Mrs. Schuit's Early Childhood Special Education

OT activities for the Week
Aim to complete 10 minutes of each type of activity per 3-4 days per week to support healthy brain and body development. Your child should be supervised for safety during these activities. 

Vestibular (Movement Input); This kind of sensation helps support our balance, postural control, muscle tone, spatial orientation, alertness and eye movements. There is a link attached for a video regarding vestibular input. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbILhUc1Pc&feature=youtu.be

• Swinging- in blankets, hammock, toddler swing
• Rocking in a rocking chair
• Helping your child go “upside down.” You can lay them over your lap or lay off the couch to give them inverted input. This is the strongest type of movement input you can give a child, so only do for 10 seconds at a time. This is also very stimulating for the eye muscles, so you may notice your child blinking or closing their eyes. 
• Bouncing-large balls, old mattress or old couch cushions 

Proprioception (Joint and Muscle Input); This kind of sensation is very calming and organizing for the nervous system. This system helps our body’s know how to move, how much force to use for things like putting on our socks and shoes and coordinating our body in space. The video link to follow is a good explanation of this system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2iOliN3fAE

• Stair climbing/sliding- bumping down on bottom
• Crawling-through tunnels or boxes on all fours, or under chairs
• Roughhousing-play wrestling
• Silly animal walks- crab, bear, slithering like a snake, frog hop
• Squishing between pillows
• Massage
• Hanging-from adult hands or trapeze bar

Tactile (Touch Input); The kind of sensation allows us to feel with our skin. This system is very important for everything we do with our hands. 

• Massage/back rubs- varied lotions, powders
• Tactile adventure bins- cornmeal, oatmeal, water, sand, lentils
• Hand and finger squeezes
• Brushing-varied brushes
• Sticky play- tape, contact paper, glue
• Bath time- bubbles, crayon soap, back scrub brushes
• Play-do

Preview YouTube video Brain Highways: The Vestibular SystemPreview

YouTube video Brain Highways: The Proprioceptive SystemBrain Highways: The Proprioceptive System

Today we are going to work on Letter identification and spelling first or last name. Everyone is at a different level so please start where your child can benefit the most. Here are some examples:

Today we are going to make Mom a special Mother’s Day picture.

• Ask Mom or Dad to find some paper for you
• Now you need to make a circle so you can make a sun. You can trace a circle from a lid found in the kitchen or maybe from one of your toys. Ask for help if you can’t trace by yourself.
• Next cut the circle out or have someone help you.
• Now you have to draw or glue on eyes and a mouth for the sun to be happy.
• Next glue the sun in the middle of the paper.
• Now you will need help spelling the words for the card. You can have someone write the words for you and you can trace over top of them to help you out.

Time to give Mom the card and give her a big hug!

I would like to wish all the Mom’s a VERY HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! YOU ARE AWESOME AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS THEIR MOM!

NOW YOUR SCHOOL WORK IS DONE FOR TODAY! PUT YOUR FEET UP MOM AND LET EVERYONE WAIT ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

Sing If You Are Happy and You Know It

Five Senses Grounding Technique:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17woPqHA9zb9_MMW350Tm8YPd5Dx39EOlta49EWdSkuc/edit?usp=sharing

Today we are going to work on math concepts.

• PRACTICE WRITING NUMBERS OR TRACING – CAN USE PAPER, DRY ERASE BOARD OR A CHALK BOARD

• Next practice matching a number to the correct group of objects.

I made a game using small paper plates. You can use paper or anything else you can find.

• Practice naming shapes by making puzzles

• Can make your own puzzles at home by using any cardboard box

HAVE FUN AND SEND PICTURES!

Tuesday Speech with Ms. Sara

Please click the links to see the materials

Speech Activity: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QSxiGSx-waSJ2ifH-VoLsFucRNsbXJr_an9tfoSAKiU

WEEK 3 OT

1. AIRPLANE RIDE

• To provide deep pressure touch to hands and tummy
• To increase body awareness through up, down, sway
• To develop back and neck extension muscles 
• To promote basic balance

2. ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT

• To provide firm pressure touch to hands
• To increase body awareness through push-pull activity
• To develop upper body strength
• To promote standing balance

3. SEAL CRAWL

• To provide touch pressure input to hands during weight bearing
• To increase upper back extension strength
• To build arm strength

(Smooth surface such as wood or linoleum are best for this activity. I have kids go under chairs or “bridge” to give them a reference of how to move in this position. This may be difficult for your child, so build tolerance for being on tummy to start, which is very important for building strength). 

4. FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES

• Massage the hands prior to dressing, eating or completing fine motor activity to get your child ready for the task. If you can feel your hands, your hands will work more efficiently.
• Provide your child with a chewie or similar oral activity to keep the mouth busy while the hands are learning.
• Have your child practice cleaning up after himself or herself.
• Promote independence in self care.
• Use spray bottles, playing cards, blocks, puzzles and containers to practice opening/closing of the hands and manipulating the pieces with their small muscles.

I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather this past weekend!

Today we are going to work on identifying letters by making a letter collage