Channelling my Inner Tina turner
i need exercise during this pandemic! I love Tina Turner's energy, voice and moves. I miss going wild at the roller rink. Dancing on my treadmill helps me to keep up my energy, balance and coordination until the world gets back to normal. My idea of "normal" means that great music, dance and joy will return to the White House.... I hope that you are also inspired to channel Tina Turner or another favorite performer.
Movement is joy.....
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
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Tablet Fidget Tool to Decrease Anxiety
Do you have anxiety that makes you fidget, pick your skin, overeat, smoke or engage in other repetitive, nonfunctional behaviors that you would prefer to decrease or eliminate? I have had anxiety and busy hands for as long as I can remember. As a child I cracked my knuckles or twirled my hair. I have found fidget tools to be helpful and as an occupational therapist I often explore different types to use with my clients. There is a lot of trial and error to see which work best with an individual, including me! I often change them up, so what works one week may not be my favorite the next week.
My husband said that the back of my tablet looks like a baby's busy board....and it does! I am not learning cause and effect relationships, but rather providing the sensory stimulation deep pressure and movement my hands seek in order to decrease anxiety. As you will see in the video, I can use this while reading or just lay it on my lap while chatting, listening to music or engaging in other sedentary nonreading activities. I also enjoy keeping my hands busy with arts and crafts, food preparation, carrying weights while running and other types of exercise. However, reading is my all-time favorite occupation! I hope that this tablet fidget activity helps others who need to keep their hands busy in healthy ways.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Blind Individual with Developmental Disabilities Learns to use a Hole Puncher
I had no idea how smart Micky was! He is blind, developmentally disabled, on the autistic spectrum and only uses a handful of words. When he first entered the day program 4 years ago, Micky refused to touch any objects. His tactile defensiveness is so severe that he receives nutrition via a G-tube because he does not tolerate food inside his mouth. I designed activities that were simple to perform and tolerable to touch. Objects are plastic, wooden or rubber because he dislikes soft textures. I initially designed activities to require force so that Micky would
1) Strengthen his hands
2) Receive deep pressure (proprioceptive) sensory stimulation
Micky typically has his fingers in his ears because he is also sensitive to auditory stimuli. Notice how flat his hands are. He has had little experience squeezing objects and strengthening his intrinsic hand muscles! Over time Micky became very good at pushing golf balls through a hole in a bucket and a few other similar tasks. He now tolerates touching materials made of fabric.
Now the exciting part! I had a different client in mind when I brought over the hole puncher, but decided to give Micky a turn. He learned how to perform this complex multi-step task given hand over hand assistance and auditory cues. He followed all of my verbal directions so well that after 30 minutes of training, he was able to perform the following steps with only verbal cues:
1) Find a round shape and put it into the puncher
2) Reposition the shape as needed so that it is pushed into place
3) Left fingers stabilize the shape while right hand pushes the handle down
4) Right hand brings handle back up
5) Feel the plastic piece to make sure it has a hole in it
6) Repeat if the hole is missing
7) Place the shape into the container
Work is cancelled next week due to the corona virus but I bet my friend, Micky will be independently performing this task after a few more trainings. He LOVES the intellectual challenge of sequencing complex steps and that this task is FUNCTIONAL. We will be using the plastic money shapes for stringing and on hook boards.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
227
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Creating Pictures with Magnets and Stencils
Here is a simple to make and use fine-motor activity for children or individuals with disabilities of any age. All you need is
1) A magnetic surface
2) Small magnetic pieces
3) A stencil
I happened to have flat magnetic puzzle boards that were too difficult for many of my clients to use so I cut them up into the small yellow, red and blue pieces that are shown in the video. You may purchase pretty magnets or plain ones that you pretty up with tape. Individualize according to your child or client’s fine motor abilities. I made very easy to use fish and heart stencils to fill up with magnets. However, you can increase the challenge by using more intricate stencils and/or smaller magnets. Perhaps the individual will create designs with the colors. Easter eggs would be perfect if working on a theme!
Obviously small magnets create a choking risk for the very young and others who put objects in their mouths. For the safe users- peeling small magnets off surfaces is a great way to strengthen fingers and develop dexterity---the motor control required to use a pencil. Use stronger magnets to increase challenge!
Working in the vertical plane strengthens the arms and shoulders and promotes visual attention. Consider working on a refrigerator or metal file cabinet, magnetic white board attached to a wall or place a small magnetic white board on a book stand. Removing the magnetic pieces when finished also works on finger dexterity. The one drawback I found was that once this activity is finished there is no remaining work to hang on the wall. I took photos of my clients holding their finished products (at their request) so that they could have a memento. A few other bonuses to this activity:
1) There is no paint or other mess, not that anything is wrong with messes, but this is so easy to clean up!
2) Materials can be used repeatedly. Consider laminating homemade stencils if you want to reuse them.
3) Making new stencils is super quick and easy and your child or client may help you make them….
4) This activity teaches individuals to discriminate correct and incorrect since the magnets will not stick if the wrong side (black magnetic side) is showing or the magnets are piled up on top of each other.
5) This activity can keep an artist busy for a long time when using a large stencil and many small magnets. Some children and adults love to be busy. Adapt according to their attention span.
I love the “WOW” factor when the stencils are removed. Adapt this activity for your child or client’s needs and you will all have a fun, learning experience!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Picture Communication Board and Developmental Disabilities
This client is nonverbal but wants to communicate. He frequently pulls on the staff’s sleeves and places their hand on top of his head to indicate wanting it rubbed. He also likes cookies and music. The speech therapist taped the 3 pictures onto the table so that they are always available to use to communicate his desires. He is still learning to point to a picture rather than pull on someone’s sleeves but with consistency and practice, he is learning how to use a communication board. Over time, new pictures will be added. As the video shows, he clearly enjoys exercising his skills to ask for what he wants. Not shown: his smiling face!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
204
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Stringing Ring Stack Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
I came across a small patio-type table minus the top. It has 4 curved legs that I immediately thought would make awesome ring stacks. I have a lot of experience cutting up plastic containers to make flat rings. I like these better than 3-dimensional rings because they don’t roll away and they take up less space when stacking or storing materials. I cut simple shapes in blue, white, purple and yellow to resemble familiar objects such as bananas, boats, berries, fish, ghosts and snowmen. Place the chair legs upside down on a table as shown in the video or perhaps a bit higher to require reaching.
My clients enjoyed color matching the rings. However, they did it too easily and quickly without working on more challenging skills. So, I cut additional smaller holes in each shape for lacing strips of fabric or cord. Make a big knot on the end so that it can be pulled without slipping out. This additional feature created problem-solving and fine motor challenges to
1) Use the largest hole to stack rings onto the chair legs
2) Use one of the smaller holes to begin lacing so that the knot prevents it from sliding all the way through and out.
3) Pull the cord or fabric strip completely through and
4) Motor plan to later remove the cord from the shapes
Plastic pieces may be placed on the floor or scattered around a room, hallway or another area to require movement as they retrieve the materials. In addition, using thick cord that requires force to pull through the smaller holes provides proprioceptive sensory stimulation to muscles and joint.
Provide lots of materials if your child or client likes to be busy for long periods of time with repetitive tasks and fewer if they have short attention spans. I love the flexibility and price when I make and adapt my own materials.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
400
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Sensory-Motor Bead Insertion Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
A parent gave me a large amount of extra medical tubing and I have found lots of uses! This activity works on eye-hand coordination, reaching above eye level and lots of great sensory movement. The individual in the video likes to move both high and low and across the room. He really does not like to sit. He has very good eye-hand coordination to insert small objects into the open end of the tubing and the cognitive skills not to eat them.
Materials required:
1) 2 small clear plastic bottles with screw caps
2) Tubing found in medical catalogs or hardware stores
3) Small, colorful beads, pegs or other items
4) Duct tape
Attach one end of the tubing permanently into a bottle top and duct tape in place. You may need to wedge the tubing into a hole you cut inside the cap to make it fit snuggly. Cut an opening into the other screw cap and wedge it onto the open end of the tubing. In the video, you can see the red cap near the top of the tubing where the clients are inserting the objects. When the client is finished inserting them:
1) Screw the empty bottle onto the red cap. Nowt each end of the blue tubing is wedged inside a cap and bottle.
2) Flip the bottles over so that the beads pour into the empty bottle.
3) Unscrew the filled bottle from the tubing
4) Pour the contents into a container so that they are ready to use
5) Optional: Place the container on the floor and/or across the room to require high/low sensory stimulation movement
This design makes it easy to remove the contents without having them splatter. Its neater and safer and actually fun to do. Clients have an opportunity to practice screwing and unscrewing caps to perform this activity. The client shown in the video enjoyed following my multi-step directions…..
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
322
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Rocking Chair/Weighted Fine-Motor Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
I designed the following sensory activity with a specific individual in mind. This is an individual who enjoys shaking, tossing or squeezing sensory-based objects such as squeeze balls. He has been very on edge due to the Christmas holiday and upcoming 10-day break. Many of my adult clients with developmental disabilities love the structure and predictability of a day program- Monday through Friday. They find routine changes a bit scary and discombobulating. I expect BIG smiles when they come marching in after New Years day.
The individual in this video loves repetitive, fine-motor tasks such as stringing, peg and form boards or pushing golf balls with force into a container opening. He is also an individual who can be grumpy and hit you when demands are made. He appears to enjoy the rocking chair’s movement and weighted materials. The long lap cushion is
• Filled with bags of sand and washers for weight/proprioception stimulation
• Covered with felt or fleece for tactile stimulation
• Adapted with plastic coils and stretchy cord to pull or use for stringing tasks and;
• Decked out with fidget balls with a bell inside (covered with Hook Velcro) that can be pulled on and off the felt cushion (acts like loop Velcro) and/or shake to hear bells – proprioception and auditory sensory stimulation.
The choice of whether or not to rock and how much force to use gives him a sense of control over movement that impacts his vestibular sensory stimulation. The individual shown in the video did not appear to be very interested in shaking, pulling or squeezing the sensory items. Hopefully, soon after New Year’s my other client will be chilled out enough to take a turn with this new, fidget sensory tool that provides just the type of sensory stimulation he seeks throughout his day.
411
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Christmas Tree Eye-Hand Coordination Activity using Tie Wraps
I started playing around with tie wraps when I found a large container of them anonymously donated and placed on my desk at work. Pushing tie wraps through holes works on many skills.
1) They need to be inserted with the narrow end entering the hole since the fatter end prevents the tie wrap from going all the way through. If that happens simply attach a little duct tape to make one end larger. I love watching children or my clients problem solving.....
2) Attaching the tie wraps works on bilateral hand skills (using hands together) and eye-hand coordination.
3) Position the Christmas tree or any plastic shape higher on the book stand to promote reaching and upright posture. The materials may be attached to a wall or suspended from the ceiling. The client in the video is elderly and, in a wheelchair, so using the book stand was perfect for her.
4) Some children or clients will enjoy making a color pattern or copying a picture of a tree with all of the “lights” in place. Imitating or copying the patterns or pictures works on visual perceptual skills. That is something occupational therapists love to do!
5) Many children or clients will find it easier and just as much fun to remove the tie wraps and place into a container. I attached the red bottle to the top of the book stand. It has a hole in the lid for a straw and is perfect for inserting and storing the tie wraps.
6) This activity is versatile! You can use the same Christmas tree or other shape for lacing or attaching paper fasters. They can also insert the tie wrap through a hole and then tie it in place- as tie wraps are meant to do. Of course, the tie wraps can not be removed after they are connected. They make cute tree ornaments……
The size, color and type of plastic shapes used is limited by your imagination! Try cutting a star, Easter egg, valentine or fish. Integrate beads to the craft. Kitty litter containers are often large and made of a softer type of plastic that is easy to punch. I show the heavy-duty hole puncher I use all the time- in the video.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
307
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How to Decrease Tactile Defensiveness to Water
My client, a young lady with developmental disabilities hates to get her hands wet, especially when assisted to wash her hands. My goal is to increase her exposure to having wet hands so that she increases her tolerance to washing them. I have had some success placing a preferred object in a sink filled with water so that she wets her hands while retrieving it. However, she hates to be in the bathroom in general and is happier in the program room. Therefore, I also like the activity shown in the video. She seems to have forgotten that she hates water because she is busy doing one of her favorite things- moving objects from one container to another. Desensitization to a disliked sensation such as wet hands is one approach to help a child or adult with developmental or other types of disabilities overcome their aversion so that they better engage in functional tasks.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
279
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Brush Stringing for Sensory Processing Disorders
Many people including myself enjoy the feeling of rubbing a brush against the arms and hands. I received training decades ago on how to administer the Wilbarger Protocol that involves rubbing with a surgical brush every 2 hours to decrease tactile defensiveness. I find the hair brush purchased from the Dollar Store much more calming. The hair brush provides a greater amount of stimulation. I can barely feel the surgical brush when I rub it on my arms. I tied one of these hairbrushes to a client’s table so that he can decide when to rub it on his arms and hands and how much pressure to use to meet his sensory needs. This hairbrush also feels good when squeezed!
The video demonstrates the same stringing activity used by 2 clients with very different abilities. The blind client has very good motor planning skills and is able to push the fabric pieces with slits onto the brush to slide down the cord. When I first started working with him 5 years ago, he refused to touch most objects. He is so tactile defensive that he refuses to eat! (he has a GI tube). Now he enjoys pushing golf balls through a small opening so it takes force to make it go down. This has helped him tolerate deep pressure to his palms and tolerate touch in general. Notice how flat his hands are because he has avoided grasping inside his palms all of his life!
The second client has motor planning challenges. He loves to fidget with objects to meet his sensory needs, including this hair brush. He wasn’t eager to slide rings down the cord but realized that he was able to fidget with the hair brush as he pleased while working on this task. I only offer large plastic rings to string because he does not have the motor planning skills to manipulate the fabric squares with slits that you see the first client using. I really love how I am able to individualize activities for my clients to meet their sensory and motor needs….
This activity may be adapted using different types of sensory items such as a Koosh ball or motorized tooth brush tied to the end of the cord. Explore using cord of shorter or longer lengths, larger or smaller rings according to the individual’s abilities to help them achieve easy success and gradually add challenge.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
3.34K
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Crazy Straw Ring Stack to Develop Fine-Motor Skills
A blind client with very good dexterity enjoys attaching the small rings to the crazy straws. She is a pro! This is a great activity for developing motor planning skills and refining dexterity. Some individuals will enjoy color matching. I purchased the straws in a set of 6 different colors. Your child or client may enjoy matching all six colors. Cut the rings out of the vibrant plastic bottles that remain after using detergent or dishwasher soap. These rings can also be used for stringing. I love when materials can be used in more than one way and your child will, too. These rings are very small, so it’s best to use with individuals who do not put objects in their mouths....
Adapt the activity according to your child or client’s needs by
1) Use only 1 color or several if the person wants to color match
2) Position the straws on raised surfaces to promote reaching and upright posture.
3) Bury the rings in a container filled with marbles, pom-poms, beads and other small sensory objects. This will encourage visual and/or tactile exploration as the person finds the rings to stack.
4) Make clay or putty balls. Stick them on the table and push a straw into each. Now the straws are in position to use. Some children or clients will love integrating sensory clay or putty into the activity. Let their imaginations go wild!
5) Try burying the rings inside the clay or putty. This is a great way to strengthen and wake up fingers before performing the crazy ring stack activities.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
119
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Calf Loves Mother's Milk!
Ahhhh (or should I say moooooo)- it's always sweet to watch the baby-mother bond! I loved breast-feeding my baby 31 years ago. He was a very sensitive, fussy baby who was difficult to soothe. Even though I am an occupational therapist and worked for 2 years in an early intervention program (I went into labor on my last day of employment there) I had no idea that not all babies cried so frequently, wanted to nursed all the time and took hours of settling down to sleep and then woke up 3 hours later for more TLC. I read “The Art of Breast Feeding” while pregnant and the concepts totally meshed with my values. I think most people love books that confirm a previously help belief system and lucky for my son, I was happy to nurse on demand and have him sleep with us on a Futon on the floor. The room was carpeted and babyproofed, so sometimes he rolled away during the night. Yikes! I have digressed from the adorable baby calf in the video!
Like all babies, baby cow- who I will name Effie is hungry, has a strong desire to stimulate the mouth area and doesn’t care that a sibling is longingly waiting at the wings for a turn. Mom seems more concerned about swiping away flies. This is late October at Appleton Farm In Ipswich, Massachusetts. The scenery is stunning and the babies are active. I’ve become a vegan over the past year and won’t be buying the cheese sold at the farm at the time of this writing. However, I have fond memories of the cheese being delicious, especially the goat cheese. I make no judgements here about eating choices…. I just love watching a mammal feed her baby.
Effie is getting lots of good sensory stimulation especially to the tactile and proprioceptive sensory systems. The word “tactile” refers to our sense of touch. The skin is our largest sensory organ because it is everywhere. Effie is getting good deep pressure tactile stimulation around that mouth and face while sucking. In addition, I think that her head whacking action provides proprioceptive sensory stimulation to both baby and mom. We all have sensory receptors called “proprioceptors” in our muscles and joints that get stimulated when force is used. For example, a person stimulates her proprioceptors when she carries a heavy child around, scrubs poop off a blanket or a toddler breast-feeds. I bet Effie and her mom are both enjoying all that great sensory stimulation!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
433
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Color Matching Pill Box Activity for Developmentally Disabled
Some children and individuals with disabilities are easily overwhelmed when there are a large number of materials around. The task seems endless! I find that it helps to set up materials so that it’s obvious that the activity won’t last too long and the end is in sight….. Filling up sections in a pill box or other sectioned container is a great for individuals with short attention spans.
The pill box shown in the video has 17 sections, but you can find one with less to makes success easier. You may find a different type of container with larger sections that are easier to use. I found the little cylindrical objects in a closet at work. They were just the right size to fill the pill box sections. I directed clients to place color stickers on each object and matching stickers in the container sections. In addition, they attached Velcro to each object. Now my materials were ready and I spent very little money!
Some children or clients may not have the cognitive skills to match colors. But when they do, they love using these skills. In the video you will see an individual who enjoys matching the objects to the same color section in the container. However, the activity can also be used with people who do not color match or individuals who prefer to attach the objects to a long, suspended strip of Velcro. Reaching for the Velcro incorporates movement/exercise into the activity. Many of my clients are quite sedentary, so I try to set up materials to involve either moving high/low, across the room or both.
If the individual is unable to stand, try setting up with the Velcro strip raised or suspended within reach or on top of the table. Simply ripping objects off Velcro promotes using hands together because its difficult to do with only one hand. Many people enjoy the sensory experience of ripping or pulling apart objects using force. Another adaptation is to use number or alphabet stickers instead of colors. Then individuals can show off their cognitive abilities.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Lollipop Lacing Rings Develop Fine-Motor Skills
These “lollipop” rings are versatile while working on many different motor, cognitive, language and other skills. I have previously shared videos of activities that involve weaving in and out on various boards/shapes or long strands of plastic or fabric textures with slits or holes cut out of them for inserting, stringing or lacing. I share videos below that demonstrate how to make and use these types of activities.
This video demonstrates how I simplified the task so that success would be easier. The client simply needs to use his or her hands to stabilize the board or strand and remove the inserted “lollipop”. The lollipop shapes may have small holes so that they can be attached to a pegboard or a larger hole that enables it to be pushed down a ring stack. Perhaps your child or client would like to string them on cord or laced on a board. Adjust the size of the holes according to the client’s or your child’s fine motor control and abilities.
I adapted the activity shown in the video to require one client to ask a peer to take the lollipop rings from him and stack them on a tall ring stack. The seated client has cerebral palsy and was working on using his hands together. He was able to slow down his requests to take the pieces and say “please” (not shown in video) as we worked with his friend to take each lollipop ring from him. This activity works on skills to improve
1) Visual attention
2) Following directions/sequencing
3) eye-hand coordination
4) using the weaker hand to stabilize materials
5) balance (when performed standing)
6) reaching/shoulder strengthening (when performed reaching to shoulder height or higher.
7) Vestibular sensory stimulation when moving high/low or across the room to place objects in containers.
8) Proprioception/body awareness to judge how much force to use to push the rings down the tall ring stack
9) Social skills to work with a peer
10) Communication skills to get the peer’s attention in an appropriate manner
The following videos demonstrate making and using similar activities:
https://rumble.com/v8a017-spiral-lacing-for-individuals-with-developmental-disabilities.html
https://rumble.com/v890qy-yoga-mat-manipulation-activity-for-people-with-developmental-disabilities.html
https://rumble.com/v4de91-simple-weaving-shapes-for-children-with-autism.html
https://rumble.com/v3r4nj-make-your-own-apple-toys-for-preschoolers.html
https://rumble.com/v3ih1r-weavable-toys-develop-fine-motor-skills.html
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
239
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Spiral Lacing for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
This activity provides a new "twist" to lacing. To begin, cut a spiral shape as demonstrated in this video: https://rumble.com/v60wky-how-to-make-spring-rings-for-fine-motor-activities.html
Use a heavy-duty hole puncher to make holes. Tie a string to one end, suspend and voila you are ready for developing dexterity!
This activity can be adapted by:
1)Use tie wraps instead of string to increase challenge
2)Use firmer cord instead of string to make easier
3) Enlarge the holes by cutting around the holes after they are punched
4) Suspend from a book stand or wall according to the individual's needs
5) Place the tie wraps in a container across the room to integrate movement into the activity
6) Punch fewer holes with bigger spacing than shown in the video to make easier
7) Make the spiral longer by tying 2 together
This activity develops eye-hand coordination, visual attention, reaching/shoulder strengthening, and bilateral hand skills (using hands together).
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
29
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Yoga Mat Manipulation Activity for People with Developmental Disabilities
Someone gave me an old yoga mat. My clients scrubbed it clean! It is perfect to cut up for fine-motor activities because it has a fun texture and is easy to bend and manipulate while at the same time not flimsy.
I cut notches in the green mat panels to either insert or remove the large popsicle sticks that happen to have phrases printed on them. Several of my clients enjoy reading them and the phrase topics may be used to initiate a discussion. Clients of different abilities can be involved in the same group when some clients read the phrases and others insert them into containers. There are many ways to individualize these activities. For example:
1) Some clients will only remove the sticks, which is easier than inserting
2) Use a container with a large opening or a small slot in the lid for inserting
3) Use smaller or larger sticks or similar objects
4) Cut larger slits in the yoga mat to make insertions easier
5) Provide a bag to hold materials located across the room to incorporate movement as the client walks to reach it.
6) Place materials in a box on the floor to involve high/low movements as clients transfer and insert the sticks
7) Adapt to involve color matching of sticks to yoga mat panel pieces
8) Use flimsier materials to make more challenging
9) Instead of using yoga mat, use different textured panels for tactile stimulation
10) Color code or number to match sticks and panel pieces
11) Set up a work station with different jobs so that clients work together to read the sticks, insert, place in a bag….
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
240
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Spring Toys: Sensory Stimulation Helps the Developmentally Disabled
Spring toys help babies develop grasping skills. When they pull it- a spring makes it vibrate for a few seconds, motivating the baby to pull again....and again. These toy provide sensory stimulation without using batteries…. I love them!
Children or adults with developmental disabilities often enjoy objects that vibrate. All of the clients shown in the videos are blind and one is blind and deaf.
Pulling on the spring toy:
1)strengthens the person's hand grip
2) engages the person as they receive proprioceptive sensory stimulation from pulling and the vibration
3) teaches the cause and effect relationship that pulling the toy makes it vibrate
4) Eventually the individual may use the spring toy independently as a recreational activity.
5) Work on receptive language skills such as "pull again" or "do more"
Notice that I varied the set up as I explored how to meet the individual's needs using trial and error. One woman learned quickly how to pull and was happy to use her strength to pull repeatedly. I helped her to maintain her grasp by adapting with an EasyHold universal cuff. https://eazyhold.com
Some clients needed hand-over-hand assistance and repetition to feel for and grasp the object. Some clients did better grasping the soft toy while I pulled the other end. I attached the toy to the lid of a large container so the person can stop to give it a pull during or upon completion of an insertion task. The options are limitless which is why I love occupational therapy!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
252
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Wiffle Ball Spider Fine-Motor Activity
Here's a fun fine-motor activity that's great for all ages. I attached wiffle balls to a plastic bottle and provided lots of tie wraps to insert through. They look like spider legs to me and my clients loved the idea of making "spiders".
I punched holes all over the bottle to insert the removed tie wraps and cut an opening on the bottom of the bottle to make removing them easy. My client shown in the video chose to insert the tie wraps into the top of the bottle. You may choose to keep the cover on if you want the greater challenge of inserting them through holes. Make smaller holes for greater challenge!
Options:
1) attach more balls to make the activity last longer
2) Children or clients may choose to make the "spider legs" all the same color.
3) Insert a motorized toothbrush inside the bottle to make the spider shake.
4) Use a larger bottle or attach the wiffle balls to a wall so that materials are at eye level. This will promote visual attention and upright posture.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
183
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Manipulating CD Holder Develops Fine-Motor Skills
I often find therapeutic objects on the street while cycling around town. I had no idea what this object was but I liked how the moving parts swung to each side and it was tall enough to require reaching. I cleaned it up and found a stack of old CDs in sleeves at work. An individual at my program already enjoyed putting the CD in the sleeves. Now I had the holder to add to his sequence. The sleeves are nice and colorful, making the finished product rather interesting to look at!
This activity works on:
1) Sequencing CDs into the sleeves and then the sleeves into the holder
2) Manipulation skills to insert the CDs into sleeves and then the sleeves into the holder.
3) Visual attention
4)Reaching up high promotes an upright posture.
I love how this is such a functional task that anyone might need to do at home!
An optional adaptation: Cover the CDs with colors to match the CD sleeves. Then clients can work on color matching.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Dog Leash Sensory Stringing for Developmental Disabilities
I attached a retractable dog leash to a book stand so clients need to reach and pull to string shapes onto the end. It feels quite nice to stimulate the muscles by pulling on the leash and this is a great way to help people with limited range of motion to reach and exercise their upper extremities.
The woman in the video enjoys both stringing and removing the pictures. She is able to identify some of the pictures in English and Spanish! This activity is also a great way to promote bilateral hand skills since many children and adults with developmental disabilities avoid using their hands together.
Remember: Sensory makes fine-motor FUN….
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Vibrating Ring Stack and Stringing Activity for Developmental Disabilities
I attached a dowel to a vibrating cushion to make a vibrating ring stack. Vibration motivates the blind individual with developmental disabilities shown in the video- to engage in a bilateral repetitive fine motor task (in plain English, using his hands together) . He currently does best using large rings since he is a bit impulsive and impatient.
I also attached a long fabric cord for stringing smaller rings. Hopefully, he will develop the motor control and patience to manipulate stringing these, too. The woman in the video is able to discriminate size in order to place the larger rings on the ring stack and smaller rings on the fabric cord. She likes a cognitive challenge!
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Make Matching Picture Activities from Magnetic Puzzles Pieces
Here's a great way to use the magnetic puzzle pieces from incomplete puzzles you thought of throwing away! Simply photograph each puzzle piece and print onto a sheet. I fit 6 pieces per page. It’s nice and easy to print more sheets when they get ripped, dirty or lost.....
You can photograph any magnetic picture, words or other flat materials to make similar matching activities. In the video you will see a client matching the month cards used during orientation onto the sheet I made. She obviously enjoyed doing this and it added a different component to orientation.
This activity works on skills to:
1) Use hands together as one hand stabilizes the paper and the other hand places the magnetic pictures.
2) Photo, picture or word identification and matching
3) Language skills as you talk about the pictures or words
4) Visual attention because the materials are right there in front of the person's face.
5) Visual scanning to find the pictures that go on each sheet
In the last photo you see the finished product of matching photos of coins to sheets of several coin pictures. This client has good picture matching skills and likes repetitive tasks. He found this relaxing. Some individuals may have the cognitive abilities to identify the coin values or add up the money amounts on each sheet.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Suspended Clothing Fasteners Fine-Motor Activity
This fine-motor activity provides an opportunity to practice opening or closing clothing fasteners repeatedly to refine hand skills. Many clients enjoy repetitive tasks and find them calming. Other benefits include:
1) the materials are right in front of the individuals face, making it easier to see what they are manipulating
2) Standing is aerobic for people who tend to sit all day, so its a form of exercise
3) There are options to first learn opening buttons or snaps which is easier than closing them.
4) This activity can be adapted to perform sitting by suspended the materials from the ceiling above the person’s table area.
5) Manipulating clothing fasteners is a common school or day program goal and very functional!
Try to start out using extra-large buttons, snaps, zippers or other clothing fasteners if you can find them to make learning easier.
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
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Suspended Velcro Sensory- Motor Activity
Suspend a strip of Loop Velcro from the ceiling or other high surface. Provide pictures with Hook Velcro on the backs to attach or remove from the suspended strip. The clients can place the removed pictures on a board or insert them into a container. Things I love about this activity:
1) It’s easier to visually attend when working with materials suspended in front of your face
2) It’s really difficult to attach or remove Velcro pictures from the strip using only one hand. Therefore, clients will work on bilateral hand skills
3) This activity involves movement! Clients are out of their seats, possibly moving across the room to place the pictures on a board. They also receive vestibular stimulation as they move from high- low while attaching or removing the pictures.
4) It takes some problem solving to make all the pictures fit on the strip. They may need to move the pictures around to make adequate space for pictures to fit between other pictures. This activity develops spatial relationship skills!
5) Last but not least, the clients are working with a moving, suspended strip of Velcro. This develops eye-hand coordination.
The blind client shown in the video was already familiar with removing Velcro from a board to insert into a container. This activity added a new twist and a bit of challenge to an activity that was getting a bit boring. Making small changes to successful activities is a great way to increase hand skills
Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog:
http://www.RecyclingOT.com
http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com
http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com
614
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