Make a Messenger Bag

Make a Messenger Bag out of Trash Bags - Make: Video Podcast

Learn how to iron plastic bags together to make a sturdy messenger bag. This video is pretty cool, but I think I prefer my back pack!


Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Crushed Paper and Tong Activity

Naturally, I can't resist linking to an activity titled:
Fine-Motor Recycling


Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com

Plunger Ring Stack Activity

I haven't been writing on this blog much because most of my work centers around hippotherapy and I write about my activities on the hippotherapy blog at horseot.blogspot.com
But here's an idea I came up with while trying to help a 3 year old child with CP to sit more erect on the horse. He grasped onto a Princess Wand toy in front of him and the distal stability helped him to control his trunk and sit tall. The toy is a bit flimsy. Then I thought of using a small plunger which of course has a strong wooden dowel. I then discovered that a massager, shown below fits perfectly inside the plunger and the suction holds it in place.







I have been making rings to stack for many years (a common recycling technique) out of container lids. This green one can be used to turn my plunger into a ring stack activity. The thing I love about this is that as the child stabilizes the plunger part, it vibrates.

I will try this out next week during hippotherapy. I have introduced vibrating toys to the ponies before but will test this one out. Then I can use it for a ring stack activity or to help the little guy with CP stabilize his arms and trunk. I already know that he loves vibrating toys.

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist
RecyclingOT.com
Source: How Vibration Helps Children with Autism or Sensory Processing Disorders by RecyclingOT

Teaching to snap

Part of spring cleaning involves throwing out the clothes my son has outgrown. Seen here are the pockets that I cut off his shorts. Amazingly, one pair of shorts has 6 pockets with snaps. I painted orange nail polish on the spot where the snap needs to be pushed. I ask children to open them, remove a toy, and push the orange spot to close them again.
I work with a particular child on the autism spectrum who is able to do many fine-motor tasks such as closing buttons, snaps and container lids but doesn't seem motivated to do tasks with accuracy. I asked him to push the lid on a yogurt container so that it would be completely sealed and sand would not fall out when turned upside down. He seemed to understand and was interested when I did this (above a baking pan). We were both thrilled that nothing fell out!



Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational TherapistRecyclingOT.com

Visual motor activities using Paper towel tubes

There's 2 visual motor activities on Your Therapy Source web site that I like using a paper towel tube. One uses a towel tube such as this with an opening that shows a a bead inside. The child has to control the tube, keeping it level in order to see the bead through the opening. This is great for bilateral hand use, motor control and visual fixation.

I have done an activity similar to this one using a clear plastic tube. I drew two lines near the center and asked the child to keep the bead or superball inside the lines by balancing the tube- first while stationary, then while walking.

http://www.yourtherapysource.com/visualtubefree.html

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist

RecyclingOT.com

What to do with Rubber bands

I have been collecting rubber bands from newspapers and produce for some time to use in making rubber band balls with kids. I just saw an ad for a book called Rubb-Origami that has some fun ideas on things to make out of rubber bands. You can also send your old rubber bands to them and have them make a new creation (for a fee).




The authors teach how to make little people and animals out of rubber bands. Info at; smattworks.com

Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L author of, The Recycling Occupational Therapist

RecyclingOT.com

Plastic Bottle Earrings

I am tempted to try this:

How to Make Beads from Recycled Plastic Bottles
A quick and easy way to turn plastic bottles into beautiful beads.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1574071/how_to_make_beads_from_recycled_plastic.html