Turning a Vibrating Cushion into a Sorting Activity

 

I had these vibrating cushion ordered for sensory stimulation. Then it hit me that they can do more than sit on, lean against or hold them. This young man loves vibration and especially enjoys pulling the shapes off the cushion to insert in my home made shape sorter.

Three Resistive Table Top Activities

I am always on the look out for new activities that are resistive, promote engagement and motor skills. Someone gave me the large wooden circle board that had the stretchy cord already attached. I simply added the shapes (cut out of detergent bottles) and taped a peg in the center  so that the clients could pull and place the flower shapes.
I had been using the pink vibrating cushion  mainly for sensory input and relaxation but realized that I can turn it into a pull and insertion task by attaching shapes with Velcro onto it. Many people are motivated to engage in fine motor tasks when they vibrate. Some individuals can insert the plastic pieces they remove into a slot in a container so that they have to use both hands.

 I found the cube with square pegs inside at a yard sale. I don't really understand how it is used, but it is a nice motor planning challenge to push them out and insert into a container with a square hole.

I hope that you enjoy these resistive push and pull activities .... 

Blue Tubing ring stack

These rings feel really good to grasp, squeeze and pull down the ring stack. the ring stack is made of a tube wedged inside an oatmeal container covered with felt. I put a bag of sand in the bottom of the container to keep it stable. The rings are sections of tubing I cut and put a few beads inside to make sound. This was helpful with the individual who is blind. This activity promotes reaching, sensory awareness and bilateral hand use....

Extra large Stringing Adaptation with Tubing

Someone at work donated some blue tubing used for suction. I immediately thought of making an adapted stringing activity with marbles or beads inside that they can shake. You can see them moving around inside and individuals who can't string can use this more like a rattle or try to motor plan to make the beads travel from one end to the other.

I am still experimenting with designs.  The one in the video shows a tube attached inside a box. I thought that this would be a nice way to have a container ready to hold the rings before stringing. However, some people prefer to hold the tube with the bottom dangling on their lap. I am exploring lengths that will promote reaching but not frustrate too much when pushing the rings down. 
You can see that the woman in the video needs to grasp the tube closer to the attaching end and doesn't know how to untangle the twist in the tube. So I like these motor planning challenges in what appears to be a relatively simple task.

I am thinking about making  rings to stack by inserting the marbles inside and closing the ends to make small rings that they can shake before stacking. If you swirl a long piece of tubing it makes a cook sound. .....What other ideas do you have for  making tasks out of the tubing?   

Simple 5 minute Easil

I noticed a client bending over the table while painting this lovely spring picture. It took 5 minutes for me to cut a large box with 2 of the 4 sides overlapping to make a 3 sided figure. Then I pushed the flaps inside and added a bit of tape to hold in place. I cut a small opening on top to fit a large clip to hang up the art..... When it gets wrecked from art projects it will be easy and free to replace....

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Source: Make Your Own Paint Easel by RecyclingOT on Rumble

Bilateral Insertion Activity

I have been evaluating a woman who has arthritis and only grasps flat objects using her fingers. At the same time she has an obsession about keeping a smooth pebble fidget inside her fingers.
She is able to pull apart the Velcro pieces and with a little guidance insert  each half into a lid slot.

The person in the video enjoys repetitive insertion tasks but tends to avoid using his hands together. So pulling the Velcro pieces apart works nicely in promoting bilateral hand use.

 I made the slot narrow enough so that it is difficult to insert the green and red plastic pieces while they are connected.  Some individuals enjoy the sensory input of ripping apart Velcro . I also like how I was able to add a bit of challenge to an insertion task- requiring 2 steps- ripping apart before inserting.

I cut the green and red plastic from detergent and juice bottles.








 
 
 

Macrame Hanger Craft

One of the first crafts I learned in graduate school was to macramé around a hanger. This can be given as a gift with lots of color options. Clothing will stay on the cord better than on a slippery wire hanger. The plastic hangers are a bit too thick to use. I found this wire hanger but unfortunately the bottom is made with cardboard instead of wire, so we are doing the best we can and I will be looking for some better hangers......

The first part of the video shows a client learning how to do this. she is obviously quite high functioning and is interested in finding some leisure time crafts she can do at home and in the day program. I attached the hook of the hanger to a pulley that was on the wall so that she stands and reaches while working on this.
The second part of the video shows a staff person learning how to do this. She is sitting and this is an option if its easier to control the hanger by squeezing it between the knees while manipulating the cord.  She seems excited to learn some new crafts as well !