Play ball!

It's still nice outside and perfect weather to spend time playing catch with your kids.  It amazes me, and others, that kids these days do not know how to catch or throw a ball.  In working with preschoolers, it is shocking just how many kids have no idea how to catch a ball thrown gently to them.  Obviously, many of them have not ever been given the opportunity to learn this important skill.  There are many benefits to learning to catch and throw balls.  Eye-hand coordination is key to catching a ball.  Muscle strength and coordination play a part, as well.  If playing for a period of time, endurance is increasing.  Playing with another child, or even adult, is building social skills and the skills necessary for team sports.  So, please get out and play ball with your children.  It is not only fun for the two of you, but great bonding time between a parent and child.

Having trouble cutting?

How can I strengthen my child's hands and teach two handed coordination?

• warm-up prior to cutting with playdough or an exercise ball
• work on targeting pincer strength and the open-shut motion needed for cutting by using tongs or children's chopsticks, he can sort pieces of cereal into bowls while you're cooking dinner
• play with things that require both hands, like nuts and bolts, stretching rubber bands around an upside-down cup, wind-up toys, kaleidoscopes, stringing beads, lacing cards (make your own by punching holes in index cards and using a shoelace)

How should I approach cutting?

• try cutting snips off a thin strip of paper first, then cutting across wider strips
• then try cutting lines, curves, and shapes, reminding them to turn the paper with the opposite hand
• provide a verbal cue of "op-en, shut, them" to pace your child
• make a special box of random items like tin foil, wax paper, string, anything that's fun to cut
• draw thick marker lines around pictures in those toy catalogs that will be coming out soon

My child is really having trouble, what kinds of adaptive scissors are out there?

Pocketful of Therapy carries a wide range of products and many types of adaptive scissors.  There are loop scissors for a child with a gross grasp, but little dexterity, self-opening scissors, tiny scissors, and even ones with extra holes for adult fingers to slide in behind the child's to help them learn to cut.  Adaptive Products carries adaptive scissors, including table top mounted ones and ones that are battery operated.  They also carry a range of workbooks with specific cutting activities.  Happy cutting!

Pocketful of Therapy - Scissors for Children
Achievement Products - Adaptive Scissors

Appropriate shoes for school

School has started, or is going to start in the next few days/weeks.  So, I am going to pass along some words from my Physical Therapist colleagues- Please have your child wear appropriate footwear to school!  Preschool and elementary children spend parts of every day on the playground or in a gym.  So, please put safe and functional foot wear on your child.  Appropriate foot wear includes sneakers (that fit- don't buy up a few sizes thinking to save money by wearing them longer- never works since kids ruin sneakers quickly) and tied, rubber-soled shoes.  While little girls in flip flops or dressy shoes may look cute, it is not safe for them to wear these types of shoes to school.  Dressy shoes are slippery and can cause your daughter to slip and fall, or to hang back and not run and play (This goes for boys and dressy shoes, as well).  The dangers of flip flops, for both boys and girls, are self-explanatory.  Although I think crocs are on the way out, there are still children wearing them to school  Some schools have rules banning these ill-fitting, non-supportive shoes and the PTs I work with agree that they are not good, supportive shoes for children to wear to school.  I feel that Crocs have there place- maybe to wear to swim practice or around the house, or on errands, but not at school.  If it's raining and you want your child to wear rain boots to school (or snow boots in winter), be sure to send in sneakers for him/her to change into. 
Part of your child's education is gross motor (in elementary and preschools) and you don't want to jeopardize this essential element of his education by allowing him/her to wear inappropriate footwear.  Gross motor allows that movement break that young children need  to fully function in the classroom.  Research has shown an increase in attention and brain function if gross motor breaks are worked into the school day.  So, allow your child to participate in the offered gross motor times so that he/she will function to the best of his/her ability in the classroom.

Ride Bikes

My daughter has been wanting to ride her bike every night now that it is getting cooler and I realized just how great an activity it is.  I remember riding my bike all over the neighborhood and beyond when I was growing up.  The neighbor kids and I would ride almost every day.  But it is not quite as popular an activity now with all the other activities out there to entertain our kids.  Our kids have so many activities and toys to choose from that they just don't ride their bikes as much anymore.  Kids have electric scooters, skateboards, video games, all the i stuff (pads, pods, phones),  tv and all the other electronic devices.  But bike riding offers many benefits that these other things just don't offer, such as coordination, physical endurance, visual motor control and socialization if done with a group.  We hear it all the time that kids don't get outside to play like they should.  I say get them out riding their bikes.  And, parents, go with them!  We all could use a little extra exercise, and it is great bonding for you and your child. 

Painting with Toothbrushes

This is a great idea for many reasons.  Roll out a long piece of paper.  Have your child lay on their stomach to paint.  This provides great weight bearing through the upper extremities for strengthening.  In this pictures, some of the children are using paint brushes, and some are using tooth brushes.  Try using old toothbrushes for a different way to paint.  The kids will find it fun.  This is a great social activity, as well, if doing it in a group.  The kids will need to share and are able to talk to each other while they paint.  Older kids can collaborate on the picture they would like to draw, then divvy up the work. 

Go to the Playground

Summer is a great time to head out to play.  Take the kids to the playground for some great gross motor play!  Playgrounds provide lots of room to run and jump and have fun equipment to slide on and climb on.  Swinging is a great sensory and coordination activity.  Improve muscle strength and coordination by climbing and using the monkey bars (although not a great idea to let little children dangle by their arms- provide some support).  Bring a ball and throw it to your child while he is sliding down the slide.  Playgrounds provide lots of gross motor fun, but also provide great opportunities to practice social skills with the other kids at the playground.  Allow your child to play with the other kids and have fun!

Swing Kick Ball

Here's a game that my daughters made up- swing kick ball.  It's simple, yet fun to play and can be played with only 2 people or with teams.  Same concept as regular kick ball, except the kicker sits on a swing to kick.  The person/people in the field try to catch the ball to get 3 outs.  Lots of fun for the kids, plus it is great for visual motor skills, eye hand coordination, balance and endurance.  Give it a try! 

Marshmallow Shooters

Well I was in charge of activities for a portion of a Cub Scouting trip last weekend and this one was a hit!  For little kids and the ahem, grownups too.  I precut the PVC pipe with a PVC pipe cutter (a hacksaw also works well) so that the kids could follow the instruction sheet themselves, and one other tip, stale marshmallows worked a tad better the next morning than straight from the bag.  It needs to be mini marshmallows and half inch PVC pipe.  To give you an idea of cost, it was $42 at Lowes to make 15 of these.  And it worked better than the 'official' mini marshmallow shooter we have.

If you don't want an all out battle try shooting into a friend's mouth (from a safe distance, of course) or shoot targets in the yard, but even the littlest of the crew loved the hide, seek, and chase version of battling.  It works best to load the marshmallows right into the mouthpiece, but be sure to tell them NOT to suck in first.  It also works, but they don't travel as far, when you place the marshmallow near the tip of the other end.  I've included here the plan sheets I gave the kids...

Have Fun!

Scooter Board Train

And yet another fun way to work out your kids' muscles on a scooter board... take two large cardboard boxes, paint them up and zip tie one scooter board to the middle bottom of one.  Then cut out half the bottom of the front one and zip tie another scooter board to the rear (what's left) of the bottom of the box.  Tie the two boxes together with some rope laced through the scooter boards and you have one fun train!  We used some styrofoam packing scraps to make a headlight and tail end.  Get as creative as you want... we tend to keep adding things as we play with it.  Load up the back train car with another kid, stuffed animals, or cargo and have your child sit in the front one and use his feet to scoot around.  If you cut windows in the engine, they can reach through and hold into the scooter board handles for assistance.  Great for trunk stability and extremity strengthening!

Scooter Fun

Kids love scooter boards!  And, they are great for upper body strengthening and coordination!  Have your child lay on the board and pull the board with his/her hands, or have your child sit on the board and pull it using his/her feet.  If you have access to a few scooters, have races.  Or, if you only have one scooter, time how long it takes the child to get to a certain point, and have them try to beat other children's times.  Or, just let your child ride the scooter.

 

Benefits of Skating for Sensory Seekers

OK, so I've been recommending this a lot lately...  skating, whether it be ice or roller.  There are many benefits to trying this activity.  Great heavy work (got a high energy or sensory seeking kid?), balance, and self-esteem boost to name a few.  Your child will sleep well that night!  The trick is to find a place that will let you and your child approach the challenging task in your own way so as not to frustrate your child with too great a demand.

• Roller rinks will tighten the wheels so they roll less... try tightening them down so your child can walk on the wheels at first, then slowly loosen them.  It might take a session or two to get to gliding, but this way they can advance at their own speed.
• Although they may seem harder, some kids respond better to rollerblades type wheels all in a row vs. the traditional roller skate two wheels in front two in the back.  Try both kinds to see which one your child can move better.
• Ice rinks often use metal frames or even big orange cones for the kids to hang onto while they're learning to skate.  It is harder than roller for sure, but if you're up for the challenge or a hockey or figure skating fan it's worth a try.
• If your child is pretty much skating, but still nervous, try holding a wooden spoon between the two of you... when you and he feel he's ready, you let go of the spoon.  Sometimes they'll keep right on skating holding onto that spoon, watching them realize they're doing it alone is great!

Challenging himself on the ice!

Resting on the boards... skating is hard work!

Here's another fun way to use an exercise ball.  Have your kids play catch, or volley, with it.  Have them throw it so they hit,or catch, above their heads to work on upper extremity strengthening and stability.  This is good for eye-hand coordination, and works on visual motor skills.

Calming Activities for Preschool

Calming Activities for Preschool

Prior to or upon arrival to school

• Walk to school if that is an option, carry a heavy backpack or pull a wagon, push a stroller with heavy objects or another person in it.  
• Use a scooter, scooter board, roller skates or a bike to get to school
• Open (heavy) doors independently 
• Various animal walks incorporating crawling, jumping, arm movements, etc.

Circle Time or seated tasks

• Hold squeeze toys, silky fabrics, vibrating toy, small amount of playdough
• Sit on a ball, rocking chair, bean bag, or almost fully deflated beach ball on a chair
• Do chair push ups while sitting (place palms on seat of chair and push body upward) 
• Hold objects with weight (books, cans) in lap
• Tape a circle on the floor or use a carpet square where child is to sit
• Allow child to lie on stomach on floor 
• Have child slide or carry chair to circle area
• Incorporate animal walks (frog, bear, crab, snake etc.) to provide movement to seated tasks
• Incorporate reward system (small piece of gummy or crunchy candy, stickers, stamp to hand, high five, verbal praise) intermittently for appropriate behavior.  Be sure to simply explain appropriate/inappropriate behavior

Heavy work throughout the day (center time/guided free play)

• Playdough, dough, putty (rolling pin, flatten, pull apart, knead, push together, push pegs/coins into it, hammer)
• Dry noodles, rice, beans, birdseed, sand, water (pour, touch, mix)
• Mop, sweep, vacuum
• Use hole punch 
• Finger-paint, shaving creme
• Tweezers
• Blow toys (straws, instruments, cotton balls)
• Vibrating pens, drawing on textured surface (sandpaper, bubble wrap, Lego table)
• Standing at an easel for painting, drawing, cutting
• Resistive manipulatives (pop beads, Legos, foam puzzles)
• Wear heavy backpack during this time (be sure to remove prior to gross motor play)
• Laundry play (fold, iron, carry laundry basket, slide another child sitting in the basket)
  instruments (marching, banging, blowing)
• Obstacle course
• Make a quiet area with pillows, beanbag, tent or small child pool with balls in it (ball pit), low light, calming music, books, squeeze toys or vibration, silky fabrics for self calming
• Row your boat (stand or sit holding another’s hands, rock back and forth)

Heavy work for outside/gym

• Bikes, scooters, scooter board (pull another child as they are on their stomach or have child hold rope as they are pulled on their stomach on scooter board), roller-skates
• Swinging, monkey bars, playground equipment, tug of war
• Shovel snow, rake leaves
• Spray bottles, chalk, blow bubbles, paint walls/ground with paintbrush and water
• Obstacle course (jump, roll, run, crawl, etc.)
• Wagon pull and wagon rides
• Catch, kick, throw, t-ball
• Fly a kite
• Sand and water play

Snack/Meal Time

• Have the child be a snack helper to pass out cups, plates, etc.
• Wipe off the tables using large motions
• Carry heavy cans of juice, pitchers
• Chair push-ups
• Crunchy or gummy candy, Twizzlers, milkshakes through a straw
• Stack chairs at the end of meal times

Nap/Bedtime

• Quiet music, white noise, low lights
• Rocking, vibration, deep massage
• Heavy blanket on legs, wrap in blanket or youth sleeping bag
• Lie in hammock or beanbag
• Hold silky fabric, Taggie blanket, etc.
• Token rewards (stickers, verbal praise) for staying in bed, on mat
• Page through books

What to DO with all those leftover candy hearts?

Got a lot of conversation hearts left over?  Try these simple games that target fine motor skills:

• Use tongs (children's chopsticks that are connected at the top are great) to sort them out by color
• Sort them out by message for older children
• Place them face down on the table and use thumb and forefinger only to turn them over
• Place one face down in your child's palm and have him turn it over using his fingers only, no other hand allowed!

For a challenging oral motor strengthening activity, try playing with the hearts with straws.  Who can blow one across the masking tape line on the table?  Who can pick one up with their straw? (Hint, you can make the last one easier by cutting the straw shorter.)  Paper straws are safer than the plastic for little kids or kids who tend to have a very strong bite...

I had a parent ask what she could do to increase her son's finger strength since he had difficulty using his fingers to open lids, button buttons, and with controlling his pencil when writing.  This child is not very compliant with adult directed activities, so she wanted a way to strengthen his fingers that wouldn't necessarily be a "task" presented by an adult.  I suggested giving him a baggy filled with a snack, cereal or toy, for him to open.  Allow time for the child to problem solve through this.  You will be surprised how  difficult a task it is for small fingers.

Fidgety Kids Part 2

Here's some more ideas to help your child focus through homework sessions:
Chew gum, or fruit snacks, i.e. one per row of math problems correct...
Wear wrist and/or ankle weights to help ground them...
Wrap a stretchy exercise band around the front chair legs so the child can bounce his heels against it, or slide his feet between the bands and try to swing his legs - this one's great for those who crave deep pressure...
Break up your session with movement, i.e. one run up and down the stairs after X amount of work, or try somersaults, push ups, or jumping jacks...
Attach a finger puppet to the end of the pencil and tell the child to take him for a ride...
Allow the child to stand at an easel instead of sitting for some of the homework...
Send them on an errand in between assignments, i.e. put away laundry, walk the dog, help unload the dishwasher... something that will increase feeling of self-worth while feeding the need to move...
Encourage your child by providing leading questions, ones that help teach the concept but don't provide the exact answer... this can improve a child's self-esteem and view of homework in general if they achieve success themselves.

Stay tuned for more ideas in a future post!

Make an Ornament

Here is a way to let your kids personalize your Christmas tree- make their own ornaments.  It's simple, and fun. All you need is apple sauce and cinnamon.  Use equal parts of each and have your child stir them together.  It should become a thick paste, so you may need to add more cinnamon to thicken it if it is too thin.  Once you have a paste, give your child a ball and have him/her flatten it with their hand and use cookie cutters to form the ornaments.  Then, use a pencil to make a hole to hang the ornaments.  (It is important that you put the hole in the ornament before it hardens)  Let the ornament dry and it is ready to go!  Remember to turn them over every day so the edges don't curl too badly.  Try watering down glue and painting it over the ornament, then sprinkle on some glitter.  You could even tinge the watery-glue with food coloring!

Pick corn

Have left over corn or maze?  Have your kids pick off the kernels, it's a really good fine motor activity!  They can then glue them onto a piece of paper do design a picture.

Coffee or tea squirrel craft

Here's another fun, easy craft involving lots of senses!  Print out a squirrel outline, paint him all sticky with glue and sprinkle tea or coffee grinds on for his fur.  If your child dumps out the whole tea bag in one spot, more fun using pincer grasp to spread it out.  Not to mention all the fine motor work picking those little pesky tea spots off your hands!

Pancake fun

My good friend, and fellow OT, Tamara, shared this creative idea with me.  Add food coloring to pancake batter and have fun!  Make smiley faces, make circles or other shapes.  Have your kids be creative!  Put the batter in squirt bottles and let your kids squeeze out the designs- they will love it!