Thinking Outside the Hoop

I combined a few different activities in this video all involving using recycled objects and a hoola hoop.

Feed the bunny

Here is one of my favorite activities and I guess its the season to share it. I made the bunny out of an oatmeal container and taped some fur to it. I cut the head out of a detergent bottle, punched two holes for the nose and attached the head to the lid with a pipe cleaner. I cut out lots of fruits and vegetables  printed from the internet and covered them with clear contact paper.

I use this during therapy to encourage kids to engage in language. I ask what do you want to feed the bunny- a carrot or celery? Placing the food into his mouth works on eye hand coordination. When I hold the bunny  in different locations the children have to reach and balance in order to do this. Sometimes I make the children hold the bunny while inserting so that they have to use both hands-a challenge for many.

During hippotherapy, I can also use the bunny to make the kids turn around on the horse in order to reach it. Then they end up facing sideways and backwards-getting different types of sensory input.



Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L
The Recycling Occupational Therapist on Facebook
Web site: RecyclingOT.com

Milk Crate Garden

This is what I would do if I had the space, lots of crates laying around and the inclination. I would love to sleep inside the milk crate garden!
http://www.recyclart.org/2011/03/milk-crates-shelter/

Hand Squeezing Activity

This video shows an activity I designed to strengthen the intrinsic muscles of the hand. I thought of it when working with older kids and adults with developmental disabilities who tended to use the fingertips and avoid touch to the palms.You can set this up as a nesting activity by squeezing one bottle inside another as shown in the above video.
The video below shows my clients squeezing the adapted bottles to push through the bucket's opening. You may use balls or the squeeze bottles... they both require using force to insert - strengthening hands and giving sensory feedback.


Source: Creating Push and Squeeze Activities for students with Sensory Processing Disorders by RecyclingOT