Supplies Letter bead (Beads in shape of letters, NOT painted or printed on bead) Yarn to thread beads onto Towel or scarf to cover lenght of yarn White board, black board, or paper Dryer erase marker, or appropriate writing implement Procedure 1. Adult sets up sight words on yarn, tying knots appropriatly to prevent movement…
Painting with Bubbles
Supplies Bubble solution (about 1 cup) 1-2 ts each of red, yellow, and blue paint Bubble wand (we used glitter bug, but you can choose your favoirte) 3 bowls to hold bubble solution/paint Paint brushes or spoons to mix paint and bubble solution Mulitple peices of large paper (we used 17” x11”, but you…
Managing screen time in a digital world
Media is taking over our lives. As parents, we need to learn how to create balance for our family, especially if our children have sensory and learning needs.
Rainbow Foam
Supplies 1 can of shaving cream Yellow, blue, and red food coloring 1 large cookie sheet Access to a sink nearby Paper towels or hand towel Procedure Have the child fill a cookie sheet with shaving cream from left to right and top to bottom to reinforce tracking for reading and writing. With the child’s…
Surviving Snows Days as a working mom of a child with special needs
How many 6 am calls have you gotten from school so far? You know, the one that throws off your entire day if you are a working parent? The one that leaves you either frantically rescheduling your appointments for the day or calling every babysitter on your list? Yes, I am talking about a SNOW…
Fine Motor Valentine’s Day Soap Craft
Supplies 1 bar of soap (we used Dove for sensitive skin) 1 box grater with removable lid 1 bowl to hold grated soap 1 tablespoon of warm water 1 medium sized cutting board 1 cookie cutter (approximately 2”x 2” works well) 1 spatula Procedure 1.Set up the grater so that child will pull the…
Make a Popcorn and Cranberry Garland to Improve Fine Motor Skills
Supplies 1 bowl of plain (not butter) popped popcorn 1 package fresh cranberries Thicker thread such as upholstery thread Sewing needle Procedure 1. If using sewing needles is new for your child, demonstrate safe use, pointing out sharp and dull ends of the needle, and safe storage (such as in a pincushion) when not using…
Homemade Pomander Balls
Supplies 1 or more navel oranges Whole cloves Pencil or other child safe object to poke holes in orange Ribbon if desired Procedure 1. Draw lines on oranges to create pattern as desired 2. Push small holes into orange spaced appropriately along lines or for children who need help judging space, use marker dots rather…
Crack Nuts to Improve Fine Motor Skills
Use these Tools to Strengthen Little Hands and Improve Coordination this Holiday Season At the holidays, many families have nuts set out with the appetizers. The Nutcracker Toy Soldier has become a Christmas icon. But in addition to this decorative soldier, there are a variety of fun nutcrackers that children can experiment with during the holidays. …
Give the Gift of Calm: Tools and Tricks for Self Regulation
As information about sensory differences and strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and breathing have become more mainstream, items that OTs have used with kids for years to improve self- regulation are readily available for purchase. Here is a list of recommended items focusing on Rhythm, Pressure, and Respiration, the key components of RESTORING activities….
