Ms. Emily is a wonderful OT on our team who created these fun outdoor fine motor activities! Pulling small leaves from a stem works on so many skills, including bilateral coordination (using two hands together), finger and hand strengthening, and promotion of pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). 🌿 🤏🏼
Another activity you can do is “Peeling Helicopter Leaves to Get the Seed Out!” Check out the video below! This activity is more challenging and also works on bilateral coordination, fine motor coordination, finger and hand strengthening, and promotion of pincer/tripod grasp.
She also had a creative idea on how to use the leaves and seeds after they are all pulled off or pinched out: “Use the leaves/seeds to create shape outlines, or draw a shape, letter, or number in chalk and have your student place the leaves along the lines to work on visual perceptual skills.”
Check out her blog for more fun and creative ideas ➡️ https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/dandroe/