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!

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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.

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Thanks :) 

A Fun Fine Motor Craft Idea for Kids....Baa Baa!!!

This DIY fine motor craft idea for kids is simple to make and your children will love it!  It's the perfect way to strengthen those small hand muscles and improve fine motor skills, and it's super cute :)

Items needed:

Small plastic container (an Ensure container works well)
Cotton balls
Straws
Construction paper
Black Duct tape
Glue
White pom poms
Tongs

Cut a hole about the size of a penny in the bottle (adults only).  Wrap the straws in Duct tape and attach them to the plastic bottle (like legs).

Have the child cut the sheep head out of black construction paper and attach two googly eyes, or make the eyes out of construction paper.  Then have the child glue cotton balls all over the body of the sheep. Don't forget to make him a tail!

Now for the fun part! Have the child put the cotton balls through the hole in the sheep's back.  He can use his fingers to work on a pincer grasp, or he can use the tongs to put the cotton balls into the container.  Either way, your child is working those fine motor skills. Because one hand is needed to stabilize the sheep, the activity is great for bilateral skills as well!

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Back to School Craft Idea for Kids!

This fun back to school craft idea for kids will be a hit, especially for your animal loving students.  This cute lion art project is fun and easy to complete!  Start with the template below.

Supplies needed:
Lion template (see above)
Several yellow cupcake paper baking cups
Construction paper- blue and yellow.
Scissors and glue
Thin magic markers

Use the template and have the child trace the body and head of the lion onto the yellow construction paper, then have him cut them both out.  Provide assistance as needed. Cutting along the line for the tail is quite challenging.  Have the student use the markers to draw the eyes, nose, mouth on the face and the markings for the legs and toes.  Glue the body to the blue construction paper, then glue two or three or the cups where the head goes.  Glue the decorated lion face in place.  Cut several small strips from another cupcake paper baking cup and glue them on the tip of the lion's tail (see below).

Here is your lion!

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Browse my blog for more craft activities for kids!

Sensory Lap Pads!

Check out these "sensory lap pads" made by members of the Memphis Area Modern Quilt Guild!  This is such a creative idea! Members of the guild sewed these as a service project.

The wonderful thing about them is that they are portable! Just fold and snap and you can take it anywhere.

 

This will be my next sewing project!!!

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