Friday, December 16, 2011

Sensory Writing!

        

Learning to write can be fun!  Practicing the strokes and formation of letters doesn’t have to be done with a pencil on paper!  Use different tactile media to make writing a sensory experience; it will be super fun and motivating and your child will quickly pick up on the writing strokes!

Try some of the following finger fun to write letters, words and even sentences! Depending on your child’s level, he can freely draw and experiment with lines, copy lines you’ve drawn in the same media, use different tools to work on scooping or retrieving items, or copy a design from a drawing on a separate piece of paper.

It’s a great time of year for insta-snow!
Free Drawing


Copying a simple, vertical line


Working with tools and exploring the tactile media.


Copying more complex designs from paper

For additional input, also try:
·         400 grade sand paper under the paper
·         Shaving cream
·         Playdoh
·         Shaving gel in a sealed baggie
·         Concrete with sidewalk chalk
·         Sand
·         Rice or bird seed

Write On!
Michelle Yoder, OTR/L












Thursday, December 1, 2011

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

December is here and it's time for gift giving! I know that you want to give your children toys that are developmental, educational and therapeutic! These are a few of my favorites, but if you need some help, just ask me or your therapist and we'll be glad to help you find something perfect for your little angel!


Infants

·         Crayola Jumbles

·         Hungry Pelican Plush at Young Explorers

·         Color Tower Stacking Game by Haba

·         Playskool Chase Me Critter

·         Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Piggy Bank

·         Alex Jr. I Can Cook

·         Melissa and Doug Deluxe Bug Jug Fill and Spill Soft Baby Toy


Toddlers

·         Educo Early Melodies Pound and Tap Bench

·         Tobbles Stacking Toy

·         Playskool Poppin’ Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper

·         Fropper Ride-On by Okiedog

·         Plan Toys Push ‘n Pull Helicopter Push Toy

·         Crab Calino-HABA pull toy


PreSchool

·         Coo Coo the Clown by Blue Orange

·         Block Buddies by MindWare

·         Pattern Play by MindWare

·         The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game by Educational Insights

·         Imaginets by MindWare

·         Sorting Pie Playset at Therapy Shoppe

·         My Little Sandbox at Amazon

·         I Can Pound Activity Bench by Fundanoodle

·         Skuut Balance Bike at Target or Toys &Co.


Children 5-9

·         Dig and Discover Excavation Kits at Fat Brain Toys, MindWare or Toys & Co.

·         Magnetic Mosaico at MindWare

·         Straws and Connectors by Roylco at www.strawsandconnectors.com

·         Rush Hour Junior by ThinkFun at MindWare

·         Spot It! by Blue Orange

·         Blind Spell at MindWare

·         Flying Turtle by Mason Corporation at Amazon

·         The Spooner- Toys & Co. or pfot.com

·         Wobble Deck Balance Board at Discovery Channel Store

·         Muscle Mover Gross Motor Cards by Fundanoodle


Tweens

·         Rush Hour- Target or MindWare

·         Buckyballs by Zoomdoggle

·         Ogo Sports Discs- Target or Brilliant Sky

·         Spooner Board Pro-pfot.com

·         Razor Bogo Pogo by Razor

·         Torx Smash Stix at Kmart

·         FyrFlyz Multicolor Blue Angel at Amazon


Attention Santa’s Elves! Stocking Stuffers

·         Thinking Putty, Silly Putty or Big Putty

·         Floam-Discount School Supply or Therapy Shoppe

·         Dino Popper at Therapy Shoppe

·         Wind Up Fishing Game at Therapy Shoppe

·         Flapping Owl Whistle or Whirly Wheel Whistle at Therapy Shoppe

·         Wind Up Toy such as Wind Up Penguin at Therapro

·         FyrFlyz Green Cyclone by iStar Entertainment

·         Tangle Hairy at playworks.net

Happy Holidays!
Michelle Yoder, OTR/L