RecyclingOT

Save your shampoo, vinegar or bleach bottles to cut in a spiral fashion to make lacing cord. I cut all types of shapes, such as hearts, Easter eggs or fish and make notches in them for lacing. This is a great activity to develop eye-hand coordination with very young children with or without disabilities and older individuals with fine-motor challenges. The young adult in the video loves this type of repetitive activity and has a picture of it in his daily visual schedule. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

My client is a very sweet woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury and has limited hand function. She told me that she likes this activity because it develops her "eye-hand coordination". I adapted a magnetic wand by wrapping it in soft fabric so that it is comfortable while at the same time opening up her hand. The active movement and grasping shown in the video appears to decrease pain, stiffness and enables her to engage in functional movements. This adaptation may be helpful for patients with spasticity due to cerebral palsy or other conditions. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Here is an easy to make activity that develops eye-hand coordination. Young children and older individuals with developmental disabilities such as autism may enjoy the repetitive nature of weaving the shapes together or taking them apart. This fun activity strengthens hands and helps to develop the motor control required to cut with scissors and write. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

It takes force to push these rings down the sturdy tube used as a ring stack. I had a surplus of Frisbees at work and cut out the centers to make the rings (using heavy duty leather shears). My clients with developmental disabilities including some on the autism spectrum love this adapted ring stack. They receive sensory feedback from muscles and joints as they either push the rings down or pull them off. They are encouraged to use both hands in order to be successful. This activity can be performed from a wheelchair or while standing. It can be a solitary activity or performed with a social partner. Reaching to eye level strengthens the arms, promotes visual attention and an upright posture since they are not hunched over looking downward. Learn more about activity adaptations at: http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Coloring and erasing with a dry erase marker is fun! The little girl in the video is developing dexterity to control a pencil, marker or other writing tool as she flips it over to erase and back to color more. This is an easy and quick activity to cut out of a large bottle. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Save those pill bottles! Put marbles, beads, pennies or other cool sounding objects inside. Secure the covers with duct tape. My clients enjoy pulling the bottles out of the openings inside a desk file organizer. They are a perfect fit since it requires force to push them in or pull them out. Using force stimulates the brain- helping people with developmental disabilities to engage while developing hand skills. This activity develops strong hands and coordination. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

My client loves the fan! He is nonverbal, developmentally delayed and has cerebral palsy. I noticed that he has a picture of a fan on his communication board but since it was not summer, there wasn't a fan in the room. I set-up a large button switch that activates a small (safe) fan so that he can turn it on anytime he chooses. He is also able to point to the "fan" picture on his communication board to indicate that he wants the fan and switch set up. Enabling the client to communication what they want and be in control of sensory stimulation such as a fan or music may decrease agitation and increase happiness! Learn more about activity adaptations at: http://www.RecyclingOT.com

This video demonstrates how to cut plastic containers to make one or several sets of Valentine hearts and arrows. Children and adults with developmental disabilities may enjoy celebrating the holiday with this activity. They may 1) put them together or 2) take them apart and then 3) insert the pieces into a container Explore how to use these with your children or clients as they develop fine-motor control and strong fingers. More activity ideas at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Sharing a little Etch-A-Sketch fun and showing off my fine-motor control! http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Form boards are designed for young children to learn how to fit shapes into corresponding openings. My older clients with developmental disabilities are also working on these skills. However, this form board is made with meaningful, age-appropriate pictures that I printed and laminated. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Zoom Ball (also called "Forward Pass") is a great activity for all children and especially helpful for those with visual attention and/or motor coordination challenges. How to play: 1)Each player holds a handle in each hand 2)One player keeps hands close together while the other player moves arms apart. 3)The "ball" flies across to the other player 4) Reverse and repeat over and over again This activity strengthens shoulders, arms and hands. It develops coordination between the right and left sides of the body and rhythm as the ball moves back and forth. Visual attention and tracking skills may improve as children or adults watch the "ball" move quickly back and forth. My clients on the autism spectrum and those with other developmental disabilities have really enjoyed playing this partner game...... Tip: the shorter the cord, the easier to play.... Learn more about activity adaptations at: http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Children and adults with developmental disabilities may enjoy this simple ball game. I filled up a long sock with sensory type objects like bells, marbles, foam, etc. and tied the ends to handles. The handles you see in the video were cut from large bottles but you can create any type of handle you choose as long as it is easy and comfortable to grasp. Players are learning to follow my directions. Perhaps after they learn the steps to this routine another client can position the balls on the table. That will take teamwork! This activity works on developing motor planning skills, visual attention and social skills. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

It was an extreme vestibular and proprioceptive sensory experience swinging from a bar at Tito Gaona's Trapese Academy in Venice, Florida. I recommend it! http://www.titogaona.com

Collect caps or covers to screw on or off the threaded tops and make the following repetitive fine-motor activity. The young man in the video is blind and loves to match, sort and use his advanced cognitive skills. He used to avoid using his hands together but has gotten quite good at it because I keep creating variety and challenging manipulation tasks that he enjoys.... Some children or older individuals may enjoy matching a variety of covers/caps to the corresponding threaded pieces. These may come from detergent, dishwasher soap bottles, vitamin jars, juice or milk cartons or countless other sources. The covers may be screwed on lightly at first and later on more tightly as skill and hand strength develop. Visit my website for more ideas and adaptations: http://www.RecyclingOT.com

My client has spastic hands and is unable to use them. This video demonstrates how to make a jig for someone like her so that she can color. I used this at work and discovered that 1) she loved it 2) its a great way to open her hand, stretch and move her arm bit and... 3) her knuckles were pressing so hard into the plastic her skin got red. Watch the video to see how I revised the jig so that her knuckles press into soft fabric instead of plastic. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Parents, therapists and teachers.... cut up your round containers to make toy buckles. Pushing the tab in and out of the notches develops strong fingers and eye-hand coordination. Use super large food containers for large rings and smaller shampoo bottles for smaller rings. Children can choose to buckle, pull rings open, toss them onto a ring stack or even string them on big strips of fabric. This activity is especially beneficial for children or adults with fine motor challenges who may struggle to close a belt. Make-Your-own buckles are easier than using real belt buckles and there is opportunity for REPETITION! Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

This video demonstrates the types of cues or prompts that may be used to support learning in educational or training settings. These include: 1) Hand over hand assistance 2) physical assistance 3) touch prompts 3) point cues and 4) verbal cues. I frequently use a combination of these supports. For example, I might give physical assistance to reach toward the spoon and then a touch and verbal cue to bring it to his mouth. As a person practices a skill, try to provide the least amount of prompting needed in order to be successful. In addition, pictures may be used, especially when teaching a multi-step task such as laundry or setting the table. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website at: http://www.RecyclingOT.com

When my son was little he loved helping me make activities such as this for my occupational therapy clients. Many of these clients had developmental disabilities, including autism and challenges such as weak hands, short attention spans and poor coordination. The bottle tops are attached to the big detergent container with strips of stretchy fabric. Pulling on the fabric provides sensory stimulation to muscles and joints. Screwing or unscrewing the covers develops strong fingers and coordination. Matching the covers to the bottle tops develops visual perceptual skills. Learn about other activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

People who have difficulty grasping a paintbrush perhaps...due to hand weakness, arthritis pain or spasticity may be able to grasp this adapted Handle for sponge painting. This is one of the many adaptations described in my book: THE RECYCLING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. Learn more at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

People with spasticity may have difficulty grasping or stabilizing objects. This video demonstrates how to adapt with handles cut out of detergent, dishwasher or other bottles. The handles can be attached to activities such as ring stacks, sorting containers or shape sorters using Velcro or tape. This adaptation enabled the little girl in the pink sweater to grasp the green handle attached to the coffee can while inserting picture cards. At the same time her little hand is opened up instead of fisted, helping to maintain her range-of-motion. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

The young man in this video typically does not like to use his hands together to stabilize materials. His attention span is very short and after a few repetitions he usually throws or pushes objects away. I knew that he liked deep pressure and his eyes lit up when he felt his arm inside the tight sock as he removed objects. I am sure that he would do even better if there were an electric toothbrush attached to the bottom. However, I am very proud of him for telling me that he wanted "more" and attending for over a minute.... More sensory strategies at http://www.recyclingOT.com

Wrap and knot cord all over a weighted ball and then tie several black fabric strips all over them. Some of my clients love to untie the "spider legs" and then insert them into the "web". The weighted ball is calming to use on one's lap or table. Children and adults with fine-motor challenges will have a fun opportunity to develop strong fingers and dexterity as they repetitively tie or untie these knots. Learn more about sensory activities and adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Many children and adults with developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorders enjoy repetitive hand activities. The client shown in the video is very active and easily distracted. By adapting the activity to involve movement to retrieve rings she becomes more focused and completes the task. I use flat ring shapes cut out of detergent bottles instead of beads because they will not roll away and many more will fit on the dowels. Learn about activity adaptions on my web site: http://www.recyclingot.com

Pulling and unscrewing lids is sensory fun while developing eye-hand coordination and dexterity. First cut off the tops of containers and punch holes in them. I demonstrate how in the video.... Attach them to a sturdy board using stretchy cord or elastics. Young children will enjoy the sensation to skin, muscles and joints as they pull unscrew or pull the lids. Next you may teach how to match up the lids to the corresponding container tops and put them back together. But, remember..... taking apart is easier and a better place to start teaching a new skill. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.com

This video demonstrates 3 different apple fine motor activities made out of plastic bottles. Bending and lacing plastic apples strengthens fingers and develops eye-hand coordination. Inserting or removing worms from apples is great pretend play and pushing the circles down hard to decorate the big apple develops the motor control needed to grasp a pencil. These activities are fun and help both typically developing children and children with challenges such as autism to build hand skills. Learn more in my books and website at http://www.RecyclingOT.com