Let’s Practice Buttons, Zippers, and Ties!
Practicing fasteners can be tricky, don’t force students when they become frustrated. Try to give your student what occupational therapists call the “Just Right Challenge.” This means your student will be slightly challenged by a task, but will still be able to complete the task successfully. This prevents children from becoming discouraged. Start by letting your student try each fastener to see how much help s/he needs. Then let your student complete all of the “easy parts” of the task, while you complete the trickier steps. Gradually show your student how to complete more and more of the task. Remember, most children start by unfastening first (unsnapping, unbuttoning, unzipping, untying), then learn how to fasten (snapping, buttoning, zipping, tying).
Posted in Bilateral Coordination, Helpful Links, Visual Motor and tagged ADLs, buttons, dressing, shoelaces, zippers by Emily Dandron, OTRL with comments disabled.
Gross Motor Alphabet Exercises
This is a link to the Alphabet Exercises https://www.theottoolbox.com/alphabet-exercises-for-kids/?ck_subscriber_id=637308162
If you scroll down, there is a description of how to do an exercise for each letter. These gross motor exercises help students build their muscles, coordination skills, and balance skills. This is also a great way to get some wiggles and energy out!
*This resource is from the OT Toolbox Website, a great resource for Occupational Therapist. I encourage you to explore the site, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at dandroe@dearbornschools.org. I can answer questions, and help you modify tasks to your student!
Posted in Bilateral Coordination, Handwriting, Helpful Links, Motor Planning and tagged gross motor, letters by Emily Dandron, OTRL with comments disabled.
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.
Posted in Bilateral Coordination, Handwriting, Helpful Links, Mindfulness, Motor Planning, Sensory, Typing, Visual Motor and tagged AOTA, play by Emily Dandron, OTRL with comments disabled.
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
Posted in Bilateral Coordination, Blogs, Mindfulness, Motor Planning and tagged motor planning, self-regulation, spring, Yoga by Emily Dandron, OTRL with comments disabled.