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  • HOME
    • YKOT You-Tube Library
    • Articles >
      • Apps and Website Reviews
      • Bilateral Coordination
      • Cognition and Concepts
      • Fine Motor Skills
      • Gross Motor Skills
      • Handwriting and Writing
      • Homemade >
        • Arts and Craft
        • Kids in the Kitchen
        • Christmas
      • Motivation and Rewards
      • Planning and Organisation
      • Play
      • Product and Book Reviews
      • Self Help Skills
      • Sensory Skills
      • Visual Perceptual Skills
    • Direct Therapy Services
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DIY Fabric Marble Maze! Make your own fine motor skills activity.

10/7/2020

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I was close to losing my marbles last week! 

​So on the big scheme of things, my problem was small.  I know it has been a big year for the whole world.  It's not every day (or year) that we have a global pandemic!  

My issue was connectivity ~ something we have all become dependent on even more so this year!  My issue was also being unable to reach my internet service provider via their customer service channels and hence do my job! 

But enough of my problems... here I've put my marbles to good use!  Have you see these fabric marble mazes before?  They are commercially available but also very easy to make your own. Only basic sewing skills required!

How to use a fabric marble maze.

"Simply" push the marble the maze using your fingers.  A great fine motor work out as  you can "pinch" with your thumb and index finger, tuck away the material with the other fingers into the palm of your hand.  You could also push it with your index finger.   Use one hand to do the "work" and stabilize the maze with your "helper" hand. 

The activity is suitable for 3-7 year olds and is quite tricky for some fingers to manage. 


Watch how to use the marble maze in the you-tube video... https://youtu.be/5vKXM9LK_bA​

Instructions

Equipment needed
  • ​​Sewing machine
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Pencil and eraser
  • Marble
  • Decorative buttons, need and thread.
  • 20 cm x 25 cm material  x 2 pieces 

What to do:
  • Measure the marble and note 1.5 x size to make the  channels. 
  • Place material together.  Sew using zig-zag stitches around the external four sides.  Add the marble to the middle before closing up the fourth side.
  • Cut off the threads and any extra material. 
  • Use the ruler and pencil to draw the maze to your own design.  Use the eraser if necessary. 
  • Sew using straight stitches over the pencil markings.  Cut off the threads. 
  • Hand sew the decorative buttons to the corners or centre of the maze (depending on your design)

The marble maze is ready for play! 

Tips:
  • Choose a solid colour for at least one side of the material.  The size of the material and marble are variable, however you don't want it too big to manage. 
  • To have neater edges; sew around the external four sides but stop short of closing it fully.  Turn the material inside out. Add the marble to the new "inside" and top stitch the four sides to close in the marble.  ​

Are you handy with the sewing machine? Do you like making your own therapy resources?  Let me know if you try this fabric maze or if you have a great resource idea! 
​



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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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Did you see the recent blog posts and you-tube videos? 
  • Gym Ball Activities for Kids and You Tube Video
  • OT and parenting podcasts
  • Origami Snapper Puppets and You Tube Video

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Gym Ball Activities for Kids! Gross Motor Skills for home and occupational therapy!

30/6/2020

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Building the roots!

A family who I work with used this expression today.  As parents we want to build several strong roots for children as they grow and develop.  We want them to be rooted to a loving home environment, secure in their relationship with their family, develop social skills to interact with others, understand who they are in the world, connect with their community, etc.

As an occupational therapist, we want to build strong roots so that children can participate in functional activities of daily life.  Core muscle strength is one of those foundational roots.  When children have weak core muscle strength they may have difficulty with simple activities such as their sitting posture on the floor and at a desk.  You may find them leaning on furniture, falling off their chair, propping their head up with their hands.  

Weak core muscle strength may be seen in children who have difficulty with organized sports that involve kicking, standing on one leg, transferring weight or using a bat.  You may see a child struggle with agility, balance, coordination and generally look "clumsy". 

Some children with weak core muscle strength may have difficulties using tools such as pencils, markers and scissors.  When core muscle strength and stability is evident, then children will use their intrinsic hand muscles to manipulate these tools in a dynamic way.  When there is weakness, we see children compensating by using their whole arm and hand as one unit.  This can reduce fluency and lead to fatigue. 

Read more about core muscle strength:
  • Gross Motor Skills needed for Page Stabilization
  • Fun Ways to work on Inner thigh Muscles
  • Gross Motor Skills for Preschoolers
  • Hand strength for scissors, writing and more.

Gym balls come in different sizes (and a couple of shapes like a peanut)!  Try different sizes to depending on the size of your child.  We love using gym balls to help build core muscle strength and stability.  Try these activities to get started. 

  • Wall Sit -  Place the ball between your back and the wall.  Bend your knees so that your thighs are parallel to the floor.  Stay in control of the ball and keep your back straight.  Hold the position like you are "sitting".  
  • Walk the Wall - Hold the ball against a wall.  Push the ball up and down the wall as you squat and stand.  Keep control of the ball and  "walk the wall" slowly.  Younger children may incorporate a song such as "Your going up, your going up as high as you can go...".
  • Prone over ball - Lie with your tummy on the ball.  Use your arms to walk on the floor as the ball moves down to your ankles.  The closer you go to your ankles the hard this activity will be.  Hold your arms straight and legs straight over the ball. Younger children may incorporate a song like "London Bridge is falling down" to this activity. 
  • Prone activity - Lie with your tummy on the ball and reach over with your hands to do an activity.  Encourage one hand to prop up with arm straight whilst you try a puzzle, a tangram, alphabet sorting, sequence cards, matching pictures, spot it, a hidden picture book etc.  
  • Leg raises - Sit on a chair or bench.  Squeeze the ball between your legs. Lift your legs without dropping the ball. 
  • Leg to arm transfer - Lie on your back on the floor.  Squeeze the ball between your ankles. Lift your legs straight up into the air.  Transfer the ball to your straight arms.  Lower your arms with the ball behind your head.  Lift the ball with your arms and transfer to your straight legs.  Lower the ball to the ground. 
  • Toe taps - Stand with the ball in front of you.  Lift one leg and tap the top of the ball with your foot.  Try the  other leg.  Keep your back straight. 
  • Jumping - Place the ball between your legs.  Jump around without losing the ball.  For those who have difficulty jumping, try walking with a waddle with the ball between your legs. 
  • Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes - Sit on the ball.  Sing the song whilst performing actions (ie. touching heads, shoulders, knees and toes).  You could try other action songs and finger rhymes too (eg. Humpty Dumpty, Row Row your boat).
  • Sitting Balance - Sit on the ball and raise one leg at a time.  Try raising your leg bent and straight.  For those who want a challenge, try raising both legs without losing balance.  Younger children may like to incorporate a song such as "One grey elephant balancing". 
  • Ball Pass - Sit cross legged with your back to a partner.  Pass the ball to your partner and reach around to get the ball as they pass it back.  Try this standing up.   In standing, you could also try passing the ball under your legs and over your head  to your partner. 
  • ​Partner Balance - Stand with the ball between your back and your partner's back.  Squat together whilst balancing the ball.  Try walking with the ball between your back's also.

These activities are lots of fun and you will also be working on other skills such as bilateral coordination, shoulder stability, neck muscle strength, wrist strength, team work whilst providing sensory input (proprioception and vestibular).  

Watch our You-tube video to see these activities in action.  This video features "Pig the Pug"(aka Master YKOT) who really hopes you enjoy the video.  Hit the like button or let us know in the comments if you want to see more videos featuring "Pig the Pug". ---> 
https://youtu.be/vCd8dJ2BWeA​

What are your favourite gym ball activities? Do you have songs that you use with these activities? Let me know! 


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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.
HOME

​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. ​​​
​

Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
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You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured
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Occupational Therapy and Parenting Podcasts!

23/6/2020

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Listening in the car. Listening whilst going for a walk. Listening whilst doing housework.

I'm new to the world of podcasts and it has opened my mind to so many things! Whilst I've been pursuing some personal interests like art history, book reviews and female leadership; I've also discovered some parenting podcasts that have been funny and insightful.  There are also so many invaluable podcasts for  occupational therapists. 

I highly recommend "Two Peas in a Podcast" .... Kate and Mandy are Melbourne mums of children with disabilities. They share their experiences as mums on the roller coaster that is parenting multiples with disabilities and special needs.  They relay their experiences honestly venturing to discuss topics that are not often talked about.  They are not scared to laugh at themselves and are relatable.  http://toopeasinapodcast.com.au/.

I also highly recommend "In it" which is a podcast by the organization Understood.  This podcast  explores the joys and frustrations of raising kids who learn and think differently. Amanda Morin and Bob Cunningham host this podcast and interview families (and sometimes even kids) about the everyday ups and downs. https://open.spotify.com/show/6qb0LuxbTPRsQycjfI0fiS

Podcasts (like online learning) give people flexibility with time and place; accessing information and testimonies from around the world. I started collating this list for the Australian Paediatric OT FB group where I am an administrator.  Please note that many of the podcasts below can be listened to from a variety of platforms and I have listed just one for each podcast.  These are listed in no particular order. 
​
  • Centre of Research Excellence- Cerebral Palsy: The CRE-CP records their education seminars and makes them available as audio podcasts https://www.ausacpdm.org.au/education/podcasts/
  • The American OT Association- Everyday evidence podcast series: How does evidence affect everyday problems? AOTA's Everyday Evidence Podcast series has the answers. They sort through the evidence and bring you the most important information that relates to everyday life T a short podcast format. https://www.aota.org/Practice/Researchers/Evidence-Podcast.aspx
  • Trojans Talk OT by University of Southern California: Trojans Talk OT is a podcast series designed by students to inform and entertain occupational therapy practitioners, students, educators, and friends. Broadcasting from the University of Southern California’s Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, hosts Alyssa Concha and Rob Russow track down leaders, innovators and advocates in the field, bringing their voices to a wider audience.(via You-tube) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYYUCmdmGs9n0RbXCG5HY71dddhxFeox3
  • Glass Half Full: Hosted by occupational therapists Jessica Kersey and Natalie Barnes. Glass Half Full aims to provide easily-accessible and evidence-based education, contributing to the body of resources available to Occupational Therapy practitioners and consumers.  They strive to demonstrate the distinct value of occupational therapy and inspire listeners to genuinely engage with their profession and help their clients to always see the “glass half full.” http://glasshalffullot.com/podcast/
  • Milestones Podcast: Allison Carter is an occupational therapist with experience working with infants, toddlers, and children up to 15 years of age. On the Milestones Podcast she discusses topics relating to child development, sensory processing, and children living with special needs. http://www.mymidwesttherapy.com/category/milestones-podcast/
  • On the Air: Stephanie Lancaster (OTR) created this podcast for individuals interested in learning about the profession of occupational therapy.  Stephanie talks about her clinical practice and research interests and her experiences and ideas as a product developer and an advocate for diversity in the field of OT. http://www.ontheair.us/podcast1
  • OT SCHOOL HOUSE: Jayson Davies is a school based OT in the USA. The School House is a place for all educators and parents looking to have a meaningful impact on their students' general and special education outcomes. https://www.otschoolhouse.com/podcast
  • Occupied: A creative project by Brock Cook exploring all things Occupation, Occupational Science, and Occupational Therapy. Brock is an Australian occupational therapist working at the James Cook University. http://www.occupiedpodcast.com/
  • I love OT podcast: Michael Roberts celebrates what is special, exciting, unique, and rewarding about occupational therapy. Download and listen for a celebration of the people, programs, and research that make OT great! https://iloveotpodcast.libsyn.com/
  • Burnt Out to Lit Up podcast: Hosted by Erika and Mike, an occupational therapy/physical therapy husband and wife team who invite you to be changemakers in healthcare. Inspired by their experiences with burnout, their goal is to give you the resources, stories and strategies to spark your personal and professional growth, help you navigate your career in healthcare, and advocate for change in our industry. https://www.joyenergytime.com/podcast/
  • The Jeneralist Podcast - Hosted by Jen Taubensee this podcast explores and shares Canadian OT perspectives. https://thejeneralist.podbean.com/
  • OT Potential Podcast: Hosted by Sarah Lyon, this podcast is for occupational therapy practitioners and students looking to keep up with evidence based practice. Each week, Sarah discusses one influential OT-related journal article. https://otpotential.com/ot-potential-podcast
  • Spill the OT Podcast is a judgement-free zone to spill all of the tea about OT, PT, and SLP. This anonymous OT talks to REAL therapists out in the field to learn about the ups, downs, and everything in between. No topics are off limits! https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/anchor-podcasts/spill-the-ot
  • Homebase Hope: All About Autism hosted by Rhiannon Crispe (occupational therapist) will inspire you to think differently when it comes to autism. She interviews leading world experts who aren’t held back by conventional dogmas.  Rhiannon also chats to inspirational and courageous parents and people on the spectrum who are part of a grassroots movement for autism awareness, action and inclusion. https://homebasehope.com.au/podcast/
  • The Sensory Project podcast: Rachel Harrington, a pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant and owner of The Sensory Project, along with Jessica Hill, a pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant, health coach entrepreneur, and mother, answer your questions related to all things sensory, occupational therapy, parenting, self-care, nutrition, and health, from a therapist’s perspective. Providing raw, honest, fun ideas, and strategies, for parents and families to implement into daily life. https://thesensoryproject.com/pages/podcast
  • OT 4 Lyfe:  Sarah is a pediatric OT working in her own private practice. She’s created podcast epsiodes covering a variety of topics including fieldwork, pediatric occupational therapy, international work, the business side of OT, along with featuring big names in the OT world for informational interviews.  https://ot4lyfe.com/podcast/
  • W.E.L.L. Matters: A podcast created by Heidi MacAlpine (Occupational therapy lecturer), Joshua Falk, and Christine Kappel-Gray. This podcast aims to connect health and wellness professionals as well as communities on a national and international level via an exchange of ideas and conversations about various topics. https://www.nysota.org/page/Podcast
  • The Working Therapist Podcast: Pediatric Developmental Therapy (PDT) was founded by Haden Boliek with a mission focused on providing quality speech therapy, occupational therapy and physical therapy to children.  Haden  provides tools and strategies to help therapists and parents to develop and carry over therapy principles to the home.   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-working-therapist-with-haden-boliek/id862445572?mt=2
  • Mind Your OT Business Podcast:  Laura Park Figueroa is an occupational therapist, OT practice owner and business coach.  She  combines her experience as a paediatric OT with business coaching in this podcast for OT business owners. https://www.mindyourotbusiness.com/podcast
  • Hand Therapy Heroes :Hand therapy heroes was created for you to learn from your peers and hand enthusiasts from around the world. Susan Weiss (occupational therapist) interviews hand therapy practitioners, patients, surgeons, company representatives and each episode designed to help you grow your hand therapy knowledge. Content ranges from discussions on diagnosis, new products, to techniques, compelling articles, creative ideas for orthotics, business planning and billing.  https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/bbrcb-9423d/Hand-Therapy-Heroes-Podcast
  • How to OT Podcast: Matt Brandenburg, occupational therapist strives to narrow the research gap and help practitioners translate research into practice as simply as possible. Matt aims to shift perspectives in OT research and practice from what happened, to how to make good things happen. How to OT tell stories, portray OT culture, and identify principles for practitioners to improve the health outcomes of their clients. https://anchor.fm/howtoot
  • Private Practice Made Perfect: The Private Practice Made Perfect conversation is for allied health business owners who want to listen in to real life private practice stories and business advice. Cathy Love is an Australian occupational therapist and allied health business coach.  She brings guests including allied health business owners, digital marketing specialists, accountants, HR advisers, writers, virtual assistants, IT specialists, friends, social media gurus, lawyers, and possibly family members into conversation. It takes a village to run a private practice. Cathy gathers the tribe, harness collective wisdom and conveniently deliver it all to your earbuds.  https://www.nacre.com.au/podcast
  • Sensational Path Podcast: Erin Grujic, occupational therapist has a mobile sensory clinic (a converted school bus) in Southern Alberta. In the podcast you can learn more about The Bus, mobile sensory clinic, and find out the ins and outs as well as the ups and downs of running a clinic on (big) wheels. The podcast will walk you through the day to day operations as well as provide insight into how you can make your own bus! https://www.sensationalpath.com/podcas
  • ​Life Skills 4 Kids Podcast: Deb Hopper is an experienced paediatric occupational therapist who'se podcast seeks to provide "Superstar practical strategies" tips, tricks and strategies  that can be used straight away.  https://www.lifeskills4kids.com.au/sensory-blog/
  • It's All Fun and Games Until: A podcast from two mums Bec and Jill.  One an OT and the other a Speechy.  Just keeping it real; talking parenting and therapy and all things in between.  https://open.spotify.com/show/3IpQEtDmOTqV0U0i82SyUR?si=z1CgBcgVRsK3GSMykGskQw
​
Have you been listening to podcasts?  Do you have any recommendations? Are you a podcast creator?  I would love to hear from you! 
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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. ​​​

​Email: cindy@yourkidsot.com

Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
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You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/


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Origami Snapper Puppets: Easy Paper Folding Activity!

10/6/2020

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Make a cute paper craft activity with me! All you need is some paper, scissors and a marker to decorate the puppet. 

These origami folding paper "snappers" are so versatile to use in OT therapy sessions.  Make them to work on bilateral coordination or motor planning skills.  You could make them to build fine motor skills ~ feed the puppets with scrunched up pieces of paper or small balls of playdough.  Make them in colours to correspond with the Zones of Regulation (blue, green, yellow and red)!  Use the snapper puppets to work on social skills and have them talk to each other. 

Follow the step-by-step instructions that I have provided in the You-tube video below or use this link --->  https://youtu.be/xxZ4CiEzt3E

Use the you-tube video in your Telehealth Therapy sessions.  You can pause and rewind the video if you need to repeat any instructions.  I always find it best to practice folding activities before I try to teach it to someone  else! 



Let me know if you try out these Origami Paper Snappers.  Tag @yourkidsot on Instagram as I would love to see your ideas. 
​
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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. ​​​

Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot
You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured
​

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/
​

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

3/6/2020

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 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!

Ruler title

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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! 

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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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Telehealth Occupational Therapy: Gross Motor Skills using Tin Cans!

26/5/2020

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Beans, tomatoes, soup...

​Most families have tin cans in their home. 

I have collated some fun ways to work on gross motor skills using tin cans and some markers.  These activities encourage the development of core strength, arm and shoulder strength, bilateral coordination, crossing the midline, balance and more!

These activities can be easily incorporated in OT sessions as well as carried out at home.  You don't need a lot of space and you don't need special equipment.  If you don't have tin cans then use what you DO have (eg. plastic cups, bowls, jars or sticks and spoons). 

Watch the You-tube video for the gross motor activities in action.  You can use this link if you can't see the video below ---> https://youtu.be/epFzBX0pdBY
Jumping
Lay out markers to encourage jumping forward/backward, side to side and straight up/down.  You could also try turning a half or full circle (180 or 360 degrees).  Try adding a metronome to assist with focus and attention.  (Read more ways you can use a metronome HERE). 

Marker movement
Position in either the quadrupod position (like a dog on all fours), a bear (with hands on the ground and bottom in the air) or a plank position (resting on hands or forearms).  Place the markers in front of the child and ask them to use their right hand to move markers to the left side of their body and their left hand to move markers to the right side of their body. 

Tin can touch 
Try this in a variety of positions. Encourage your child to stay in one position whilst reaching across their body to tap the tin cans (with their hand or foot).  This involves "crossing the midline".  Once your child tries these touches with one foot then try the other foot too.   If they have difficulty balancing, your child could touch one tin can and then rest their foot on the ground.  You could increase the difficulty by increasing the number of tin cans they touch before resting their foot on the ground. You can also increase the difficulty by having your child match markers with the corresponding coloured tin can.
​
* Balance on one foot.
* Quadrupod position (ie. like a dog on all fours)
* Plank Position.  
* Crab/Table position.  

Visual Sequencing
Encourage visual sequencing by adding coloured paper to the tins and drawing a simple grid of coloured dots to follow.  Ask your child to tap the tins in the order of the coloured dots that they see.  You could work on memory by covering the visual prompt.  You could change the order of the dots or change the position of the tins to vary the activity. 

Do you have an older child?  You could incorporate colour matching or academic skills such as learning the letters of the alphabet or sight words with any of the activities mentioned here.

Squat to stand/stand to squat
Place the tin cans on a table and ask your child to stand near the table. Place the markers on the floor.  Ask your child to squat to pick up a marker and stand to place the marker in the matching coloured tin can.  Encourage your child not to hold onto the table as they move up and down. Make sure that they are bending at the knees and not the waist. 

If you have a cushion or a wobble air cushion, you could ask your child to stand on the cushion to  do this activity whilst moving from squat to stand (and versa).  You could swap out the markers for balls or pegs. 

You could also incorporate tall kneeling.  Have a look at the
photo that I shared on Instagram of this activity. 

Tin Can Target
  • Set up your tin cans like bowling pins. Roll a ball to knock them over.
  • Stack your tin cans or line them up on a table.  Throw a ball to knock them over.​

Tin Can Roll
  • Lie your tin cans on their side and line them up.  Ask your child to use their foot to roll the tin can forward and backward. 
  • Lie your tin cans on their side and line them up.  Ask your child to use their hand to roll the tin can away from them. 
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For more gross motor activity ideas:
  • 7 Gross Motor Skills for Preschoolers.
  • Gross Motor Skills for Page Stabilization

These activities all provide sensory feedback for children to the skin receptors, muscles and joints.  Deep pressure input can have a calming affect for some children and can help a child to develop body awareness.  Read more about sensory based activities HERE.

How do you incorporate tin cans to develop gross motor skills?  I would love to hear from you if try out some of these activity suggestions. 
​


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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 workingcreatively 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. ​​​

Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot
You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/
​

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From Scribble to Drawing and Writing!

14/5/2020

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Some children struggle with drawing.  They may continue to scribble and have difficulty copying simple drawing patterns.  This becomes a concern when the child is 3 or 4 years of age and should be imitating and copying simple lines and shapes (such as a horizontal line, vertical line, circle, square). 

​There are usually some underlying reasons for a delay in pencil control and drawing skills.

1. Difficulty with visual spatial skills.  This may include poor body awareness, poor awareness of how they relate to objects and poor visual attention to 2D images/pictures.  A "red flag" may be a lack of interest in books and pointing to pictures within books or difficulty copying block simple block patterns.  ​
  • Work on visual spatial skills --->  Craft Stick Pattern Copy  and Block Patterns. 
  • Watch Visual Perceptual Skills with Craft Sticks Video --> You Tube
  • Read books together and play "I spy" to find various pictures.  
  • Encourage active participation in finger rhymes and action songs ---> Read more. 


​​​2. Difficulty with pencil grasp and pencil control.  This may be due to weak hand strength, poor fine motor skills or poor postural control. Your child may switch hands constantly, drop the pencil, break pencils or  press too lightly.  They might draw wiggles instead of straight lines.
  • Incorporate daily hand strengthening activities ---> Developing hand strength.
  • Incorporate fine motor skills in play ---> Toys for Fine Motor Skills
  • Read more about pencil grasp HERE and HERE and HERE


​3. Difficulty with directional language - 3D and 2D.
​Some children with language delays will have difficulty with "directional language".  This means they have difficulty understanding concepts such as "on", "next to", "under", "between", "behind" etc.  

When it comes to drawing and writing, an understanding of position or direction on paper is really important for spatial relationships and how lines come together to form pictures and letters. 

Incorporate "directional language" in play of objects as well as when you look at books or puzzles.  

​
4. OTHER

There are many other reasons that can affect a child's ability to draw. If you are concerned about these aspects, seek medical advice for your child. Some of these might include:
  • a cognitive delay
  • a neurological delay
  • low muscle tone
  • a developmental delay
  • speech and language delay
  • poor attention 
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From scribble to meaningful lines and shapes. 

Watch these ideas via the You-tube video below or via this link
​--->
 https://youtu.be/y1ffJYoHkic

1. Use objects!  (eg. playdough, fruit, toys)
​Place objects to mark out where lines starts and ends.  
Place objects to trace around.
Place objects to mark out what the lines look like and where they go on the page.

​​2.  Use multi-sensory experiences. 
​
This not only motivating but can provide feedback to the muscles and joints as a child draws lines and shapes. 
  • Draw in a sensory tray such as shaving foam, rice, sand, salt.
  • Use non-pencil items for drawing such as a paint brush, feather, toothpick, q-tips or a toy.
  • Use tactile surface to draw on such as glitter or sand paper.​
  • Use stencils or rubbing plates to provide a tactile boundary whilst drawing. 
  • Encourage partial drawing to complete a picture to promote success. 
  • Magnatabs are a fun magnetic tool that can be used to draw lines and shapes. 

3. Use guided drawing. 
This may initially be imitating your drawing with each step needed to complete a larger picture.  I usually start with a face and simple pictures like a sun and a rainbow.  You can also use additional prompts like playdough or felt to provide extra help for your child to grasp visual spatial relationships with drawing. 

Once your child can imitate your drawing or draw from a physical prompt; you can move to drawing from a pictorial prompt.  Have a look at these directed drawing prompts from Margaret at Your Therapy Source .


4. Fluency patterns.
Copy lines to work on pencil control.  Once the basic patterns can be copied, work on even spacing and even heights.  

Read and purchase ---> Fluency Patterns 

5. Printable worksheets.
​Don't start here.  Always start with the options listed above!

When your child has developed some of the skills to draw; then printable worksheets become a great way to fine tune pencil control.  You can work on colouring between lines.  Encourage your child to notice the visual cues such as the edge of the picture so that they aim to stay within the lines. 

Your child could draw through mazes, join dot to dot pages or trace over lined pictures.  Encourage your child to add their own patterns to copy pictures that they see. This will help them to develop visual spatial awareness and pencil control. 

Read and purchase ---> Pre-writing Lines and Shapes Printable Sheets.



Drawing lines and shapes are vital to child development.  Don't jump straight into teaching children to write letters and numbers. Help them to build the foundational skills with lots of drawing in the preschool years.

Are you looking for more ideas to help your preschooler?  Have a look at the 10 week preschool program that I have created that provides a full range of activities to support child development for 3-5 year olds. Each week of the program includes activities for the whole body, hands/fingers and using tools such as scissors and pencils. The program is designed to engage children in their learning.  It is suitable for groups of children in a day care or preschool setting. It could be used by OTs or parents with individual children.

Find out more --> Animal Theme Preschool Program

Well I hope that you have found some ideas that you can use straight away with your children to help them move from scribble to drawing and writing. Let me know if you try them out!


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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. ​​​

Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/
​
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Fine Motor Skills with a Marble (or ball)!

1/5/2020

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A marble, a small ball, a ball of playdough, a pom pom .... using every day items is important right now for occupational therapists as we work in our telehealth sessions using objects families may already have at home. 

These activities using a marble are simple, fun ways to develop a child's fine motor skills.  As occupational therapists we often address fine motor skills when children have difficulty manipulating tools such as pencils, scissors and glue sticks.  Fine motor skills can affect a child's ability to carry out their self care in using a toothbrush, using cutlery, tying shoes laces or manipulating fastenings such as buttons and zippers. 

The main fine motor areas that an occupational therapist may address include:
  • Pincer grasp - This is the neat "pinch" achieved between the thumb and index finger.  Read more about this HERE.
  • Thumb opposition - This refers to the ability of the thumb to rotate and reach to touch all other fingertips of the same hand. 
  • Palmar arches - This refers to the arch formed when we "cup" our hands and is related to the loops of blood vessels which are found in our hands. 
  • Separation of the two sides of the hand - This the use of the thumb, index and third fingers of the hand whilst maintaining stability in the fourth and fifth fingers of the hand. Read more about this HERE.
  • Wrist stability and extension - This is the position of the wrist so that it is resting on the table and slightly extended so that the fingers can be used to control the pencil. This is one of the reasons as occupational therapists, we love to encourage working on a vertical surface or use of a slope board if necessary.
  • Hand strength - This refers to the contraction of the hand muscles to grasp a pencil to control it without fatigue or pain.  Read more about hand strength HERE.
  • In-hand manipulation - This refers to the ability to move items around in the hand using precise finger movements and includes translation, rotation and shift.


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Using a marble:
  • ​​Cup your hand over a table, rest your wrist and keep a ball from escaping.
  • Play finger soccer (read more HERE).
  • Place a line of washi tape on the table and trace the line with a marble.
  • Place a line of washi tape on the table, Place down small obstacles and weave the marble around the obstacles.
  • Use a marble to outline LETTER Roads (read more HERE).
  • Hold the marble with the thumb, index and third fingers. Extend and flex the fingers pretending a duck is eating a lemon. 
  • Place the marble in the palm of your hand and your whole hand facing the ceiling. Touch the marble with each finger. 
  • Place the marble in the palm of your hand and your whole hand facing the ceiling.  Move the marble with the thumb along each finger.
  • Cup a handful of marbles between both hands and  shake without letting any fall out.
  • Use a handful of marbles and place them one at a time into a muffin tin. Pick them up one at a time without dropping any in the palm of your hand.  Encouragement movement of the marble from the palm to the thumb/index finger and vice versa. ​

The best way to see these suggestions is via the You-tube video
​---> https://youtu.be/be5jLMvXzYk


These suggestions can easily be incorporated in OT sessions face to face and via Telehealth.  They are an easy way to incorporate finger warm ups prior to writing.  You could even try using an eraser (perfect for the classroom - when you return).

I also love marble runs and marble mazes!  Let me know other fun ways you use marbles to help with the development of fine motor skills.

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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 website and blog  Your Kids OT and Sensory Diet Activity Guidebook (ebook).  

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.

Your Kids OT blog - https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog
Your Kids OT shop- https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Your Kids OT Teachers Pay Teachers -  www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot
Your Kids OT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot/
Your Kids OT Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot
Your Kids OT Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/yourkidsot
Your Kids OT Amazon store - https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot

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Telehealth Occupational Therapy: Teaching Letters with Playdough (Familiarization, Formation, Handwriting Legibility)

29/4/2020

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Playdough is inexpensive to purchase and easy to make.  It is something that most families have at home and can be incorporated easily into telehealth occupational therapy sessions. 

Playdough can be used to encourage a range of fine motor skills, play skills as well as shape, letter and number formation.   Whilst I'm focusing on letter formation in this article, you can apply the same principles to learning shapes and numbers too.  Playdough provides a child with an opportunity to learn these in a hands-on multisensory way. It will help to engage your child in learning too.   This is particularly important when providing Telehealth OT services so that they child is not just a "viewer" of the OT on the screen, but an active participant during sessions. 

Here is an easy-to-make playdough recipe --->  PLAYDOUGH RECIPE
Watch how to make playdough ---> Playdough Recipe You-Tube 

This article is also accompanied by a You-tube video seen below (if you are reading this online) or if you are reading this via my newsletter use this link ---> Playdough and the Alphabet You-Tube Video.

When working on letter formation with my OT children, we are usually working in "letter families".  Letters are grouped to allow children to learn the motor patterns needed when writing.  It is also important to remember that letter formation requires a good foundation of skills including  postural control, fine motor skills , pencil grasp and visual spatial skills to name a few.  

​
For more information: 
Read ---> Letter formation families
Read ---> Fluency patterns and Drawing Pre-writing Lines/Shapes
Read ---> A dynamic pencil grasp: why do we teach it? 
Read ---> Visual Perceptual Skills required for Handwriting
Find all the Handwriting Articles ---> Handwriting Landing Page


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Using Playdough for Teaching Letters: Familiarization, Formation, Legibility

1.  Playdough and Alphabet Familiarization.
If your child is learning the alphabet, unsure of letter names and what they look like... they may benefit from using playdough together with a visual prompt.  You can use any alphabet cards or books that you may have to provide assist with alphabet familiarization .  These cards/pages can be placed in a plastic display folder or even a ziplock bag to provide a surface for placing playdough on top.  Young children can simply tear off pieces of playdough to cover up the letters.  

You may also incorporate:
  • singing the alphabet
  • naming letters or starting sounds
  • finding certain letters of the alphabet and placing a small blob of playdough over the letter
  • matching lower and upper case (capital letters) 

2. Playdough and Letter Formation (Starting Points and Direction). 
Once your child is familiar with the alphabet, you may want to reinforce starting positions and direction of letters to assist them with writing. Playdough "sausage shapes" of various sizes are ideal for letter formation and can be placed down on the table (or printable) in the direction of formation. 

Children can make the letters on top of a visual prompt, alongside a visual prompt or by copying a model.  They can trace the letters they have made with their finger, pinch or poke the letters.  You can also add manipulatives such as buttons, beads, push pins, toothpicks to help mark out the starting points and direction of letter formation (with a extra benefit of working on fine motor skills simultaneously).  "Letter roads" provide a great visual prompt to be used with playdough, cars or other items to help with starting points and direction. 

A "clockface" from the "Spalding Method" is a wonder multi-sensory way to provide visual and verbal prompts with letter formation. I have incorporated the use of playdough and a plastic lid to help mark out the starting points and direction of letters.  I also find the use of a clockface especially useful when teaching magic c letters, z and e.  This may involve initially working on where numbers are positioned on a clock before working on letter formation. 

Here's what I do with playdough... 
  • Ask your child to place the playdough on a small plastic lid.  Ask your child to push the playdough out and flatten it so that it covers the entire lid. 
  • Ask your child to place a marker (eg. a bead) in the playdough along the edge of the circle (anywhere is fine).  Ask your child to turn the lid so that the marker is straight in front  of them  (in line with their belly button).  Ask your child to put another marker on the opposite side of the circle.  This marks 12 and 6 on a clock.  Your child can practice drawing with their finger from 12 to 6 to write the letters l, t, h, b, k (tall line letters). 
  • Ask your child to place markers along the edge of the circle to represent all of the numbers of the clock.  They may need assistance to do this as well as help to count out 5 extra markers on each side.  You can practice counting from 1 - 12, pointing to each marker. 
  • Ask your child to find 2 on the clock. They could mark this position with a different colour marker or a different type of marker (eg. change the bead from pink to purple or use a push pin instead of a bead). You can work on "c" starting at 2 and going up to 12 and around to 5 on the clock using a finger to mark out the playdough.   (Note: depending on your specific font you may switch up the starting and finishing points).  You can also work on other magic c letters such as o, a, d, g, q, s and f (however I don't tend to do these within the lid suggestion). 
  • Ask your child to find 9 on the clock and go straight across to 3.  This is the starting position and direction for writing "z" and "e". ​

Watch letter formation using playdough ----> Playdough and the Alphabet You-Tube Video
Watch how to use letter roads ----> Letter Roads You-Tube Video
​Read ---> Letter Roads
Shop ---> "I can learn the Alphabet" Bundle
​
Shop ---> Letter roads
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3. Playdough and Handwriting Legibility 
As children develop skills for letter formation, they may be working on letter size or alignment to the writing line.  I use "Earth paper"  writing lines to assist with letter size and alignment.  I use the single Earth Paper Lined page with a clear visual prompt of three coloured lines - blue (sky), green (grass) and brown (earth/dirt/mud).  I use this to encourage children to place their playdough on particular lines (eg. small letters stay on the grass).  I also use this together with the letter outlines flashcards on my screen so we can write the letters during OT sessions also. 

Watch ---> Playdough and the Alphabet You-Tube Video
Read ---> Earth Paper Writing Lines

Shop ---> Earth Paper Writing lines and Earth paper letter outlines

Additional Tips:
  • You can reduce the size of  letters in the aforementioned printables by selecting several pages to be printed onto a single piece of paper.  You can either print this or "print to pdf" which lets you create a new pdf of the letters you are targetting.  Eg. you may group the letters in a child's name or focus on "letter family". 
  • For Telehealth OT;
    • Provide modelling of using the playdough rather than just verbal instruction.
    • Use the printables on a screen share and draw over the top to help mark the starting position and direction for letter formation.
    • Use the printables on a screen share and have your OT child use their mouse (if on a desktop) /finger or stylus (if on an ipad/touch screen) to draw over the worksheet on the screen. 
    • Randomize letter formation using a dice or use "Wheel Decide".  I created 2 new wheels to work on lower case letters and capital letters. Find these "wheels" HERE. ​

Do you use playdough to engage your child with the alphabet? Have you found some new ways to incorporate these ideas in your Telehealth sessions? Let me know! 

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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 website and blog  Your Kids OT and Sensory Diet Activity Guidebook (ebook).  

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.

Your Kids OT blog - https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog
Your Kids OT shop- https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
Your Kids OT Teachers Pay Teachers -  www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot
Your Kids OT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot/
Your Kids OT Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot
Your Kids OT Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/yourkidsot
Your Kids OT Amazon store - https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot

Watch Playdough and the Alphabet You-Tube Video
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Telehealth Occupational Therapy: Hand and Finger Movements

21/4/2020

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Finger rhymes, hand actions, hand clapping, body percussion, mime ....

Occupational therapists love to encourage children of all ages to get their bodies and in particular their hands and fingers moving.  Without realizing it, children can work on a range of skills  in a fun natural way.   

Some of the benefits include:
  • body awareness and visual spatial awareness  - proprioceptive feedback to the muscles, skins and joints, position in space, left/right awareness, bilateral coordination , eye/hand coordination
How far away is my arm in relation to me?
How far are other people?
How far can my fingers move?
What direction can they move?

Can my left side move independently to my right?
Can they move simultaneously?

Can may left arm and leg move together?
Can my left arm and right leg move together?
Can I move my arm across my body?

Can I fix my eyes on the body parts moving? 
Can I work out all these movements with my eyes closed?  

  • motor planning  - connecting the brain with the body in what the body does, the speed, the sequence, the coordination
Can I order get my body organized to perform certain steps and sequences?
Can I coordinate them with a verbal instruction or song? 
Can I do this by copying someone else? 
Can I keep up with a group?


  • sequencing and memory - linked to motor planning it considers how steps are ordered and remembered 
Can I do the steps in the order that I'm supposed to?
Can I remember the sequence on my own?
Can I remember after the modelling has stopped, the next day or the next week? 
Do I need verbal and visual prompts to help me remember? Do I need someone to physically help me to organize my body? 


  • fine motor movements - Isolated or coordinated movements, the development
Can fingers move individually or together?
Can some fingers be hidden away?
Can I develop the arches of my hand?
Can my thumb demonstrate opposition?
Can I move move fingers without looking at them? 
​
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These ideas can be carried out at home, in the classroom, direct OT sessions and via Telehealth Occupational Therapy.  (You can find more about Telehealth OT HERE)

1. Finger Rhymes and Songs. I loved singing to my kids when they were babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  I was accused of being a "walking musical" as I would randomly break into song. I know that this doesn't come naturally to a lot of new parents and you don't have to be a great singer but I do think it is extremely important. Finger rhymes and songs especially in the early years... in addition to all the things I've mentioned above... can help with attachment and connection between parent and child, language development,  cognitive concepts (such as learning numbers, shapes and letters). 

For Telehealth OT, you can sing and model the actions for your child. You could also play a song via a platform like Spotify for you both to sing and do the actions.  I have collated some of my favourites for you to play on your own devices or to share with your families.  Let me know if you want me to demonstrate some of these rhymes and songs! 

Watch --->Finger Play Rhymes and Songs You-Tube Video

Read and Print---> 42 favourite  Finger Play Rhymes and Songs. 
Spotify Playlist ---> YKOT Spotify Action Songs
Preschool Rhyme Bundle --->YKOT shop Preschool Rhyme Printable Bundle.
​
Hand and body movements to song are not restricted to little kids.  Older kids may want to make up their own dance or movements to music or use their bodies to make music.   There are lots of great You-tube videos that encourage movement.  Read more ---> Brain Breaks for Kids. 

​2. Heavy Work for Little Fingers. This was a series of finger movements that I collated a few years ago to help prepare fingers for fine motor activities or handwriting.  These  movements include:
  • Fingers Push
  • Thumb Wars
  • Finger Tip Touch
  • Pinch and Pull
  • Piano Press
  • Dancing Fingers

For Telehealth OT, you could model these actions for your child to copy.  You could also share the pdf on a screenshare or email it to your families to print out. 

Watch ---> Heavy Work for Little Finger You-tube Video.
Read more --->Heavy Work for Little Fingers.
Printable Version ---> YKOT Shop Heavy Work for Little Fingers Printable.
 
3.  Spin the Wheel: This wheel was created at Wheel Decide and I have entered a series of body movements.   My focus is on crossing the midline and I can share this via my "screen share" function on my Telehealth Platform (Coviu). I spin the wheel for the child on my screen, I read the action and the child can perform the action.  Sometimes I need to model the action or the parent/caregiver may also assist the child.  For older children, I incorporate two or three movements in a sequence to remember and perform. 

Note: if you are reading this in my newsletter, you will need to go to my website to access the wheel (click on the little wheel decide logo on the bottom right and this will take you to seeing the wheel on it's own page) . 

​You may prefer not to use the wheel but perform a series of "Simon Says" movements or your own motor patterns to copy.  Children will love to also create motor patterns for you to copy. 

Watch --->Spin The Wheel You-Tube Video.


4. Hand Clapping Challenge.  This hand clapping challenge that has been seen on Tik Tok and other social media  channels.  It is a series of hand actions which will appeal to older children and has been done in groups.  I have found a You-tube video (not mine) which goes through the steps slowly---> Hand Clapping Challenge Instructions.

During Telehealth OT, I share the you-tube video on my screen and we watch the steps together.  I often need pause the video and give my own even slower version of the steps for my OT child to copy.  It is a really great way to work on motor planning, bilateral coordination and memory in particular!

5. Finger Aerobics.  
I created this simple page of coloured dots that I'm using for "finger aerobics".  You can make one yourself or download my  version for free ---->FREE Finger Aerobics Printable.

I have used this to encourage wrist positioning (laying flat on the table), pointing with the index finger whilst tucking away the other fingers, crossing the midline, visual memory and various finger movements. It requires good visual attention and you can adapt this to be as hard or as easy as you would like. 

This printable page could also be used with small manipulatives like coins, pom poms, playdough, buttons!  You can ask your child to place them on certain colours, move them in groups. keep a few in their hand whilst they place one down at a time. 

Watch ---> Finger Aerobics You Tube Video
​
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I hope you try some of these ideas! Let me know if you do and don't forget to watch the you-tube videos to watch me put these in action!

Let me know what your favourite hand and finger games! 
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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 website and blog  Your Kids OT and Sensory Diet Activity Guidebook (ebook).  

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.

Your Kids OT blog - https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog
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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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