Your Kids OT
  • HOME
    • Telehealth OT >
      • Wheel Decide
    • Articles >
      • Activities of Daily Living
      • Technology for OT
      • Bilateral Coordination
      • Cognition and Concepts
      • Executive Functioning
      • Fine Motor Skills
      • Gross Motor Skills
      • Handwriting and Writing
      • Homemade >
        • Arts and Craft
        • Kids in the Kitchen
        • Christmas
      • Play
      • Sensory Modulation Skills
      • Social Emotional Learning and Regulation
      • Visual Perceptual Skills
    • YKOT You-Tube Library
    • Direct Therapy Services
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact >
      • Contact
      • eNewsletter Subscription
  • HOME
    • Telehealth OT >
      • Wheel Decide
    • Articles >
      • Activities of Daily Living
      • Technology for OT
      • Bilateral Coordination
      • Cognition and Concepts
      • Executive Functioning
      • Fine Motor Skills
      • Gross Motor Skills
      • Handwriting and Writing
      • Homemade >
        • Arts and Craft
        • Kids in the Kitchen
        • Christmas
      • Play
      • Sensory Modulation Skills
      • Social Emotional Learning and Regulation
      • Visual Perceptual Skills
    • YKOT You-Tube Library
    • Direct Therapy Services
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact >
      • Contact
      • eNewsletter Subscription

App Review: Lazoo

4/2/2014

 
I adore Lazoo apps.  Cute pictures, creative, interactive and free.  Lazoo apps encourage a child to draw and create.  The drawing then comes alive!  

No ads and no pop ups! Love that. Parent only sections require a swipe in a certain direction (they tell you each time) to access.

Lazoo's philosophy and core mission statement is "to foster a child's creative process, encourage self-expression and empower a child's imagination".  Love it!  

Here are my favourite Lazoo apps.  These apps will appeal to kids aged 3 to about 7 years of age.

Lazoo Squiggles app - FREE
Draw a squiggle to make a lion's mane, rocket fuel, rain clouds, spaghetti, etc.  Press go and see the squiggles come alive as your lion roars, rocket takes off, rain falls or spaghetti wiggles on the plate. It is so motivating for kids to draw using this app.  They love seeing what will happen to their squiggles.  Older kids can be challenged with using a stylus to draw the squiggles.

For iphone
For ipad
Picture

Lazoo Let's Color app - FREE
Colour in a range of interactive pictures.  Draw water for a hose, teeth for a crocodile, colour in a slice of watermelon, etc.  The colour changes automatically each time you touch the screen or you can choose from a range of colours and tools.  Like Lazoo Squiggles, your coloured picture comes alive when you press go.  

Some pictures help you colour within the lines given (eg. slurpy straws) where as other pictures just encourage you to make marks so it doesn't matter if you draw outside of the lines (balloons).  This is motivating for kids who struggle with colouring.  You can encourage older kids to use a stylus with this app also. 

For ipad
Picture

Lazoo Zoo app - FREE
This is the latest addition to the Lazoo family.   You can feed the animals, either by drawing your own food or by finding hidden foods to play.  The animals react to the different food that they eat.  The giraffe changes its spots and the monkey is pretty fussy.  Your child will love seeing the giraffe covered in the food they have drawn themselves.

For iphone
For ipad
Picture
Check out the Lazoo website as well.  You will find more information about their apps, books and craft. They also have an online shop.  http://www.lazoo.com/home

Please note that all comments made are my own. I have not received any remuneration for this blog. Regardless, my children and I love the Lazoo apps!
Picture

Holding a pencil... does it really matter how?

2/2/2014

 
Picture
The very first blog...welcome!  I'm starting with pencil grasp as handwriting is a very common reason OTs are asked to see school age children.

The way a child holds the pencil is one of the first components of handwriting that we look at.  There is a predictable progression that most children follow from using their whole fist, to holding a pencil with a tripod grasp (that is, using their thumb, index and third fingers).   Therefore, it is important to give your child an opportunity to try different grasps as their muscles develop and encourage age-appropriate grasps.

For effecient pencil control, OTs have for a long time looked for a dynamic pencil grasp (see photo below).  The reason the dynamic pencil grasp is desirable is because the hand is positioned with an open web space (the nice circle made by the thumb and index finger) and it allows these fingers to move the pencil as required when writing.  It is the preferred grasp for writing speed, control and letter formation.

Some grasps are seen as functional as they have the elements desired; an open web space; pencil held by first three fingers; stability of the 4th and 5th fingers.  Some grasps are inefficient as a child is compensating for a lack of stability or applying too much pressure.  This usually results in fatigue, pain, compromised writing speed, lack of mobility of the first three fingers and/or stress on the joints of the hand.


Can you see your child's pencil grasp below or have they got their own unique style?

Early grasps

Picture
Radial Cross Palmer
0-2 years
Pencil positioned across palm held with a fisted hand.
Picture
Palmer Supinate
1-2 years
Pencil held like a dagger.
Picture
Digital Pronate Grasp
2-3 years
All fingers hold the pencil and the palm faces down towards the page.
Picture
Four Finger Grasp
3-4 years
Four fingers are held on the pencil beginning to form the arc between the thumb and index finger (web space).

Inefficient Grasps

Picture
Inter-digital Brace
The pencil is held between the fingers of the hand.
Picture
Thumb Tuck grasp
The thumb is tucked under the first three fingers or wrapped around them.
Picture
Key or Lateral Pinch Grasp
This grasp has the thumb positioned across the index finger closing the web space between these fingers.
Picture
Hyperextended index finger
Tripod grasp where the index finger is extended too far at the DIP (distal interphalangeal joint) due to excessive pressure.

Functional Grasps

Picture
Picture
Static Tripod Grasp
4-6 years
A 3 finger grasp where the thumb, index and third finger work together as one unit.

Lateral Tripod Grasp
The index finger lies on top of the pencil with the thumb across the index finger.
Picture
Right handed dynamic tripod grasp
Picture
Left handed dynamic tripod grasp
Dynamic Tripod Grasp
5-7 years
This tripod grasp is held by the first three fingers which move independently to the 4th and 5th fingers.  The web space is open and becomes circular.
Your Kids OT
It is not uncommon for a child to use lots of different grasps. 

A few more things to consider:-
  • Where does the pencil rests on the hand whilst your child holds their pencil.  Does it rest on the web space between the thumb and index finger? Does the pencil move during writing into different positions along the web space? It shouldn't.
  • Where along the shaft of the pencil does your child place their fingers? The pencil should be held about 2cm from the nib.
  • Does your child hook their wrist when holding the pencil? This is more common in left-handed children but can be seen in right-handed children as well.  Your child should have a slightly extended wrist whilst writing.

Teaching a dynamic grasp... I ask children to pinch the pencil, make a Harbour Bridge (coming from Sydney this is very appropriate) and to rest their wrist.  I will discuss other ways to encourage a dynamic tripod grasp in future blogs.


Is your child using a functional pencil grasp? How do you prompt your child to hold their pencil?
Picture
*** EDITED*** Purchase a copy of the
PENCIL GRASP REFERENCE SHEET HERE!
Also available at our TPTstore. 



Picture
Picture
Forward>>

    Author

    Hi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here.

    Picture
    Picture
    SEARCH THIS SITE

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    Acessibility Notes
    Alphabet
    Ask An OT
    Bilateral-coordination
    Bilateral-coordination
    Christmas
    Concepts And Cognition
    Easter
    Evidence Based Practice
    Fine Motor
    Freebie
    Functional Skills For Kids
    Giveaway
    Gross Motor
    Guest Blogger
    Handwriting And Writing
    Homemade
    Interoception
    Kids In The Kitchen
    Lego-challengee27c5a2753
    Meme
    Organisation
    Other
    Ot Profession
    OT Resources
    Pencil Grasp
    Play
    Printable
    Regulation
    Reviews
    Rewards And Motivation
    School
    Scissor Skills
    Self Help Skills
    Sensory
    Social Skills
    Visual-perception
    Visual-perception
    Website Spotlight
    Welcome
    World Ot Day
    YKOT Shop
    Your Kids Therapy Ideas

    Popular Posts

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Visit Your Kids OT's profile on Pinterest.

Join the YKOT e-newsletter!

Subscribe to get our latest content by email and receive

the SHAPE ROADS PRINTABLE NOW!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and receive your free printable!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Join our Mailing List!

Subscribe to get our latest content by email and receive

the SHAPE ROADS PRINTABLE NOW as a thankyou!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and receive your free printable!

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
Disclaimer: The information on this site is general in nature and should be used for educational  and entertainment purposes. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions.  This blog does not replace formal therapeutic professional advice given by a health professional or medical practitioner.  Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand. Content, advertising space or posts will be clearly identified if paid, affiliated or sponsored.  Affiliate links may  be found throughout this website in advertising. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale. Your Kids OT undertakes to meet the requirements of the "Social Media Policy" as published by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  Further information about this policy can be found here.

Find me


Follow me

Visit Your Kids OT's profile on Pinterest.
Picture

About me

Author

Hi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here.

Picture
Copyright © 2017 Your Kid OT