Pulling Resistive Shapes Apart.....

Connecting the 2 shapes together works on hand strengthening, sequencing and motor planning skills. But taking them apart is also great for individuals who need simple resistive activities that they find calming. A woman I work with loves to rip paper. Pulling the shapes apart and pushing into the container seemed to meet her sensory needs and were just easy enough for her to motor plan.

Finding other individuals with the motor skills to put them together is a bit more challenging and I have to make sure that the size openings match so that the shapes are interchangeable even though I am asking them to match colors. I don't want them to find this frustrating... this type of motor planning success seems to build self-esteem to try other challenging tasks such as tying knots and connecting zippers....
Source: Simple Weaving Shapes for Children with Autism by RecyclingOT




Source: Pull-Apart-Plastics Develop Fine-Motor Skills by RecyclingOT

Vertical Activity

 I am always thinking about ways to promote posture, reaching skills and visual attention with vertical activities. This sturdy board is sold by:  http://shop.aph.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Home_10001_11051

I love how the hooks are soft, pliable but strong enough to attach the shapes to for color, size and shape matching. It fit perfectly inside the file organizer I found in my office enabling the person to work in the vertical plane. It was also quite sturdy as he worked, not moving at all......

Sensory Toy without Batteries!

I had a wonderful time presenting at the Massachusetts Early Intervention Conference yesterday. I was exploring the vendor booths and mentioned that  I adapt many of my sensory activities with motors from pens and tooth brushes so that the materials vibrate, thus increasing sensory input and engagement. The company AllStarchild.com  showed me a toy that vibrates but has no batteries. It is actually a baby toy and designed to suspend from car seats with a clip or to be manipulated. I just love how it looks and feels and the fact that it does not require batteries. There is some type of spring action after pulled. This is a great way to develop coordination to stabilize with one hand while manipulating with the other.  I work with  an older individual I am going to give this to at work. She likes to reach with one hand and pull on stuffed animals that are suspended.  It seems made to order.....

This toy comes with cute little cards that parents can use to stimulate baby.....