Your Custom Text Here
OT FUN at Home
One of our amazing COTAs, Stephanie, is having some “OT FUN at Home” with her kiddos playing Jenga with a twist!
If you have this game, feel free to put some basic math questions, or even words for your child to write, on the Jenga pieces. Each piece pulled out is a mini lesson! Not only are you addressing any math or writing goals, but Jenga is a great way to work on fine motor control.
Stay safe and healthy!
OT FUN at Home
I made a fish! Out of origami! And I made my own origami paper out of printer paper:).
Folding origami is a great way to work on visual motor skills (the actual folding paper act) and executive functioning skills (sequencing/following directions). If you have an older child, a child who is 7 and up they can make their own origami paper which will also target those cutting skills and bilateral coordination skills.
I have two links: one that gives you some origami ideas and the other is a youtube video that teaches you how to turn your printer paper into origami paper!
Origami ideas:
https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/easy-origami-for-kids/
How to make origami paper:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZY_pN3f3Ok
Stay safe and healthy!
OT FUN at Home
So I was making pancakes this morning and realized I’ve missed one of the easiest OT activities for home, following recipes! This is such a great activity to work on executive functioning skills like sequencing. You can teach them to read the ingredients out loud to ensure they remember, or you can use a piece of paper to create a modified field of view so they’re not so overwhelmed. You can even photocopy the recipe so they can cross off as they go. For a child who is in first or second grade, or even older, it’s a great way to engage together and to hone in on some of these higher level, independent skills.
For a younger child, this activity can look differently. They can be the measurers, the stir-ers, or even the whisk-ers, all great ways to work on early fine motor skills like fine motor control and bilateral coordination.
For the record, I did not make buttermilk pancakes, I did not buy buttermilk in my “end of days” shopping trips. I was also surprised that I owned a cookbook who’s default pancake recipe was buttermilk.
Stay safe and healthy!
OT FUN at Home
If you’re anything like me, you may have several of these types of bags lying around. For me, I use them when I travel to hold make up or toiletries but in an effort to entertain my 13 month old son, I realized they’re a great fine motor activity because ZIPPERS!
Now, no, my son Max was unable to unzip these bags, but he laughed hilariously at me zipping and unzipping them and put things in them. But if you have a 3 or 4 year old, or even older, you can work on zipping! This is a self help skill necessary for zipping up jackets, or pants, or shirts, or even when playing dress up.
For the younger kiddos, you can put desired items inside like a snack, or a shape to a shape sorter, their sock (for whatever reason my son loves playing with his socks), or anything they may want to retrieve.
For some of the older kiddos, you can always put these in an obstacle course and they have to unzip the bag and bring whatever is inside back to the start.
So find those old bags and work on those fine motor skills!
OT FUN at Home!
If you have a ball, then you’re halfway to HORSE. Now all you need is a trash can, preferably one that has been cleaned ha. For those that are not familiar with HORSE, it’s a game typically played with a basketball and a basketball hoop. You and a partner take turns making baskets, each basket is a letter in HORSE, and the first one to spell the whole word wins!
Not only will this activity fill some time, but it’s a great way to work on hand-eye coordination and letter formation. You can always spell different words or even write out sentences using the same format.
Stay safe and healthy!
We’re starting something brand new today! Today we’re launching our new series called “OT FUN at Home”. Since we’re all practicing the art of social distancing and most of us are stuck at home with our children, this series will help provide sensory ideas and fine motor ideas, all using things you can find at home, to help you pass the time until schools open back up!
This is our guest bed. Why am I showing you our guest bed, you ask? Well on the bed is a duvet and my very own start to a crash pad. If you have a kiddo who is seeking out all types of deep touch pressure (rough housing, pushing, crashing into things on purpose, crashing into things on accident for that matter, or just jumping around with all the extra energy they may have) find a duvet off of a bed and stuff it with pillows. Once you do, voila, you have a crash pad perfect for kiddos of all ages! You can have your child simply jump into the crash pad or you can add it to a homemade obstacle course!
Stay safe and healthy and have fun with your crash pad!
National Meatball Day!
Target Age Range: 2 and up
Today is National Meatball Day, yes, it is a “thing”. In any case, what better way to celebrate than with reading “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” and playing with your very own meatball sensory bowl.
For the younger kiddos you can have the sensory bowl already made (I used yarn, construction paper, and play doh). For the older kiddos it would be great fine motor practice to build the bowl together (they get to cut the yarn and use the play doh to build meatballs-hand strength!).
Once the sensory bowl is built you can use regular tongs (jumbo tweezers) or scissor tongs (handy scoopers) to play and serve spaghetti and meatballs! A fun, fine motor and sensory motor activity!
Enjoy!
Activity Boxes!
Target Age Range: depending on what the box is for can be as young as 3!
If you’re anything like me and my family then you have been going through tissue boxes like crazy this past cold and flue season. So why don’t you take those boxes and recycle them into something fun and therapeutic!
I took two boxes and made a “therapy putty box” and a “movement break box”. These will help bring fun and excitement (at least that’s the goal) to therapy putty exercises and movement break options. The idea is that you would use these boxes like large dice and you can roll them to see what you get to do. These tailor made boxes could work great for individual therapy and classroom activities!
Enjoy!
Happy Dr. Seuss Day!
Target Age Range: 2 and up
This is a super fun activity meant for children of all ages. This activity is based off of one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, The Lorax. Today we’re building Truffula Trees!
I used my sensory box to hide pipe cleaners and pom poms. I did cut the pipe cleaners in half, making some bigger and some smaller for variety. Then, using the tongs, either tweezer tongs or scissor tongs, we’re finding the pieces to build trees. For some of the younger kiddos we’re just finding and building trees, for some of the older kiddos, we’re gluing the trees down! Then for the even older kiddos (Kindergarten and up) we can write a few sentences describing our trees.
Pro tip: use squeeze bottle glue if you have it and are having your child glue down the Truffle Trees, it helps promote hand strength and endurance!
Happy Dr. Seuss Day and enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day:
Five Minutes of Fine Motor
Target Age Range: 3 and up
If you have a cupcake tin and painter’s tape then you, too, can have five minutes of fine motor! While you can hid anything under the painter’s tape, I used these shapes and peg board:). The whole idea is centered around the child peeling back the tape and retrieving the item from the tape and hole so what is hiding in there could be a preferred toy like toy cars or wind up toys, whatever your child may want!
I hope you enjoy this quick fine motor activity!
OT Activity of the Day:
Stuff the Turkey
Age Range: 4 and up
This activity was designed for my preschoolers and pre-K’ers. I initially called it “feed the turkey” but then one small genius of a child said, “We’re stuffing the turkey” and I just rolled with it. I added a variety of tongs to work on hand strength, endurance, and overall fine motor manipulation. For some kids I didn’t even use the tongs, I just had them use their pincer grasp. Some children did this activity in prone to work on postural extension and some just walked over for added movement. The options are endless!
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy!
Brands I love for 5-6 year olds: ThinkFun, Milton Bradley, Hasbro, STEM
Activities for kids between 5-6 years
· Legos or other activities that require your child to follow directions to build to a model (visual motor skills).
· Problem solving games (See toy option number 1)- great for executive functioning
· Play doh- great for hand strengthening
· Board Games- continue to work on attention and turn taking
Specific Toys I love:
17. https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-A5064-Trouble-Game/dp/B00D7OAOYI/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2J2GVEMD0AGR6&keywords=board+games+for+5+year+olds&qid=1574127644&sprefix=games+with+5%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-5
Traveling with kids this holiday? Stressed out already? Don’t be! Try some of these tricks and tips and hopefully your travel experience improves!
Safe travels everyone!
Activity Based
1. Use a 3-ring binder and fill it with loose leaf paper (a travel binder!!). Add a 3-ring pencil carrier with colored pencils or crayons and your child has hours (alright minutes) of drawing and coloring fun.
2. You can also purchase activity books like coloring books, maze books, dot to dot books, sticker books, or hidden picture books. These can be added to the 3-ring binder or kept separate.
3. Books are another option if your child enjoys looking at pictures or reading the pages.
4. If you have a tin lunch box, or container, you can always fill it with magnets and the child can open the container up and put the magnets all over the box!
5. Seated games like “I Spy” or travel bingo are great options to help keep children occupied.
6. If traveling at night, try bringing glow sticks or necklaces. You can find these pretty cheap at any dollar store and can be fun for everyone!
7. Wrap a couple of small toys or trinkets from the Dollar Store. Wrap them in old wrapping paper and let the kids choose one every couple of hours. It’s great to use as incentive to keep your kids good in the car or plane!
8. You can make an activity bin. In a portable bin you can pack in pipe cleaners, wikki sticks, yarn, beads, etc., to keep your child’s busy hands busy!
Sensory Based
1. Have your child carry a small backpack filled with preferred fidgets or small toys that they can play with during the trip. It can be called their “sensory first aid kit”. Visual based fidgets are great for calming children down (try searching liquid motion bubbler in Amazon for a great option). Otherwise any favorite fidget(s) will do!
2. Crunchy and chewy snacks help provide sensory input when moving is not always an option. Think snacks like pretzels, raw veggies, apples, fruit leather, popcorn, bagels, etc. You can always try gum if your child is familiar with the strategy. Chewelry is also a great option to help provide oral input when traveling.
3. If your child is going to be expected to sit for an extended period of time you can always try compression wear or weighted lap pads/buddies/blankets to help provide proprioceptive input.
4. Try downloading apps with calming music (think meditation-like apps) that the child can listen towards the end of the trip when patience is thin.
5. If your child does best with visual schedules or social stories, make a visual schedule/social story of the trip to include estimated time of departure, arrival, and activities they can do in between.
6. If your child responds well to a preview of the expectations, make sure to provide that ahead of time and provide additional reminders during the travel time. After the trip is over always review how it went and to discuss any changes needed for the next trip.
7. If your child gets overwhelmed easily (don’t we all?) don’t forget the noise cancelling headphones, their favorite sensory fidget, chewelry, and anything else that gets them comfortably through a normal, non-travel, day.
In general, remember your children will do well if they can. When traveling, if your child is having a difficult time, think about how the experience feels to them. If you’re feeling stressed, it’s likely they are as well. Give yourselves plenty of time if traveling by plane and plan for stops if driving. Praise any positive behavior so that your child is more motivated to use the sensory strategies and activities listed here.
Shopping for a toddler, or soon to be toddler, in your life? Lost for ideas? Have no fear! We’ve put together our gift guide for toddlers! Happy shopping!
Basic Toys/Activities for kids between 1-2 years
Shape sorter- promotes early visual motor skills
Blocks- promotes early grasping skills and visual motor skills
Play food- perfect for basic imitation and symbolic play
Cardboard books (heavy duty)- promotes early interest in reading and visual motor skills
Ring stacker- promotes early visual motor skills
Musical instruments- great for imitation
Tub crayons- promotes early grasping skills (15-16 months start assessing the grip on a marker)
Bubbles- great for visual tracking, back and forth engagement
Small to medium sized balls- perfect for promoting early ball skills
Water table- early sensory idea!
Finger painting (something edible)- promotes finger isolation, sensory play
Simple peg board- promotes early visual motor and grasping skills
Cause and Effect toys- helps promote intentional play
Pretend animals- promotes basic imitation and symbolic play
Large legos-promotes visual motor skills and grasping skills
Simple puzzles- promotes visual motor skills and attention
Brands I love for this age: Fisher Price, Vtech, Melissa and Doug, Leap Frog, Learning Resources, B. Toys,
Specific Games I love for this age:
1. https://www.target.com/p/mega-bloks-big-building-bag-pink-80pc/-/A-17482314
2. https://www.target.com/p/b-toys-whacky-ball-fuchsia/-/A-76155801
3. https://www.target.com/p/b-toys-parum-pum-pum/-/A-12026425
4. https://www.target.com/p/b-toys-wooden-shape-sorter/-/A-76165437
5. https://www.target.com/p/land-of-b-wooden-puzzle/-/A-76596503
6. https://www.target.com/p/b-toys-magnetic-26pc-alphabet-puzzle/-/A-76165440
7. https://www.target.com/p/melissa-38-doug-geometric-stacker-wooden-educational-toy/-/A-10076312
8. https://www.target.com/p/melissa-doug-what-should-i-wear/-/A-53519883
9. https://www.target.com/p/vtech-stroll-and-discover-activity-walker/-/A-53321190
10. https://www.target.com/p/vtech-sort-and-discover-activity-cube/-/A-50026572
11. https://www.target.com/p/vtech-musical-rhymes-book/-/A-11395269
12. https://www.target.com/p/learning-resources-pretend-play-sliceable-fruits-veggies/-/A-51937228
13. https://www.target.com/p/munchkin-bath-crayons-5ct/-/A-13991508
14. https://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-brilliant-basics-rock-a-stack/-/A-14773010
15. https://www.target.com/p/fisher-price-baby-s-first-blocks/-/A-14774376
Basic Activities/Toys for kids between 2-3 years
Free coloring/scribbling (an easel is a great idea, great for shoulder stability)
Paper Tearing
Play doh (great way to introduce scissors, BLC-rolling into a ball)
Building with medium-small blocks (visual motor skills)
Rice and Bean Bin/Sensory bins in general (great way to work on fine motor skills)
1. Scissor tongs (handy scoopers-you can find them on Amazon)
2. Empty spice containers
3. Beading
4. Animals
5. Regular tongs (jumbo tweezers-you can find them on Amazon)
6. Stacking cups
7. For sensory bin ideas and boundary setting- https://busytoddler.com/2016/12/introducing-toddlers-to-sensory-bins/
8. More sensory bin ideas- https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/all-about-sensory-bins-5-things-need-know/
Pretend food/dress up (symbolic play)
Finger painting (finger isolation/stability)
Bowling- promotes hand/eye coordination
Medium to small sized balls- promotes hand/eye coordination
Duplo legos- promotes visual motor skills and grasping skills
Puzzles- promotes visual motor skills
Magnetic letters- promotes letter recognition
Brands I love for this age: Melissa and Doug, Vtech, Leapfrog, Learning Resources
Specific toys I love for this age:
1. https://www.target.com/p/melissa-38-doug-food-fun-combine-38-dine-dinners-blue/-/A-52034789
2. https://www.target.com/p/melissa-doug-scoop-serve-ice-cream-set/-/A-50696931
3. https://www.target.com/p/melissa-38-doug-rainbow-caterpillar-bowling-set/-/A-50696728
4. https://www.target.com/p/googly-massive-inflatable-toy-ball/-/A-54007620
9. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KW5FZMG?ref_=fly_sa_pdt_rwt_stet_u_2y4y_pdc_166359011_B07KW5FZMG
10. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J2WA0TI?ref_=fly_sa_pdt_rwt_stet_u_2y4y_pdc_166359011_B00J2WA0TI
11. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KG3WYI2?ref_=fly_sa_pdt_rwt_stet_u_2y4y_pdc_166269011_B00KG3WYI2
Do you have to buy a gift for an infant or baby this holiday season and don’t know what to get? Fear not! Here are some toy ideas, brands, and then actual favorites of mine that will hopefully help you out! Enjoy!
Toy Ideas for kids between 6 and 12 months
Sensory bags- great for sensory exploration
Ring stacker- perfect to promote 2 handed play and early visual motor skills
Musical instruments- rattles, fun for basic imitation (7 months we look at basic imitation with musical instruments)
Medium-Large blocks- perfect for early grasping skills and visual motor skills
Teething rings- because kids put everything in their mouths
Scarves/blankets- great for peek a boo and visual tracking (watching the scarves fall)
Bubbles- visual tracking and sensory experience
Medium sized ball/Bumpy Ball- early object manipulation/ball skills
Tunnel- perfect for promoting crawling!
Cardboard books (heavy duty)/soft books- promotes early interest in reading and visual motor skills
Stacking cups- promotes early visual motor skills
Simple peg board- promotes early visual motor and grasping skills
Blocks (medium to large)- promotes early grasping skills and visual motor skills
Cause and Effect toys- helps promote intentional play
Toy Brands I love for this age: Fisher Price, Lamaze, The First Years, iPlay, Vtech, Baby Einstein, Sassy
Specific toys I love:
This is a question that I get all the time. It’s understandable, this can be confusing! So here we go, I’ll try my best to explain in a way that doesn’t bore you straight off this page haha.
Each person is born with multiple senses that affect how we function on a day to day basis. You could probably name a few off the top of your head right now: vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. While these are all correct, there are two other senses that can also affect a person’s ability to function that we don't often hear about. These senses are the proprioceptive sense and the vestibular sense. Since you might not be as familiar with these last two senses, here is some additional information.
The proprioceptive sense is made up of our joints, muscles and ligaments. This sense helps us understand where our body parts are and what they are doing, even if we cannot see them. For example, if my hand is behind my back I can still tell that I am making a fist or waving. If your child is having a harder time interpreting this sense they may appear to be clumsy and often bump into other people or objects more than other children their age.
The vestibular sense is made up of the organs inside our inner ear. This sense helps us understand balance and movement and where our body is in relation to the surface of the earth. When we have fluid in our ears, or a head cold we often feel “dizzy”, and have a more difficult time navigating through our daily life. This can be how it feels to people, or children, who may have a hard time interpreting vestibular input. A child who is having a harder time interpreting this sense may need to move more or resist movement more than other children their age.
All of these senses (vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, vestibular and proprioceptive) are constantly sending information to the brain, the brain is then processing the information and relaying to the body what needs to be done in order to react appropriately. If one of these senses is “out of balance” or “off” (over or under responsive) then it can cause confusion in the child and the child may react in a way that is not appropriate. For example, if a child is sensitive to touch, they may over respond to touch by jumping away or crying out, or if a child needs more tactile input they may touch others or objects more than other children their age.
Many times, a child who has deficits in their sensory system tend to have a harder time in school and at home. Occupational therapy can help by pinpointing which sensory system may be under or over responsive and provide that child, and family, with strategies to help the child grow and thrive.
There, have I lost you? I hope not! However, if I did, here are some additional websites that may help:)
https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/sensory-integration/
https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/sensory-processing-myths/
https://www.spdstar.org/basic/understanding-sensory-processing-disorder
Keeping the “Happy” in Happy Halloween:
Tips for a safe and happy holiday!
1. Stay in a group and communicate where you are going ahead of time in case someone gets separated.
2. Remember reflective tape for costumes and/or trick-or-treat bags. This will help your child remain visible in the dark!
3. Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
4. Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
5. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.
6. Never cut across yards or use alleys. These are less lit and your child could trip on something they don’t see.
7. Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.
8. Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing trick-or-treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!
9. A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage (hopefully haha) youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
10. If possible, wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely look at all treats and throw away any that are spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious.
Looking for something to do with leftover candy?
Donate!
1. Treats for troops! www.soldiersangels.com
2. Halloween Candy Buy Back. www.halloweencandybuyback.com
3. Operation Gratitude. www.opeerationgratitude.com
4. Operation Shoebox. www.operationshoebox.com
5. .Operation Stars and Stripes. www.operationstarsandstripes.com
6. Ronald McDonald House Charities. www.rmhc.org
Have a safe and happy Halloween from all of us here at FUNdamentals!
Tips to help your child adjust to the time change
Full disclosure, this will be my first “fall back” as a mother. From what everyone says, this upcoming time change won’t be fun. As I’ve begun to dread what is about to happen, I thought maybe there are some tips out there that could help ease this transition, and guess what guys, there are!
I’ve cited two websites:
https://www.parents.com/kids/sleep/tips/daylight-saving-time/
and
https://www.drstevesilvestro.com/helping-your-child-adjust-to-daylight-saving-time
Each suggest similar ideas/strategies and I’ve summarized them below:) Please enjoy and good luck out there!
Take baby steps! About 4 days out, start changing bedtimes and mealtimes in 15 minute increments at a time. You can make this a longer stretch if you feel like 4 days isn’t enough.
Control the lights. Try turning off electronics and closing blinds 30-60 minutes before bed. This will help activate your child’s natural melatonin. On the reverse, make sure to use light, natural is best, to help wake your child up in the morning.
Stick with your routine, whatever that may be! Children thrive off routine and sticking with yours will help them settle into the new time as best they can.
Get enough sleep now! By making sure your child is well rested, they should be able to tackle a shift in routine better. So make sure they get a good night sleep on Friday and Saturday!
Have patience! Know that for the next week or so they may be grumpy due to their internal clock feeling off.
I hope this helps, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll forget to do all of this and suffer the consequences haha.
OT Activity of the Day: Pumpkin Dough
Target Age Range: Whoever won’t eat it.
This is a great activity that promotes fine motor skills (pouring, measuring, and dumping) and sensory motor play. Pumpkin dough also helps promote hand strength and endurance as you play! This is an activity that we found on Tools to Grow, a great OT resource:).
Enjoy!
OT Activity of the Day: Letter Web
Target Age Range: 4 and up
This was a great activity for handwriting practice! For the younger kids you can work on letter identification and writing upper and lower case letters in isolation and for the older kiddos you can use words:).
To set up, we used a spider web, one similar to what you can get to decorate your house with during this time of year, and then pipe cleaner spiders. We set up the letters/words around the web and then had kids step back and throw the pipe cleaner spiders. Whichever letter or word was hit was the one they had to write. Not only was this great handwriting practice, but this was great over and under hand throwing practice!
Enjoy!