{FREE PRINTABLE} Ruler Art! Bilateral Coordination and Pencil Control Skills!

 I like jokes about stationery but rulers are where I draw the line!

​How are you holding up with 2020?  In Sydney, children have returned to school full-time and restrictions are starting to ease for public places, restaurants, cafes and visiting people.  We have enjoyed having friends and family visit us but it is a strange time of hopeful optimism with a dash of doubt.  

Telehealth services continue here at Your Kids OT and I know that this will continue with many of my OT colleagues around the world. I hope to continue bringing you content that would be appropriate for telehealth OT sessions as well as face-to-face OT sessions and home programs.  

Today lets look at the humble "ruler".  

I love using a ruler in OT sessions as it is a functional skill that children are expected to achieve in the early years of school.  This doesn't mean that is easy for children to do. 

Rulers require bilateral coordination; using both hands simultaneously in a coordinated way.  One hand is the "worker" and the other is the "helper" hand.  Some children will have difficulty crossing the midline to use a ruler and others will have difficulty stabilizing the ruler.  Read more about bilateral coordination HERE. 

Rulers can be really helpful to provide sensory feedback for pencil control.  Children can "bump" the ruler with drawing and writing skills.  The ruler can be positioned along writing lines to give children  physical (proprocioceptive) feedback that they don't receive just by looking at the line. 

I often use the "ruler" to encourage children to work on size and spacing.  This might involve drawing fluency patterns like round semicircles or sharp zigzags to space them evenly or work on high and low consistent shapes. 

To make "ruling a line" more interesting, I have created a FREE PRINTABLE for you (and me - as I always use my own printables in my own OT sessions).  This "ruler art" was created for middle schoolers (approximately aged 8-11 yrs) to draw straight lines and create parabolic arches.  You could also try this with older and younger children as this is just a guide. You can also achieve the same affect by spacing out dots yourself on paper and connecting these dots (but I have taken this step out for you). 

Be sure to watch the you-tube video to see me explain how to use these printables and fill in the box below to get your copy.  Newsletter readers will need to click HERE to see this blog post online to see the form and don't worry you will only be subscribed once. 

WATCH --- >  https://youtu.be/t_jaahHpgHw

Ruler Art!

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Fantastic! Welcome to Your Kids OT, home to ways to help you make learning fun for your children. Stay in touch so that you don't miss out on future printables. Please let others know how they can get their own copy of this printable. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to receive the FREE "RULER ART" Printable!

In completing the "Ruler Art" pages for myself, I found it involved quite a bit of concentration and mindfulness.  Mistakes may be made and that's ok. A few missed dots won't spoil the overall affect.  Encourage your kids to try one and experiment with colour!   

Try using "stencils" for younger children! This will be a fun way for them to work on bilateral coordination and pencil control skills!

Let me know if you try "ruler art" with your kids and don't forge to share this page so others can get their own copy of the FREE RULER art printable!


PS.  Did you like watching the time-lapse of the ruler art in action! I find it mesmerising! 

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a member of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​

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