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Put one hand in, put the other hand in... and thread it!

1/6/2014

 
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Threading is a fun way for kids to use their two hands together.  

Older babies and toddlers love to post things into various containers.  As they develop skills in posting, they hold onto the container with one hand and post with other hand.  Gradually, toddlers are able to manipulate smaller objects and put them into smaller holes.  This is a precursor to threading.  

Threading requires coordination of two hands together.  That is, bilateral coordination.  One hand holds the "string" and the other hand holds the "bead". The "bead" hand needs to be held steady as the "string" hand moves to thread.  The child then needs to be able to grab onto the string as it pokes through the bead with the hand which was holding the bead.   

There are so many objects that can be threaded (anything with a hole) and there are many things that these objects can be threaded onto (ok...that is really obvious).  However, there are ways to help a child to develop threading skills depending on the objects used as the "string" and "bead". 

Here is a an example of how you can progress a child who is developing skills in threading.  Ages are approximate and may vary for different children.
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For beginners: Large wooden animals and string has long wooden tip. 
{approx 18 months+}

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Early threading: Straws cut into medium lengths and stiff pipe cleaners.
{approx 2 years+}

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Basic threading: Medium size pasta shapes and string.
{approx 2 years+}

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Happy to thread: Large cotton reels and string.  
{approx 3 years+}

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Confident threader: Small alphabet beads and wool.  
{approx 4 years+}

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Advanced threader: Very small beads of various shapes and very thin fishing wire.
{approx 5 years+}

Here is a handy tip: Place some masking tape around the tip of the string to help with poking into the bead.  It gives your child something firm to grab onto as it pokes out of the bead.

What is your child's favourite threading activity?
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Putting on shoes: Left and Right

11/3/2014

 
Here is a quick and easy way to help your child who is learning to put their shoes on independently.  
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Putting on shoes: Left and Right - A simple tip using a sticker cut in half.
I simply cut a sticker in half and place the half stickers onto the shoes.  Mr 3 matches the picture together and then puts his shoes on the correct feet.  This is an ordinary sticker (not a special shoe sticker) and when it wears out it is cheap and easy to replace.

Choose a sticker that is clear and obvious for matching together. You might have a dinosaur head and their tail, a teapot handle and spout, an elephant trunk and the elephant body, a ballerina, etc.

This simple tip will help those who have not learnt the subtlety of the left and right sides of shoes or feet.

Will a sticker help your child to put on their shoes?
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Enjoying Your Kids OT?  Share this newsletter with your friends, family, teachers and colleagues.  Find me on Facebook or Pinterest or comment below.  Thanks for reading!

Pom poms and golf tees

27/2/2014

 
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Your Kids OT
We have some keen golfers in our family {grandparents} and fortunately for us ... they had some left over golf tees. {Why do you need so many golf tees? ... asks the non-golfer in me...}

I set up some pom poms, golf tees, toy hammers and a stryrofoam block as an invitation to play and watched Mr 3 and Miss 7 have a great time.  


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Colour sorting and matching.
There was hammering and pushing of golf tees into the stryofoam block.  There was bilateral coordination where one hand held the stryofoam block steady whilst the other hand hammered.

Fingers were busy grasping the pom poms, balancing pom poms of different sizes as well as in-hand manipulation of golf tees and pom poms within one hand.  There was some finger isolation as they touched the tops of the golf tees.  There was colour sorting and matching.  

There was some pretend play where the golf tees became candles for Mr 3 to blow the poms off the top after singing Happy Birthday.
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In-hand manipulation as the golf tee was turned up the right way to be placed into the stryofoam block.
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Blowing the candles after singing "Happy Birthday".
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Pincer grasp with one side of the hand whilst a pom pom is held steady by the pinky side.

What a fun activity for home, preschool or in a therapy session! The stryofoam blocks survived the first battering...we will definitely be doing this again! 

Maybe you can find some keen golfers in your family too?
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Enjoying Your Kids OT?  Share this newsletter with your friends, family, teachers and colleagues.  Find me on Facebook or Pinterest or comment below.  Thanks!

Homemade: More than a posting box

18/2/2014

 
A simple posting box made from a yoghurt container is a brilliant fine motor activity.  Read on to see the other benefits of doing this activity.

To make:
Cover a plastic container with scrapbooking paper (or decorate by painting or with stickers).
Cut three slits in the lids using a Stanley knife- horizontal, vertical and diagonal slits.

To use:
  • This posting box is perfect for posting small buttons. Encourage a pincer grasp and open webspace of the hand when posting.  {The webspace is the open circular shape that is made by the thumb and index finger as seen in the photograph on the far left}.  This can be done with either hand. 
  • The posting lid can also be propped up with some playdough.  This allows for the button to be transferred from one hand to the other through the slit.  When passing through the vertical slit, the spatial orientation is as you would need for buttoning shirts.  I have found this really useful for those who have difficulty buttoning up their own clothes {to practise this bilateral activity with the correct orientation to themselves}.  This visual spatial orientation is found in only a few other "natural" learning environments, so having this set up can bring great results. 
  • You can also introduce concepts whilst doing this activity such as sorting the buttons according to colour or counting as your child posts.
  • Your child may also practise in-hand manipulations skills by holding a group of 5 buttons in one hand.  Your child then needs to move one button from the group to the thumb and index fingertips, before posting. 
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This activity is suitable for older toddlers, preschoolers and even school age-children.  Supervision is required for younger children as the buttons may be a choking hazard. 

Does your child struggle to do up the buttons of their shirt?  Have they ever practised with the correct visual spatial orientation to themselves? Will you be making a posting box?
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More than a posting box: ready to Pin to your Pinterest board.
Your Kids OT

Left, Right, Left?

16/2/2014

 
Does your school age child continue to have difficulty with knowing their left and right?

Here is a quick way for them to figure it out. Ask them to position their hands as shown in the photograph in front of themselves.  

In this position the left hand forms a letter "L" and the right hand forms a backwards "L".  "L" for left. 

Good bilateral coordination leads to an awareness of the two sides of the body, selection of one side as dominant and a sense of right and left discrimination. Read more about bilateral coordination here.

Your child can use this visual prompt whenever they need it! Try it today.  Let me know if it helps!
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"L" for left.
Your Kids OT

Roll roll roll ..... the playdough!

9/2/2014

 
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Playdough is loved by kids everywhere.  It is so versatile.  It appeals to a wide age range of kids.  It is portable. It is fun!!

Playdough is great for sensory exploration, fine motor manipulation, finger isolation and imaginary play.  Playdough can also be useful to help a child learn concepts such as shapes, numbers and letters.  
Here are some of our favourite ways to use playdough. You could "invite" your child to play with one of the playdough props below each time they play. 
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Squashing, squeezing, rolling, poking...
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Using cookie cutters.
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Making roads.
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Making faces.
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Making impressions with forks and other implements.
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Making letters.
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Making "Mr Potato Head" Playdough creatures.
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Making shapes.
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Making rings, bracelets and other jewellery.
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Making food
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Making birthday cakes.
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Making a zoo.
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Use playdough mats to complete a picture.
I love the playdough mats designed by "Planet of the Apels".  I have printed and laminated them.  I have used them with my kids in therapy.  I've also used them with my own kids and given away complete sets with some playdough as a gift.  You can find these free printables here.  

Here are a few helpful playdough tips:
  • Playdough is suitable for children 12 months upwards (adult supervision is required for young children).
  • Playdough should not be consumed by children or animals (there is a really high salt content).
  • Use a large blob of playdough to help pick up little scrap pieces of playdough.
  • Store playdough in an airtight container.  If you leave it for a while before packing away, it will dry up and you may have to throw it away.  You can store playdough in the fridge.
  • Avoid carpet and rugs when using playdough.
  • Try adding glitter or natural essence for a multisensory experience.
You will also find a free copy of my playdough recipe in the Your Kids OT shop. or you can watch how to make playdough ---> Playdough recipe You Tube video.

Do your kids love playdough?  
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Mr 3 decided using his elbow was an even better way to use playdough!
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Roll roll roll ... the playdough!
Picture collage perfect to pin to your Pinterest Board.
Your Kids OT
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    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.

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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.

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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.

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