upon us, decorating is something that's sure to be on your mind!  Today we are using our old wine corks, some paint, and creating a string of "lights".  

If you don't have wine corks, you can easily use a top to a bottle or even a cotton ball or q-tip.  All of these will help promote an appropriate grasp for those young toddlers.  In addition to promoting an age appropriate tripod grasp, this is a great activity to work on visual attention and control as the lights must be on the "string"!  

If you're looking for an extra challenge, create a pattern for your child to follow or you can practice writing letters or words by writing some of the color names.

Enjoy! 

Age Appropriate Toys for 18-24 Months

OT Activity of the Day:

Age Appropriate Toys for 18-24 months

Target Age Range: 18 months and up

Today's gift guide is for those toddlers who are 18-24 months.  The blog that I'm posting is great because it even provides the direct links to Amazon should you want to purchase!  In addition to highlighting this age group, you can surf the site and find other suggestions for other age groups.  The blogger also talks about what you should be looking for, developmentally, with these toys and what skills these toys will target. 

http://www.thejennyevolution.com/developmental-toys-18-24-months/

Happy Holidays and Enjoy!

The Best Toys For Those Sensory Seekers!

OT Activity of the Day:

The Best Toys for Those Sensory Seekers

Target Age Range: 1 and up

Today's post is for all those kiddos who love sensory input of all kinds.  The picture posted provides only a snap shot of the toys that are highlighted on the following blog.  The blog not only lists out numerous sensory toys and activities, however it also breaks down each sensory category (tactile, oral, vestibular, etc...) with the corresponding toys for easy reading.  Happy holiday shopping!

https://crayonboxchronicles.com/2015/11/16/best-toys-sensory-seekers/amp/

Enjoy!

Brain Boosting Baby Toys!

OT Activity of the Day:

Brain Boosting Baby Toys

Target Age Range: 12 months and up

I stumbled across this amazing blog over the weekend.  It not only provides pictures of each of their recommended toys, but they go item by item and discuss why the toy is a brain booster!  The blog starts with toys for babies who are 3 months old and works it's way up to 12 months and beyond.  So if you're looking for holiday toys for a baby or toddler, here's the blog for you!

http://incredibleinfant.com/sweet-stuff/best-baby-toys-2013/

Enjoy!

Games With Occupational Therapy Benefits

OT Activity of the Day:

Games with Occupational Therapy Benefits!

Target Age Range: 3 and up

Happy Cyber Monday!  We have now officially entered the holiday season and all week we will be using this forum to talk about toys and games that will provide your child with the most benefits.  I have been researching all weekend and I'm ready to help ensure that your gifts are on par this year!  

Today we are showcasing the above games.  I came across a blog that really highlights why these games are great (improving bilateral coordination, visual scanning, and fine motor manipulation just to name a few) and I would encourage you to check it out if any of these games interest you! 

http://www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/board-games-with-occupational-therapy-benefits/

I should mention that I personally own Pop the Pig, Feed the Woozle, and Spot It.  They are some of my go-tos and can be easily scaled up or down to meet your child's needs.

Enjoy!  

Turkey in a Bag!

OT Activity of the Day:

Turkey in a Bag!

Target Age Range: 1 and up

This activity is perfect for those young toddlers.  While their older brothers and sisters are building turkeys out of play doh (yesterday's Activity of the Day), the younger siblings can make a turkey in a bag!  All you need is a large plastic bag, paint, and a permanent marker.

First you can trace yours, or your child's, hand on the bag with the permanent marker.  Tip: I would highly suggest an adult do this as the marker is permanent!  Next pour paint into the bag, I only used a few colors but you can pour in as many colors as you want.  Finally, seal the bag, pushing out as much air as possible.  Tip: you can even tape the bag closed if you would like. You are now ready to hand the bag off and watch your young child push the paint around in the bag.  This is the perfect activity to promote finger isolation!

Enjoy!

FineMotor Turkey

OT Activity of the Day:

Fine Motor Turkey

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This is a great way to engage children during the holiday.  While the adults cook and watch football, the kiddos can make their own turkey creation.  All you need is play doh, tooth picks, beads, and googly eyes.  

This activity targets your child's hand strength, bilateral coordination and visual motor skills.  All skills that set the foundation for fine motor skills later in life (handwriting, dressing, and scissors).

Enjoy!

Put a Fork in it, this Turkey is Done!

OT Activity of the Day:

Fork Painting

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This activity is designed for those kiddos who need extra practice with fork manipulation.  If your child struggles with using their fork to self feed, I'm sure you know that practicing during meal time is a very frustrating moment for all.  The best time to practice utensil use is outside of mealtime.  There is less pressure and success tends to be higher.  So grab those forks, some paint, paper plates, construction paper, and scissors and let's get started.

The set up is easy.  You can choose to use an extra plate for the paint or you can simply put some paint on a plate and spread it around with the fork.  It's entirely up to you.  The best way to really practice with the fork is to make sure that your child is really changing directions and targeting all areas of the plate.  Once the plate is painted, all you need to do is cut out a circle for the turkey's body and either use more construction paper for the facial features or you can use crayons/markers.  The final touch is to glue the turkey down to the plate and you have a turkey complete with feathers!

Enjoy!

Hand Turkey

OT Activity of the Day:

Hand Turkey

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This activity is easily scaled up or down depending on the age of your child.  Today we're targeting bilateral coordination (tracing your hand) and fine motor manipulation/wrist forearm rotation (ripping paper).  All you need is some construction paper, scissors, markers, and glue.

For those Preschoolers:  Depending on the age of your child, you can have the hand precut or you can trace their hand on white paper and have them color the body (staying in the lines as best they can-fine motor control).  Once you have the body, glue it on paper and take your crayons or markers and add the facial details!  Then rip up colored paper and add them to the body for feathers!

For the Kindergartners and up: Have them trace their own hand and then cut it out.  For ease, you can always take a thick marker and trace other their line to emphasis the guideline.  The rest is all the same.  You can even add an element of writing!

Enjoy!

Clothespin Turkey

OT Activity of the Day:

Clothespin Turkey

Target Age Range: 4 and up

This is such a fun solo or group activity for kiddos.  Today we've made a clothespin and feather activity tray.  This tray is perfect for those preschoolers and Kindergarteners who need extra work on building up their hand strength or fine motor manipulation (key foundational skills for handwriting).  All you need is an empty toilet paper roll, feathers, and clothespins.  You can make the turkey face or your child can depending on how involved you want your child to be.  Then sit back and watch the turkey come to life!

Enjoy!

Dot Marker Turkey

OT Activity of the Day:

Dot Marker Turkey

Target Age Range: 2 and up

This is a perfect week for all things TURKEY!  Today we are using dot markers to make today's turkey, which is a perfect craft for those young preschoolers.  This is also a very easy task to scale up for those older preschoolers and Kindergarteners.  For this task you'll need construction paper, a paper plate, scissors, glue, and dot markers.    

First I cut out the body for the turkey using brown construction paper.  For the younger kiddos, this can all be done ahead of time and then they can use their visual motor skills to copy your model and piece their turkey together.  For the older kiddos you can draw guidelines and have them target their visual motor skills by cutting out all the pieces and then assembling.  Then I cut out the beak and gobbler.  If you'd like these can all be drawn on as well.  Then I used my dot markers and dotted all over the paper plate.  Last I took my turkey and I glued him down.  Depending on the age of your child they can then practice writing their name, the word TURKEY, or even write a sentence about their turkey on a separate piece of paper.  So many fine motor skills being targeted all at once!

Enjoy!

Leaf Animals

OT Activity of the Day:

Leaf Animals

Target Age Range: 3 and up

This activity is designed to get your child up and moving.  First you and your child get to go outside and scavenge for leaves.  Look for big leaves and small leaves so you have a nice variety!  Then bring your finds inside and use your imagination to start building animals.  Here I made a wolf!  Feel free to use markers or crayons to add details to your animals, I even used googly eyes!

Enjoy!

Handwriting Fun

OT Activity of the Day:

Handwriting Fun!

Target Age Range: 3 and up

For many children learning to write letters, words, and sentences comes easily.  For other children simply using pencil and paper doesn't always get the job done.  Some children benefit from a multi sensory approach.  This means that your child may learn best when multiple parts of their brain are targeted as they learn.  If your child is struggling with writing, try adding a sensory approach.  

Today we're writing in applesauce.  I chose applesauce because of the Fall season, however you can use uncooked rice, pudding, whipped cream, shaving cream (do not eat!), or anything else that motivates your child.  (If your child does not like wet textures, stick the dry!)  Not only does this add the multi sensory approach, but an element of fun as well.

Have fun, and enjoy writing!

Turkey Time!

OT Activity of the Day:

Turkey Time

Target Age Range: 2 and up

This is a great activity for those younger toddlers.  All I did was tape down the eyes and beak and the colander is ready for feathers!  This activity focuses on grasping patterns in your younger child and also visual motor skills.  Your child will also be exploring simple sensory input through the softness of the feathers.  Clean up is easy and the activity is easily recycled and completed again!  

Enjoy!

Harvest Corn

OT Activity of the Day:

Harvest Corn

Target Age Range: 4 and up

Today we have a fun Thanksgiving activity that targets your child's hand strength and scissor skills.  Today we're making some harvest corn!

First we used our hole puncher and punched some holes in yellow, orange, and brown paper.  Next we cut out 3 oval shapes, one in white paper and 2 in green paper.  Then we took the three oval shapes and glued them together so they look like corn.  Last we took the hole punch clippings and glued them onto the corn.  Not only will your child be working to improve their hand strength and scissor abilities, however they will also be working on fine motor manipulation to place all the clippings on the corn.  For those older kiddos, you can always add an element of writing!

Enjoy!