Routines

During stressful times, having a set routine can help to ease anxiety in children, teens, and adults. Below are some helpful resources to help guide you in setting specific routines within your daily routine.


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OT & Play Time!

Play time is important for everyone! Play is the most natural way for students to engage in learning.

Here is a link to a video on the importance building Play into your daily routine https://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy/Patients-Clients/ChildrenAndYouth/video-play-important-part-of-your-day.aspx

This link is directly from the AOTA, a trusted source. The AOTA or American Occupational Therapy Association is the Professional organization that helps set guidelines for OT services in the United States.


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Practice Writing Letters and Numbers!

Writing letters, numbers, and pre-writing shapes in different textures helps students to engage, learn, and remember what they are practicing! Try these different ideas on a tray, plate, or table.

  • Sand
  • Shaving Cream (add food coloring for extra fun!)
  • Whipped cream (add food coloring for extra fun!)
  • Dish Soap
  • Paint

Need a Less Messy Option?

  • Try putting a small amount of paint and dish soap (or hair conditioner) in a large seal-able plastic bag.
  • Tape over the seam with shipping tape (or duct tape) to prevent the seal from breaking
  • Lay the bag on a flat surface
  • Use your index finger (pointer finger) or a Q-tip to create different shapes, letters, and numbers


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Enjoy A Yoga Adventure with Coco The Butterfly to Welcome Spring!

Cosmic Kids Yoga is a great YouTube channel that introduces Yoga and Mindfulness to children through engaging stories!

Encourage your student to follow along with the story and copy the movements, poses, and breathing exercises demonstrated. This will strengthen your child’s motor planning skills, bilateral coordination skills (using both sides of our body at once), and self-regulation skills.

Here is the link to the Coco The Butterfly Yoga video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT-s1-phgxs


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Ms. Erin’s Backyard Scavenger Hunt

Look for these items in your backyard and check them off as you find them!

For a Word document: https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/ericksonot/wp-content/uploads/sites/2702/2020/03/Backyard-Scavenger-Hunt.docx

For a PDF: https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/ericksonot/wp-content/uploads/sites/2702/2020/03/Backyard-Scavenger-Hunt.pdf

  • To practice handwriting skills, answer the questions by writing in a notebook
  • To practice typing skills, answer the questions by typing on a computer (be sure to use good posture and both hands)
  • To practice holding your head up, moving your head, or reaching and grasping with your arms, work on these skills as your searching for items around the yard

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Pizza Breathing

Pizza breathing is a way to encourage slow and controlled breathing when a child is anxious, hyper, or upset.

How to do Pizza Breathing:

  • Make a triangle with your fingers to make a slice of pizza or print and color a piece of pizza.
  • “Smell the pizza” – slowly breathe in through your nose
  • “Blow on the hot pizza” – slowly breathe out of your mouth
  • Repeat at least 4 times

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Oobleck Recipe

Materails

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup to 1 cup cornstarch (start with 1/2 cup and add as needed)
  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Measuring cups

Instructions

  1. Gather materials
  2. Measure cornstarch
  3. Pour cornstarch into bowl
  4. Measure water
  5. Pour water into bowl
  6. Mix water and cornstarch with a spoon
  7. Add more water or cornstarch as needed. Mixture should be thick, solid when squeezed, and turn to liquid when held in an open hand or left alone
  8. Play with the Oobleck and read Dr. Seuss’ book Bartholomew and the Oobleck.

Here is a link to a YouTube Video of this book read-aloud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDef7vCgrk0


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School Closure March 13th-End of School Year

During this school closure I will be posting resources for parents. These posts will include resources to learn about the various skills we address in OT, and activities to keep students engaged and progressing toward achievement of those skills. If you have any questions, I am available by email at dandroe@dearbornschools.org. Wishing you and your families health and peace, Emily Dandron, OTRL


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