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OT Activity of the Day:
Spring Flowers
Target Age Range: 4 and up
This craft is perfect for your older Preschoolers, Kindergarteners, and beyond. This craft promotes fine motor control and scissor skills. All you need is a popsicle stick, markers, paper, and glue.
For your Preschoolers/kindergarteners, the challenge is coloring on the popsicle stick only and cutting out the flower. For your First Graders and older, the challenge is also to write the growth cycle of a flower.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Umbrella
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Today's activity is designed for your toddler. We're using dot markers that promote age appropriate wrist/forearm rotation (twist top lid) and early grasp patterns on their writing tools.
Simply draw and cut out an umbrella for your child and let them get to work! Of course if you have an older child that is interested in making an umbrella you can challenge them to cut out the umbrella first. You can also challenge them to write their favorite rainy day activity in the umbrella as they decorate.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Bunny "filter"
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Snap Chat is a super fun app that provides you with fun filters that change your face and voice. If you and your child love this app, then this activity is right up your alley. Today we are making our own bunny "filter" to use this coming Easter, or any other day for that matter.
All you need is a popsicle stick, pipe cleaners, pink poms, and glue! This is a fun and quick activity that promotes fine motor manipulation. Once the bunny filter is made, you can have hours of picture taking enjoyment.
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Decorating Eggs!
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Using stickers to decorate projects is a great way to promote functional grasp patterns like the pincer grasp in your young child. Early grasp patterns are important to meet as it shows your child's manual dexterity is developing. This sets the stage for better pencil skills and scissor skills in those later Preschool and early Elementary years.
So grab some stickers and decorate some eggs! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Egg Hunt
Target Age Range: 2 and up
This is the perfect activity to facilitate following 1 step, 2 step, and even 3 step directions. Grab some plastic eggs, fill them with directions written on paper, and hide them around the room. This is also a great way to practice some stationary or movement based gross motor skills and to provide sensory/movement support to your children. This is an ideal activity for a group or an individual child.
Opening the eggs is also a great way to work on fine motor skills! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
SmartKnit Kids
Target Age Range: 2 and up
If you have a child, special needs or not, I'm sure you've heard the complaints: "I don't like these tags in my shirt.", "My socks make my feet hurt.", and so on. Well, SmartKnit Kids is here to save the day! I met this group at AOTA and their clothing has no seams, or tags, whatsoever!
Their website is www.smartknitkids.com and I would highly encourage you to check them out!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
PROaupair
Target Age Range: 1 and up
If you are a parent of a child with special needs then finding child care you can trust may be challenging. At AOTA I was able to meet some of the women of PROaupair and I was impressed! All of the aupairs have some training or experience in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, etc... How great is that?!
So if you are in the market for an aupair, I would highly encourage you to check this service out!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
The Foot Fidget
Target Age Range: 5 and up
Another great product that I discovered at AOTA was The Foot Fidget! This amazing product can be purchased and attached to your child's desk at school. The device can be manipulated and adjusted to allow your child to stand or sit while using the fidget.
I like this classroom strategy for a lot of reasons, but I specifically like that it's quiet. One big complaint I often hear from teachers who are using therapy bands on the child's desk/chair is that they can make a lot of noise. The Foot Fidget eliminates that complaint. So if your child likes to fidget in their chair at school, give the Foot Fidget a try!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Fun and Function
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Over the weekend I traveled to Philadelphia to attend the annual AOTA conference. It was refreshing and inspiring to be around so many OTs who are incredibly passionate about what they do. To help share their passions I will be highlighting some of the wonderful products and services that are available to everyone!
Today let's talk about Fun and Function. This may be my new favorite website to order all my sensory motor toys from. This website is incredibly user friendly and the products are absolutely affordable. In fact, I've already placed my first order! So if you're in the market for some sensory toys like chewelry, stretchy bands, body socks, or any other sensory motor item you can think of, head on over to Fun and Function!
https://funandfunction.com
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Parachutes!
Target Age Range: 5 and up
With the weather getting nicer it's time to start playing in the great outdoors. To help build some fine motor work into outside play I've made a parachute out of a coffee filter and yarn! Attach this to any small figurine and you have hours of fun!
To make the parachute I used a hole puncher and punched 4 holes into the coffee filter. Then I cut 4 equal lengths of yarn and tied them through the holes. Once that's done you can tie the bottom ends of the yarn to your favorite figurine and let the good times roll. This is a great activity to focus on fine motor strength and manipulation.
To add more depth to the activity you can always create a target or two in the yard and have your child practice their hand eye coordination by aiming for the targets. Attach a point value to each target and your child can practice writing their numbers while keeping track of their scores!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Free Printable Play Doh Mats!
Target Age Range: 3 and up
I recently found a wonderful site that offers free printable play doh mats. All you have to do is print and laminate on your own (you can also use a paper protector) and you're all set!
Play doh mats are great because they promote fine motor strength, fine motor manipulation, and bilateral coordination for kiddos of all ages. For your younger kids you can keep the focus on the play doh, for the older kids you can always add an element of writing! Enjoy!
Here's the link:
http://mothersniche.com/play-dough-activity-mats-busy-bag-free-printables/#_a5y_p=5876041
OT Activity of the Day:
Stack Up
Target Age Range: 3 and up
I just bought this game at Target and I can't even begin to describe how much I love this game. This game has different modifications for 3 year olds, 4 year olds and those who are 5 and above. I've been mixing and matching the modifications to match each individual child and I can honestly say I've not played this game the same way twice.
The game focuses on improving hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, balance and cooperation. My favorite aspect of this game is that you either win as a "team" or lose as a "team".
If you are looking for a fun addition to your family game night, look no further! Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Cherry Blossoms
Target Age Range: 3 and up
Springtime means cherry blossoms here in the Washington, DC area. And while the recent cold may have delayed or damaged the blossoms, you and your child can make some beautiful cherry blossoms in your home!
All you'll need is some bubble wrap, paint, paper and crayons. First have your child draw the tree stump (using crayons will help improve hand strength more than markers;)). Next either wrap some bubble wrap around a paint brush (perfect to promote younger grasp patterns for your 3/4 year old) or wrap the bubble wrap around a small cotton ball or pom (perfect to promote older grasp patterns for your 4/5 year old). Then you can dip the bubble wrap in the paint and go to town on the paper.
For your kiddos who are practicing their letters, you can always have them write a few words about their tree!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Spring Scanning Page
Target Age Range: 6 and up
Happy Spring! While Spring started yesterday, today is the first full day of Spring. And what better way to celebrate than with a visual scanning exercise!
This activity is perfect for your Elementary School age kiddos. Your child has to scan across the page and count the amount of each Spring element. This can become tricky and your child will be focusing on their visual scanning and discrimination abilities. This is a similar skill to your child looking through their backpack, desk, or a drawer and located a specific item only.
http://www.simpleplayideas.com/spy-game-spring#_a5y_p=1558849
If you want to add in some writing, have your child write about their favorite Spring time activity!
Happy Spring and Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Mad Libs!
Target Age Range: 6 and up
This activity is perfect for your First-Third Graders. Often times when your child struggles with handwriting, the last thing they want to do is write. Mad Libs are great because your child is only asked to write a few words and this activity is fun and entertaining.
Depending on what your child needs work on, you can use the Mad Libs to target a few skills at a time. For example, just focus on letter placement and sizing one day and then maybe letter formation and casing another day. This way you're not overwhelming your child with what is expected of them.
Here's the website where I found the featured Mad Lib:
http://www.woojr.com/summer-mad-libs/funny-mad-libs/
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Lucky Leprechaun Charm!
Target Age Range: 3 and up
Happy St. Patrick's Day! To celebrate, we've created a rainbow water bead box with gold nuggets (beads) hidden inside. The kiddos can explore the sensory box with their hands, or scissor tongs, while looking for the "lucky" 🍀 seven gold nuggets (I've been putting in 7 beads per child, though you can do whatever you'd like!). Once the gold beads are all found you can string them for a lucky Leprechaun charm!
This activity is perfect for children of all ages. The time spent with the sensory box will not only help with regulating and calming your child, but using the scissor tongs and stringing the beads will target those fine motor skills!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Wine Cork Sensory Box
Target Age Range: 2 and up
So if you're anything like me, you have a collection of wine corks that you might not know what to do with. Fear not, you can make a sensory box for your young child!
There are several ways you can use this sensory box:
1. Add tongs or other manipulative and have your young toddler work on improving their hand strength and manipulation by simply transferring the corks from the box to container like a muffin tin!
2. For your older child you can add small pieces from a game. Here I've added pieces from my pizza game! It adds a fun element to the game and promotes visual scanning and fine motor strength.
So drink up and enjoy;)
OT Activity of the Day:
March Madness!
Target Age Range: 6 and up
It's March Madness time! While all the adults are busy filling out brackets (this is also great handwriting practice for your older Elementary school kiddos), your young Elementary school kiddos can participate in a basketball word search!
http://www.puzzles-to-print.com/printable-word-search/basketball-word-search.shtml
Word searches are great for practicing fine motor control and visual scanning, two skills necessary for proper handwriting abilities!
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Snow Day Bingo
Target Age Range: 4 and up
In celebration of the impending snow storm about to hit the east coast, I found a snow day bingo card to help keep your kids occupied during these next few days! You can use this template or you can make your own snow day bingo card if you'd rather!
Here's the link for the printable bingo card:
https://www.allfreekidscrafts.com/Winter-Kids-Crafts/Printable-Snow-Day-Bingo#8o7PBhg7XRO8ckVr.32
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Eye Dropper Water Play
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Today's eye dropper activity is geared towards the young toddlers and younger Preschoolers. Water play is always a hit and using eye droppers adds a fine motor element that makes this activity even more beneficial.
All you need is to grab a variety of cups and fill them partially with water. (I've even added a sponge so my clients can explore what happens to the water when placed on a sponge!) Your child can then explore using the eye dropper to move the water around! You can place the cups of water in a large "under the bed" bin to help contain any mess. You can also lay down a beach towel to collect any water that escapes. This is the perfect outside activity but can also be done in the kitchen.
So grab those eye droppers and engage your child in fun fine motor development! Enjoy!