RecyclingOT

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

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

The client shown in the video typically has her right hand fisted against her body. My goal is to maintain range of motion by reaching for objects to insert into the container with her left hand as she grasps the handle. The large blue container is tied to the table so that she is unable to pull it into her lap. This individual prefers to be busy, so this adaptation serves to 1) provide a repetitive task 2) maintain or improve range of motion 3) motivate to engage in bilateral tasks 4) Open up her fisted hand during a functional task. She refuses to wear a splint to prevent contractures. How to make: Simply cut an opening in a large detergent or kitty litter bottle so that the desired container can be wedged inside. I cut an opening where her knuckles were rubbing and then put tape around the edges. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

After hand surgery my hubby needed a waterproof cast cover so that he could shower and go boating. This video shows how he made an inexpensive cover out of a dry bag and Gear tie. After his injury heals and cast is removed he will find many other uses for these 2 products. Please check out my occupational therapy website and books for more clever adaptations to solve many types of challenges... http://www.RecyclingOT.com

Children with sensory processing disorders or developmental disabilities such as autism- may find it challenging to learn how to open and close buttons. The adaptations shown in this video are designed to make learning easier by using large materials and repetition. So parents, teachers and therapists consider making "button squares", "button stringing", "button rings" and "button boards" to develop these hand skills. Learn more on my website at 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

Its easy to draw and cut out a simple stencil from a folder or other cardboard. Its so easy, I suggest making a new and different one every day for children or adults with or without developmental disabilities. The individuals may work at a table, on an angled book stand on the table, the floor or work while standing at a white board as shown in the video. This activity promotes the following skills: 1. Visual attention to the materials since they are directly in front of one’s face 2. Strengthening shoulders through reaching and pressing 3. Stabilizing the stencil while coloring (bilateral hand skills) 4. Eye-hand coordination 5. Sensory stimulation to eyes, muscles, joints, vestibular system while pressing to color and wiping the board clean, as well as walking side to side and high/low to reach all parts of the board. The client shown in the video loves pictures. She has a very limited vocabulary but “pictures” is one of her favorite words. Using stencils enables her to make her very own pictures while working on the above skills. It takes a lot of trial and error to find successful activities, but its very rewarding when you do! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.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

A "tripod" pencil grasp is considered most efficient during handwriting. The term “tripod” is used because 3 fingers- the index, middle fingers and thumb look like a tripod when controlling the pencil. Young children strengthen and develop coordination between the “tripod fingers” when squeezing clothespins, chip clips or tongs. This video demonstrates how to make and use similar "tongs" in repetitive fine-motor activities that young children or adults with developmental disabilities may enjoy. Learn more about activity adaptations at http://www.RecyclingOT.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

Children or adults with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) often love using heavy materials. I filled plastic sands with sand, placed them inside socks, sleeves or pants legs from old clothing and sewed them closed. Use them in a game of "hot potato", catch with a partner or catch in a group with the player in the center throwing it to others sitting in a circle. This activity works on motor planning skills, strengthening, social skills and attention. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com

The “Snap Lid Board” enables children or adults with developmental disabilities to practice skills that will help them to open and close food and other pull-lid containers. This is a very functional daily living skill that also works on 1) Visual attention 2) Upper extremity strength 3) Bilateral hand coordination 4) Sorting by a category and/or 5) Eye hand coordination to string onto the pipe cleaners I showed my clients how to listen for the click sound that indicates that the lids snapped in place. People with learning challenges benefit from the repetitive practice- six times pushing the lid into place! Pushing or pulling the lids requires force as it stimulates the proprioceptive sensory receptors in the arm/hand muscles and joints. Many children or adults with sensory processing disorders avoid pushing with their palms possibly due to touch sensitivities and decreased strength. Let’s distract them from the fact that this is exactly what they need to do in order to make the cover snap into place. Finally, the “stand up the frame” test will indicate success or need for more pushing……. Have fun turning the board into a sorting or lacing activity as your children or clients fill the containers according to color, shape, size or another category. Another option is to string beads or shapes with holes onto the pipe cleaners. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com

Children or adults with developmental disabilities may enjoy the sensory stimulation they experience while pulling shapes attached to stretchy cord. They need to stabilize the board with one hand while pulling the shape so that they can place it over the "ring stack" in the center of the board. Pulling stimulates muscles and joints and strengthens hands. Additional tactile stimulation was provided when I covered the board with fur and attached an electric tooth brush to the center. I made the plastic shapes by cutting up plastic containers. Punch holes in them to attach to the cord. The wooden circle shown in the video happened to be available at work, but you can make a similar board by cutting up the lid to a large storage container. 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

I not only love to make therapeutic activities out of recycled materials….. I am also excited to create entirely new activities out of materials that are broken, in storage or simply not being used anymore. I discovered the magnetic building block toy in a program room closet. But it is pretty challenging for most of my clients. The directions are to copy diagrams of shapes created by connecting the pegs and balls. I happened to have some metal washers and a broken Connect 4 frame and turned the materials into a very versatile activity that develops 1) Eye-hand coordination to place the pegs inside the Connect 4 frame sections 2) sequencing skills to place the washer, color paper on top, matching color magnetic peg and finally the ball on top. 3) Motor control to keep the pegs upright and fix when they do fall. 4) Sensory stimulation from the pull and push of magnetic materials placed in and out of the coffee can 5) Flexibility to use the materials in a variety of ways My clients benefit from movement as they place the magnetic pegs on or off the magnetic white board. I cut paper circles out of construction paper to add the color matching step, but this is optional. Purchase small or larger materials according to the child or client’s motor abilities. Offer an opportunity to draw circles on the white board to place the magnets inside. Someone will surely love wiping the board clean! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com

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

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

This client loves to sort but he does not like to share or take turns. He is nonverbal. I am teaching him to sort only the yellow, red and blue colors into the 3 containers close to him and to hand me the colors that I need. I am sorting green, purple and orange pictures into the 3 containers in front of me. I mixed up all the colors/pictures and gave each of us 1/2 the pile so that we need to give the other person the pictures that are not on our perspective sides. This was kind of hard for him to do because he didn't want to share the activity with me, but he learned the rules pretty quickly. I think that this activity will help him better tolerate others in his space and engage with his peers through a shared task. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com View this video to learn how to make the Snap Lid Board https://rumble.com/v7c2oc-make-your-own-snap-cover-board-for-developing-hand-skills.html

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

These Do-It-Yourself activities for toddlers are easy to make, free, versatile and entertaining to play with. Simply cut up containers with large screw lids to make toys to stack like blocks, string, insert objects into and place on a ring stack. Materials are large, therefore, easy for learning and pose no choking risk. (But supervise your little ones anyway...... ) These materials also help older children with developmental delays to improve hand strength and eye-hand coordination. Learn more about simple activities and adaptations that build hand skills on my website: http://www.RecyclingOT.com

My client loves to grasp and shake objects. He is blind and this video demonstrates one of the few functional hand skills he enjoys. He loves the freedom of grasping independently that the EazyHold provides. The tambourine sound in the background is actually made by a different individual and the client shown is playing along with her. I wish I could share his great big smile. https://eazyhold.com/ Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com

As an occupational therapist I made many meaningful activity for my mother to use when she developed Alzheimer's Disease. In this video I describe how to fill a binder with personalized stories, photographs, pictures and song lyrics. My mother enjoyed reading this all day long! Please visit my website to download photos and lyrics that you can use to make your own activity book for someone you love or care for who has memory impairment. RecyclingOT.com

Its more fun to engage in hand activities when activating sensory rich electronic devices such as an aquarium lamp, massager, fan or music. I set up a table with a control panel that plugged into an electric outlet. The yellow push panel switch and the 2 electric cords (to lamp and massager) plugged into the control panel. The control panel has settings so that the device(s) can 1. go on or off when the yellow switch is pressed 2. the devices stay on as long as the switch is pressed or 3. a timer is set so that it stays on after pressed for a select amount of time as shown in the video. The clients in the video are enjoying the “cause and effect” relationship of pressing the switch to activate devices. I think that they appreciate the control they have to make the lamp and massager go on whenever they want. The sensory and novelty aspects of this set-up certainly make ring stacks and insertion tasks more engaging. Notice the large rings on the table that can be placed over the lamp. This activity can be adapted to encourage exercise by placing the materials (e.g. rings or bean bags) on the floor or across the room so that walking and moving up and down are required. The young lady sitting at the table loves the sensory devices (radio, lamp, fan and massager) so I hope that I can use them to motivate her to get out of her seat and move! Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com

Children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities often love lights. They are attracted to them, especially in a darkened room. The woman in this video has Down syndrome, is nonverbal and legally blind. She seeks sensory stimulation by rocking in her seat and shaking objects. Adapting the beautiful aquarium lamp to be used as a ring stack motivates her to use her hands in a more functional way…..to stack rings. She loves it! The other client shown in the video is on the autism spectrum. He has a very short attention span and avoids touching objects. He typically only looks briefly at objects in his hands- often dropping them before using them. The lamp light helped him to visually attend long enough to grasp rings and then stack. You may make similar ring stack activities using an electric or battery- operated lamp. Be sure that the lamp is the type that will not get to hot. I have used the light up children’s toothbrushes and toys to make light up rings stacks by attaching them to the top of a dowel. Use shower rings or cut plastic to whatever size you need to make rings. The large rings shown in the video were cut from blue and red plastic coffee containers. Adapting a lamp into a successful ring stack activity is just one of the many adaptations you will learn about in my books and blog. Learn more about activity adaptations on my website and blog: http://www.RecyclingOT.com http://www.RecyclingOT.blogspot.com http://www.FromFlappingtoFunction.com

My son David Smolinski, the beekeeper got his first swarm a few years back by putting a cardboard box in our tree. Its been a struggle to keep some of them alive due to the harsh winters and pesticides. It seems that toxins either confuse the bees so that they leave the hive or kill them. Some of David's bees are thriving in locations with greater space and less spraying. David continues his work to create happy and healthy environments for bees..... sweet!