RecyclingOT

Using vertical surfaces has always been a popular occupational therapy strategy used in school systems and pediatric clinics. I work with adults with developmental disabilities who continue to benefit from vertical plane activities. I notice that in many of the program rooms these fantastic therapeutic materials (AKA white boards) are filled with schedules, photographs and organized to be attractive as well as functional. However I believe that whiteboards can be functional, therapeutic and as well as beautiful! This video demonstrates just one of many simple therapeutic activities that uses 3 common materials: Magnetic white boards, dry erase markers and magnets. Benefits of this activity for young children and/or adults with developmental disabilities include: 1) Visual attention is easier when materials are right in front of the face 2) Standing, reaching high/low and moving back and forth between magnet container and white board is more aerobic than sitting and movement provides sensory stimulation. Unfortunately, many of my clients who are obese and sedentary may find this activity an endurance challenge. 3)Students or clients developing social skills as they work together to perform one of the 3 main steps (i.e. drawing circles, placing or removing magnets and cleaning the board) 4) Learning to clean the board helps them to improve similar motor and daily living skills such as wiping tables or drying trays. 5)This activity encourages using both side of the body at the same time. My client in the wheelchair who had a brain injury avoids using hands together and crossing midline. This activity was fun and fairly simple so he was willing to use one hand to control the wheelchair and the other hand to do the task. 6) This activity can be easily adapted to work on cognitive skills such as color matching, picture identification or counting. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

These "curly insertion strips" are cut out of round containers. They add a little pizzazz and challenge to ordinary insertion tasks as children or adults with developmental disabilities manipulate them. This activity promotes 1) using two hands together 2) visual attention when materials are raised to eye level 3)sequencing skills when the strips are pulled off a cord and then inserted 4) sensory stimulation when pulling or pushing to remove or insert the strips Adapt the activity according to the person's needs. Insertion openings may be larger or smaller than the ones shown here. The curly strips may be longer or shorter. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Children or adults with sensory processing disorders might enjoy pushing pieces of fabric on or pulling them off a simple homemade stack. Simply wedge a sturdy tube inside a detergent bottle. Secure with duct tape. The bottle handle provides an enlarged, comfortable grasping handle that encourages them to stabilize materials. Individuals with autism and others with sensory processing disorders benefit from the force used to pull or push the fabric on or off the tube. Use varied fabric textures to develop tactile discrimination skills. It is often easier for children with attention challenges to visually engage on what they are doing when the materials are straight in front of their eyes. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Attaching colorful stickers to indicate which end of the clothespin to squeeze is a simple and effective adaptation. Squeezing clothespins strengthens fingers and helps young children develop a tripod pencil grasp. My sedentary clients benefit as they move around the room or reach high and low to retrieve or return the clothespins. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

This activity develops bilateral hand skills as individuals insert a picture attached with string and beads through a container opening. This is really difficult to do when using only one hand as many of my clients attempt! This activity also develops visual perceptual skills to rotate and position objects to fit through the opening. I used laminated pictures of meaningful objects to work on picture identification and language. Another option is to cut shapes out of readily available plastic containers. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

This "sensory table" enables me to provide a fun, safe area for clients to pull, push, squeeze, roll and even pedal an arm cycle. The materials are strapped onto the table and nothing reaches as far as their mouths- removing choking risks. The idea came when I observed these individuals reaching over to grab materials other clients were using for insertions, puzzles or ring stacks. Some materials on this "sensory table" make sounds or vibrate. It’s a work in progress as I add new items that my clients may enjoy or remove items they grow bored with.... Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

One of my clients is blind, likes to sing and has pretty good coordination. The other has cerebral palsy, uses a communication book and loves to help. They are the best of friends as you will see in this video as they work together to remove the plastic "clothespins" from the cord I tied around the table. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

This sweet man is blind-deaf and cognitively impaired, but he enjoys insertion tasks, especially novel ones. He has been inserting objects into container openings for many years and he seemed to enjoy a new challenge--- reaching to remove the "clothespins" I made by cutting up plastic containers. This activity works on: 1) exploring his environment 2) reaching with both hands 3) using one hand to stabilize the container while using the other hand to insert objects. Notice that I attached golf balls with Velcro to the top of the table to insert into the containers round hole. The bucket functions as a 2 hole shape- sorter. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

My clients really enjoyed this hoop activity! It requires 2 hoops and 3 or more players. The player in orange picks up the empty hoop and places it over the first individual. Then this first individual steps out of the hoop and the 2nd player steps into the newly emptied hoop. This sequence can continue indefinitely. Some children or adults may be able to play this with 2 teams and compete to see who can reach an end point first.... I love this activity because it works on • balance as the individuals step in and out of hoops • motor planning as the hoop is placed over a player’s head • following directions and • patience to wait for the other players to complete their part…. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Make-Your-Own clothespins for an unlimited supply of bright, vibrant, any size clothespins to clip onto a line. Here is the video that demonstrates how… https://rumble.com/v690er-diy-clothespins-activity-to-build-fine-motor-skills.html I love this activity because my clients get exercise and sensory stimulation when moving high and low or across the room to retrieve materials. They are also working on visual attention, manipulation skills and sequencing. Color sorting is optional. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Do-It-Yourself clothespins can be used in many different activities with children or adults with or without disabilities. Your children will love watching you recycle plastic containers to make their toys! The video shows the metal CD stand I found at a yard sale. It seemed perfect for attaching either purchased or home-made clothespins. Some individuals love color matching and others may prefer simply removing them. The individual in the video has a lot of energy so I scattered the plastic pins on the floor for him to gather up before attaching. The metal stand is removed when he is finished to avoid accidentally throwing it. Option: Try tying cord across the room to attach the “clothespins”. Reaching to attach or remove them is great exercise for elderly individuals or anyone who benefits from reaching activities. Residents in nursing homes may enjoy this, too! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Ripping Velcro off backings is fun for children and adults! Pulling provides sensory stimulation to muscles and joints and many people enjoy the ripping sound. The client in the video is blind , so the auditory and proprioceptive input helps him focus as he sequences the steps of 1) ripping the shapes off the board and 2) inserting them into the container. Students or clients with vision might enjoy identifying pictures before ripping them off the board. Some may be able to identify the shapes. It has been challenging to find a repetitive task that this individual can perform independently, I think I found a winner….. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Pulling objects out of a tight sock provides deep pressure sensory stimulation to skin, muscles and joints. This activity adaptation adds the complexity of pulling the rings off of the cord that is attached inside the long sock. This client is visually impaired and frequently seeks sensory stimulation by shaking her head. I think that she enjoys this type of repetitive sensory-based activity that offers a greater challenge that simply inserting objects into an opening. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

This activity combines stringing with fitting shapes into a container opening. Use thicker cord or make the lid opening smaller to increase the amount of force required. Using force to pull and push provides sensory stimulation to muscles and joints. Many children or adults with sensory processing disorders and/or autism may be motivated to engage in this type of sensory-based adaptation. Explore inserting a motorized toothbrush into the container for addition stimulation! The client shown in this video typically avoids using his hands together but loves simple insertion tasks. The combination of stringing and insertion is very motivating for him. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Recycle those broken phone chargers or buy a cheap one from a Dollar Store to make this great sensory stimulation fine-motor activity. Suitable for young children with or without disabilities or adults who enjoy repetitive hand tasks; this activity develops skills to: 1) Use hands together 2) Eye-Hand coordination 3) Manipulate screw covers 4) Color matching In addition, this activity helps children discover which hand they prefer using. Notice which hand seems stronger or better coordinated while grasping the handle with one hand and pulling with the other and then reversing hands used. Ask your child or student which feels better. Pulling the shapes on or off the coils requires force and force builds strength while stimulating the muscles and joints. Many of my clients find this calming. Give it a try! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Both of these adults with developmental disabilities have behavioral challenges and love to earn token rewards at their day program. They can easily become frustrated and agitated but were highly motivated to work together to sequence adding loops to a long chain. I provided verbal directions and actually started to sing them and after about 10 minutes they were able to work with only supervision. One client has the motor planning skills to form and sequence the loops and the other client has he skills to pull the long strand -keeping the materials taut and untangled. I love team work! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Children and adults with autism and/or other types of developmental disabilities will be motivated to pull these home-made “spring rings” as they stretch them over a ring stack or pull them off objects (i.e. ring stacks or suspended cord) to insert into container openings. Pulling on these springy spirals is fun to watch and stimulates the skin, joints and muscles in the process. Manipulating these rings promotes using hands together and motor planning skills. Children with or without disabilities will enjoy all this sensory stimulation and children who avoid touching objects may find them irresistible! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Individuals with sensory processing disorders (SPD) often have decreased hand strength, avoid using their hands together and have poor coordination. This describes many children and adults on the autism spectrum or who have another type of disability. This simple activity encourages using hands together because it is really difficult to perform with one hand! Many people with SPD avoid touching different types of materials but don’t mind plastic. It takes a lot of force to pull these plastic rings off the cord and pulling with force stimulates muscles and joints while strengthening muscles. Adapt for your child or individual: 1) Use rings with larger or smaller holes in the center depending so that they are successful. You can always use rings with smaller holes later as they get stronger. 2) Some of my clients prefer to stand and pace while performing this (See in the video how I tied the cord around my waist while the client pulled the rings off). Other clients prefer sitting at a table or in a chair away from the table. 3) Pulling the rings off takes less motor planning skill and coordination than stringing them on. But some children or clients may be able to or prefer to string. 4) Ring shapes are easier to grasp and manipulate than beads and they don’t roll away. But you may certainly progress onto using large and then smaller beads. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

My client is using a ring stack I adapted just for him! I wedged a tube inside the container lid. Next, I attached a dowel for his left hand to grasp so that he is involved in stabilizing the materials. His left hand is spastic and typically fisted, so this is a great way to relax it while he uses his right hand to reach, grasp, position and release the ring shapes. I simply sliced up cylindrical containers or cut holes in lids to make "rings". I can't show his smiling face, but he really enjoys being able to do a hand activity and some days can do it independently! The strap I used to help him keep his left hand on the dowel is sold by https://eazyhold.com/ Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

This video demonstrates how to cut up supermarket plastic bags to make "yarn" used for knitting. I knit bags of different sizes and shapes, usually to hold therapy materials or groceries. People are always impressed when I tell them that they are made of supermarket bags and they are super STRONG. Making yarn works on many fine-motor skills as a child or adult 1) rolls up the supermarket bags 2) snips 4-5 pieces from each bag 3) stretches them open into giant plastic rings 4) knots them into a long chain 5) rolls the chain into a “yarn ball” 6) knits The best part is that all the yarn is free and if you mess up, it costs nothing.... Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

This knot craft is so simple to make! Just cut loops out of old socks or stretchy sleeves. Then children or adults with or without disabilities develop coordination as they create loop chains. Some clients enjoy making the chain grow to shak3, pull or swirl. Others enjoy taking them apart to insert or push down a ring stack. No matter how it’s used, this is an easy, inexpensive way to develop manipulation skills. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Here is a fun way to teach how to tie or untie a knot. I inserted plastic bags of sand inside socks, sleeves or other fabric and tied the pink, fleece fabric strips to them. The fleece is thick and easier to manipulate than thin string. I adapted the activity to require matching the colors or fabric designs on the bags. Carrying heavy bags and all the pulling provides sensory stimulation. The client in the video is quite good at tying and untying the knots. Another client enjoyed most of the steps to this task. However, he has poor motor planning skills and required hand-over-hand assistance to grasp and pull apart the fabric ends to tighten the loose knot that I made. Teaching the last step of a task first is a technique called “backward chaining”. My client experiences success as he completes the easiest and final step in the sequence to knot tying. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

Pulling-apart these plastic pieces strengthens fingers and is sensory fun! I cut the plastic from bottles and other containers. Next, I attached Velcro Loop to both sides of the green ones and Hook to both sides of the red ones. Some children may be able to stack them up by alternating colors before ripping them apart to insert. This is a wonderful activity that develop eye-hand coordination and bilateral hand skills! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

I love to recycle suitcases, duffle bags and backpacks because the zippers are large and easy to manipulate. I cut away the back of the suitcase shown in the video so that the front piece can be held or attached to a wall. There are 3 zippered pockets filled with objects to remove. This video demonstrates how I individualized the activity for my clients. 1) a blind client sits at the table, using both hands to search inside the pockets 2) a client with flexed posture reaches high as she holds the suitcase with one hand to remove objects with the other hand 3)Clients who love to move- transport the materials to the container located across the room or even in a different room. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

It is fun to string these washers because they look and feel great! Washers are perfect for children or adults with coordination challenges because they are easy to grasp and won't roll away when dropped. I use thick fabric instead of flimsy string to further promote success. My clients need to use force to push the washers all the way down the fabric strip. Use of force provides sensory stimulation to the muscles and joints in the hands helping children with sensory processing disorders be more aware of their hands and how to use them. The washers get heavy after a while and weight also provides sensory stimulation. Please note that I attached the stringing fabric to cord tied around the table so that the materials cannot be thrown. Washer stringing is repetitive and often calming and as you see in the video some people love the teamwork! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://.www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com