Stretch Toy for Body Awareness

Attaching stretchy spandex like material between two handles provides a great motor planning activity that increases body awareness because it provides proprioceptive feedback. I ask children to do this while riding a horse and work on following directions such as- hold arms up high, turn to the left or touch the head with it. Here are some other tips for increasing body awareness:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/113295-helpful-tips-sensory-integration-disorder/


Barbara Smith, M.S., OTR/L
HorseOT.com

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The Recycling OT is now on Facebook

Ok, how is having a Facebook business different than having a blog? Not sure at all, but am trying it out The Recycling Occupational Therapist on Facebook.

Disorders Similar To Sensory Integration Disorder | LIVESTRONG.COM

Disorders Similar To Sensory Integration Disorder. Dysfunction in sensory integration DSI impacts the brains ability to organize information from the sense organs -- such as the skin and muscles -- and use it to interact with th...

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I will be sharing my recycling ideas at this conference:

Designing Low-Cost FUN Activities to Energize Your Therapy Practice

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

Stretchy Rings

This activity is so inexpensive, easy to make and therapeutic, I can't believe I lived all these years without it! I cut off the legs on an old pair of stockings, filled each one with a bunch of scrunched up super market bags and then stitched the end closed. It stretches, feels good inside the hands when squeezed and promote bilateral hand use during a placement activity because it is so nice and flimsy.
Toady I also used it to work on motor planning while the children sat on the horse. I pulled it over their heads so it rested on their hips. But first I had myself, the volunteers and even a parent do the same thing. Then we each took a turn taking it off and placing it over the cone (shown at left). (Note everything is rather dirty because this is a horse arena).
I know that there will be lots of other uses for the stretchy rings and I wish I could patent it- but just go ahead an enjoy :)

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