Under the Sea Fine Motor Activity!

This is an awesome activity because it’s simple, inexpensive and fun for any toddler or young child. It is a great way for a child to work on the following skills: fine motor, finger isolation, pincer grasp, and visual-motor skills. It is also a good way to address following directions, paying attention, and naming colors. 

Materials Needed:

• colorful construction or card stock paper
• a marker or pen
• scissors
• colored dot stickers

Simply draw and cut out your child’s favorite sea creature, draw dots that are the same size at the stickers, and it’s time to peel and place the dots! Tip: You can challenge your child and work on color identification by instructing them to find and place a certain color dot!

 

 

DIY Froggy Puppet: A Fun Craft!!!

Here is a fun activity to work on fine motor and visual motor skills! It can be graded to be a developmentally appropriate activity for children of different ages and skill levels.

Supplies Needed:
Red & green construction paper
Red & green small paper plates
Google eyes
Glue gun
Scissors

Fold the red paper plate.

Cut the green paper plate in half as pictured below.

 

Using a glue gun, glue the edges of the white sides of the green and red paper plates together. Do not put any glue on the center of the plates. This area needs to be open because that is where the fingers will be placed to manipulating the puppet.

Nest, cut out a long red strip for the frog's tongue. Then cut out the eyes using the green construction paper as pictured below. Glue the googly eyes on the green paper pieces. I usually put X's on the spot where the child is supposed to put the glue.

Roll the the red strip of construction paper on a pencil to make it curl. Have the child hold either end of the pencil and twist it for a nice bilateral task. See the photo below.

Glue the eyes and tongue to the proper location on the paper plates. Once the glue dries, the puppet is ready!

Awesome DIY Holiday Wreath!

Here are the instructions to make this awesome DIY Holiday Wreath!

You will need:

Scissors
Glue Gun
Construction paper
Pen
Glue Stick
Poster board or paper plate

Cut the construction paper into squares.  For the back row, the papers should be approximately 5-inch squares. Reduce the size of the squares in each row by 1-inch. For example, the next row in should be 4-inch squares, the next will be 3-inch squares, and the interior cones are 2-inch squares.

Roll each piece of paper into a cones shape (one end rolled tighter than the other)

Use glue gun to glue the tighter ends together.

If using a poster board, cut it into a 10 to 12-inch circle.

Starting on the outside edges, glue the cones in place.

Trim the ends as needed.

Your wreath is ready!

Adapted from:
 http://frogprincepaperie.com/tutorial-paper-cone-christmas-wreath-how-to/#

DIY Plant Holder: A Therapy Activity

This is a great therapy activity for fine motor skills!  An adult can provide assistance as needed.  It's a perfect gift for a child to give their mom as a birthday or Mother's Day gift!  

Materials:

Cord/String, Plastic straws, Lightweight pot for plant, Metal O-ring, Plant, Beads

Tools:

Scissors and Measuring tape

Instructions:

1.     Cut your straws to size: cut off the bendy end of the straw, then cut the longer portion that is left into four equal size lengths.  You will need a total of sixteen pieces of straw this length. Cut the bendy end portion of the straw in half.  We will need a total of four pieces of straw that length.

2.     Cut four pieces of cord six feet long each

3.     Loop all four pieces of cord through the o-ring so the o-ring is in the middle of the cords.

4.     Tie a single knot in all four cords close to the o-ring.  There will now be eight strands of cord hanging from the knotted o-ring.

5.     About two feet from the knot, take two strands of cord that are close to each other and tie a knot. Repeat this step with the remaining strings. There will be four knots total with two cords each all knotted together the same distance from the top.

6.     Take eight of the longer pieces of straw that we previously cut and slide them over each cord strand.

7.     Now group the cords in four sets of two again, making sure that the cords are not grouped as they were before.  Tie knots in these new four sets of two cords as close to the straws as possible.

8.     Take eight of the longer pieces of straw that we previously cut and slide them over each cord strand.

9.     Take the four sets of cords that are already grouped together and tie another knot in each set below the straws.

10.  Now, take eight of the shorter pieces of straw that we previously cut and slide them over each cord strand.

11.  Tie all eight of the cord strands together in one big knot close to the small straw pieces.

12.  (Optional) Slide beads on each cord strand and tie a knot to secure the beads.

13.  Cut all of the remaining hanging cords to the same length to make a tassel.

14.  Place the potted plant inside the hanger. Hang using the o-ring.

15.  Enjoy!

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Research Reveals that Gardening Improves Attention Span for Kids with ADHD!

A study from the University of Illinois revealed that green surroundings allow children with ADHD to better able concentrate, pay attention, and improve overall functioning. Of course, we’ve all know how important physical activity is, and planting/gardening is a true multi-sensory experience!

Soda Bottle Planter: A Therapeutic Activity

Materials:        Plastic soda bottle                   Elmer’s Glue

                        Scissors                                   Paintbrush

                        Paint (acrylic)                          Sharpie

                        Potting Soil                             Picture(s)

                        Plant                                        Large spoon or spade

                        Ruler

Instructions:

1.     Remove plastic label from bottle with scissors.

2.     Rinse empty soda bottle with soap and water and allow to dry.

3.     Measure about 4-5 inches from the bottom of the bottle all the way around and make a line with the Sharpie.

4.     Use scissors to poke a hole into the bottle on the line you just made.

5.     Cut on line to remove the top of the bottle.

6.     Use scissors to poke several holes in the bottom of the bottle to allow water drainage.

7.     Use paintbrush and paint color of your choice and allow to dry.

8.     Apply glue to back of picture(s) and adhere to side of bottle.

9.     Scoop soil into bottle, leaving about 1 inch from the top.

10.  Dig a small hole in soil and insert plant.

11.  Pack soil and add additional soil as necessary.

12.  Place in a sunny spot and enjoy! (and remember to water when needed, per instructions!) 

Optional Twists:

·    Use scissors with decorative edges to create a pattern at the top of the bottle or around pictures

·    Use top of bottle as a funnel for scooping the soil

·    Paint a cheap dollar store plate to use as a saucer to catch drainage from watering or soil that leaks

·    Use different sizes of plastic bottles to make smaller or larger planters

·    Plant seeds to watch them develop and grow

 The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at 
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

DIY Cat Toy: A Fun Craft for Kids!

This adorable "cat scratch toy" is a fun craft for kids.  It's fairly simple to make, and it requires fine motor skills and dexterity, which make it therapeutic!  Anyone who has a kitten or cat will be motivated to make this for their pet.

 

Materials Needed: Various buttons, Styrofoam mold (pictured: sphere), colorful pipe cleaners, and a hot glue gun.

1. Begin wrapping pipe cleaners at the base of Styrofoam applying glue as you go. Use caution with the hot glue to prevent burns. Provide close supervision if a child is a assisting.
2. You may wish to alternate colors.
3. Thread several pipe cleaners through the holes of the buttons. 
4. Once the ball is completely covered, take the pipe cleaners with the buttons and stick them into the foam.
5. Twist the pipe cleaners into any shape or angle that you prefer.  Ta da…you’ve made a fun toy for your cat! 

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at 
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Fun Holiday Craft for Kids!

This is a fun holiday craft for kids that is totally cute!  When a child is making this spool holiday wreath, she is working on all kinds of skills, including fine motor skills, bilateral skills, cutting, gluing, and eye hand coordination. This wreath will make a nice gift for Grandma or any other special person!

Follow these simple instructions to make this holiday craft!

Supplies Needed:
Fabric scraps
Empty spools (thread)
Ribbon
Glue
Sturdy craft wire (you can also use pipe cleaners, but they will need to be doubled and twisted so that they'll hold the circular shape of the wreath)

1. Cut the strips of fabric to fit the inside of the spools.

2. Wrap the fabric strips around the spools and glue them in place.

3. Thread the wire through the center holes in the spools and form the wire into a circular shape, and twist the ends of the wire together and tuck them into a spool. 

4. Tie a bow around the bottom or top of the wreath and use a thin strip of ribbon as a "hanger." 
- Hang the wreath on your tree or anywhere in the house as a festive decoration!

Cute Christmas Craft for Kids

Cute Christmas Craft for Kids

Supplies needed:

Narrow strips of colorful fabric strips
One pipe cleaner

This is a fun and easy DIY Christmas ornament!  Just start by shaping the pipe cleaner into a circle and secure the ends tightly by twisting them.

Loop each piece of fabric around the pipe cleaner.  (See the video below.)

 Continue until the wreath is full of fabric strips.

Ziplock Bag Teaching and Learning Quilt: Perfect for a Visual Schedule

Materials:

·      Sandwich sized Ziplock bags

·      Clear packaging tape

·      Colorful Masking/Duck Tape (design of your choice)

·      Pictures, educational materials, or other items that you wish to put in the slots

Instructions:

1.   Decide how many Ziplock pockets that you would like for your quilt to contain.

2.  Lay the Ziplock bags out on a flat surface in rows make a large square (For example, 9 Ziplock bags will make 3 rows with 3 bags in each row.)

3. Using clear packaging tape, tape the back side of the Ziplock bags together.  Tape straight down the back of the bags between the first and second columns, the second and third columns, and then continue taping between additional columns from top to bottom and between the rows from left to right. (Only apply this tape to the back sides of the bags to allow the bags to be opened from the front.)

4.  Place strips of the decorative tape straight down between each row where the bags meet on the front of the quilt.  Use one large strip to tape from the top of the square to the bottom of the square.  Repeat this until you have taped between each column.

5.  Next, apply the tape across the bags from left to right where the bags meet.  Be sure to not tape the flap down to the bag above it.  You will line the top side of the tape up with the top of the flap where you open the Ziplock bag and tape across from left to right.

6.  Finally, use the decorative tape to tape around the outside of the big square.  Once done, each individual square will be outlined with the decorative tape. 

7.  You should still be able to open your individual Ziplock pockets on the front of the quilt to slide in the pictures, quotes, instructions, or any other item of your choosing.

8.  If you wish, you may use the same instructions for applying the decorative tape to the back side of your Ziplock bag quilt in the same pattern to make the back side as visually appealing as the front side of your quilt.

      This fun teaching and Learning Quilt can be used in a variety of ways!  You can use it as a visual schedule, or to list the steps of a task that you want your child to learn.  It can also be used to list other visual instructions. It's fun to fill the slots with pictures of family, past trips, or hobbies.  Use your imagination and come up with other ideas for this Ziplock Bag Teaching and Learning 

Quilt.

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at
 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Craft Activity for Kids: DIY Paint Palette

Do you know a child that loves to paint?  If so, here is an easy DIY paint palette! An egg carton can serve as a simple paint palette, with each egg slot holding a different color of paint.  

Painting Activity for Kids:  Tape a large sheet of white poster paper to the wall. Instruct the child to dip his index finger into the paint and to draw on the paper.  Provide hand over hand guidance at first (if needed) to build confidence and comfort level with the activity, then begin to fade your assistance. Demonstrate how to draw simple shapes to work on the ability to follow simple commands.  If appropriate, the child can practice writing his name and other simple words, or have him draw something that he loves, such as his car, a pet, or family member.  This is fun and allows for free expression!

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at
 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Craft Activity for Kids: Tissue Box Guitar

 

 Materials Needed: tape, tissue box, colorful paper, paper towel roll, rubber bands, and scissors

Instructions:

1.     To prepare the tissue box, cut the plastic protector out of the middle.

2.     Outline the all sides of the tissue box and paper towel onto the paper.

3.     Cut out the outline and line them up to their appropriate side to confirm proper alignment.

4.     Trace and cut the center of the tissue box on the top piece of paper.

5.     On the short side of the tissue box, cut a circle to fit the dimensions of the paper towel roll.

6.     Cover the paper towel roll in its correlating paper using tape, and stuff it into the hole designated on the tissue box.

7.     Tape the paper towel roll into place on the tissue box’s internally and externally.

8.     Tape all sides of the tissue box with the paper cut outs.

9.     Cut a small slit into one side of the paper towel roll as close to the tissue box as possible.

10. Place a rubber band in the slit and wrap it around the tissue box until it is touching both ends of this box.

11. Place at least one rubber band on either side of the initial rubber band. (depending on the size of your tissue box you may apply numerous rubber bands)

Purpose: This is a wonderful craft activity for kids! This guitar provides unique sounds with each stroke. Playing the guitar uses fine motor skills such as cutting, using tape, and placing the rubber bands. By decreasing the instructions to only a few steps at a time, any child can build their attention to activities while working on other skills. Many children will find this kids craft enjoyable!  Cutting the circle out of the tissue box for the paper towel roll can be difficult and should be done by the parent/therapist.

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at
 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Activity: A Clothespin Wreath

Are you looking for pediatric occupational therapy activities? Craft activities for kids are fun and are great for a variety of skills. Check out this clothespin wreath!  This is a fun art project for kids, and it's also appropriate as a toddler activity.  

Materials Needed:

1 package of wooden clothespins

A sturdy paper plate

Paint and paint brushes

Scissors

Instructions: 

1. Have the child cut a circular hole in the middle of the plate.  If the child is learning to cut on a line, draw the circle using a brightly colored magic marker and instruct her to cut on the line. 

2. Use the paintbrush and paint the plate and wooden clothespins any colors the child prefers. 

3. Once the plate is dry, the clothes pins need to be placed along the rim until there is no more room on the plate. 

Squeezing and placing the clothespins improves finger strength and dexterity, and the wreath makes a lovely gift for any mom!

Browse my blog for more craft activities for kids!

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The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at
 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Adaptive Card Holder for Kids

This adaptive card holder for kids is inexpensive and super easy to make!  A playing card holder is helpful for children with limited coordination, or it comes in handy for "hands-free" card playing!

Materials Needed:

·      Ice cube trays for graded up adaptive equipment

·      1 Styrofoam block

·      Hot glue sticks and hot glue gun

·      Suction cups to secure ice cube trays to table

·      Playing cards

Adaptive Card Holder for Kids Instructions:

Place ice cube trays upside down on table.  Place the individual playing cards on the edge of the ice cube tray as pictured below.  Enjoy the card game!

Stacked Adaptive Card Holder for Kids Instructions:

1.     Turn 3 ice cube trays upside down on the table.

2.     Use hot glue gun to glue each long edge of tray to the bottom tray below it creating a staggered step.  Place the individual playing cards on the edges of the trays.

Raised Adaptive Card Holder for Kids Instructions:

1.     Turn 3 ice cube trays upside down on table.

2.     Use hot glue gun to glue each long edge of tray to the bottom tray below it creating a staggered step.

3.     Place individual playing cards on the edges of the trays.  Hot glue the staggered ice cube tray to the styrofoam block to raise it off of the table.

The project above was completed by one of our Master's of Occupational Therapy students at
 The University of Tennessee Health Science Center and posted with permission.

Dear Readers, If you have found my blog to be helpful, please click here and "like" my facebook page... 
Thanks :)