Tactile Input/Sensory Play Activities

I have several students who just can't seem to get enough sensory input with their hands- it may be that they do not or can not explore their environments enough, it may be because they crave or seek that type of input...I also have students who are tactile avoiders (especially anything wet/gooey/messy)... I have students who are tactile seekers, and I have students who are skin and hair pickers, etc.

• If you have a student or child who does not like messy play or who does not like to get their hands dirty, providing them tactile sensory input can be approached by starting with exposure to dry tactile play- stuff that doesn't stick to their hands and has texture to it. Examples would be rice, sand, a squishy bag, etc.  
• From dry tactile play you could progress to something that has a bit more moisture, but that still doesn't stick to hands, such as play in cooked spaghetti or playing with playdough. 
• Progressing to something a bit wetter, move on to trying tactile play with cloud dough, water beads, goop or glarch. 
• Of course the really wet/messy play would be water, finger paints, shaving cream, pudding, etc.

Providing your student with weight bearing opportunities through their hands and upper extremities also gives them proprioceptive input, which is grounding to their central nervous system. It also helps provide awareness of body in space and can assist in controlling responses to sensory stimuli.
Proprioceptive input can be calming for those who are easily overwhelmed by sensory stimulation. All of this lends itself to being better able to tolerate tactile input and improve tactile processing.

The following link includes some fun tactile sensory activities for you to try, and they range from dry to messy play:
https://www.learning4kids.net/list-of-sensory-play-ideas/

The following link includes some non food sensory bin filler ideas:
https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2015/08/non-food-sensory-bin-fillers-for-kids.html

Calm Down Box

Here's something that I think every classroom should have: a calm down box. Just a container full of various fidgets and tools that kids can use to take a moment for themselves and re group for whatever reason. I have started to pick up small fidgets and items here and there to add to my own calm down box...when I have students who are agitated, not focused or if just need to settle themselves, I allow them to look through and handle items and I set a timer so they know how long they have to explore.

Calm Down Box:
A calm box can consist of various sensory based items, visual input and tactile input toys and gadgets- offer it when you want to reduce self stim behaviors, for calming or to revert attention to something else. Change up the things that are in the box on occasion so that students can explore new items and so they seem more novel.

To encourage or work on choice making: take a pic of the items in the box (or print a pic from online images) and use the pics to offer a choice of 2 or 3 to pick out of the box

Some visual favorites include:
floating polka dots gel timer
liquid motion gel timer
surfing penguin aquarium
water wheel gel timer
bubbling turtle gel timer
surfing fish aquarium
tranquil bubbling aquarium
glitter wands
spinners/tops
(can find any of these for reasonable prices at https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/8-fidgets-fidget-toys-fidgets-for-feet-quiet-stress-alerting-focus-calming-toys

Tactile input ideas-
sensory gel pads
tangle
klicks
gel bead fidget squares
whatza animal fidget toy
gel waves tactile pads
small plastic animals (toob of penguins, dogs, arctic animals, etc.)
theraputty, play dough, slime, gak
kinetic sand, small sand toys

Also-
A small weighted lap pad
noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs
chew tubes (include if the box is specific for an individual's personal use)

Calm Down Activities

I have been making several calm down books/activities for kids this year, as there has become an increasing need for them. Not just for kids who are anxious or nervous, but also for kids who have behavioral outbursts- this can even include screaming, throwing items, tipping chairs and tables... Kids are not only at risk of hurting themselves, but in some cases they are hurting staff and other students. This is not uncommon anymore in the public school system in the United States, and it's happening all over the US:

https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/classrooms-in-crisis/classrooms-in-crisis-teachers-retiring-resigning-over-disruptive-learning/283-a3932f75-5983-4fcf-89ea-00cbce8ef34e?fbclid=IwAR0Iia2ZdbSTRjYBPYhtsBY2z6pQSy7SAi_CW8WcXB2Ejacnwa4o7muz3uQ

https://www.ksl.com/article/46481666/violent-behavior-in-elementary-students-becoming-more-prevalent?fbclid=IwAR1Ry7x-Zr7ul-KnpZEl7IxQpwM18MX9AB2demd5WwAEtq0MCkHnfmMnyXk

And right here in my home state of ND...
https://www.inforum.com/news/education/1013355-7-in-10-Fargo-teachers-say-they-are-fearful-in-their-classrooms

From an OT standpoint, we can use sensory based activities and strategies in an effort to influence the brain to calm- remember that input from your senses gives information to your brain stem (the oldest part of the brain)...the brain stem then tells your central nervous system how to respond.
So as a school OT who provides tools and strategies to influence the brain and behavior, I have found some resources to add to my repertoire of calming interventions from one of my favorite sellers on the Teachers Pay Teachers website, Pocket Full of Preschool:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calm-Down-Techniques-Books-Posters-and-Supports-2734315

I laminated the book pages and put them in a binder. 

Calm down activities on a binder ring~

Deep breath visuals

This purchase package has directions for a few ways to put the visuals together. I love the quality of the graphics/font, and the kids/teachers have really appreciated the activity choice cards that the kids can use to make choices of what they want to try to calm themselves.

Pocket Full of Preschool also has a website: https://pocketofpreschool.com/

April is OT Month!

April is Occupational Therapy Month!

"Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.

Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes."  -AOTA website

Here are some free OT month activities and ideas to help you celebrate OT with your students:
https://www.yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2019/04/01/occupational-therapy-activity-packet-2/

https://www.toolstogrowot.com/search (create an account to access free OT month printables, or get a yearly subscription like I did to access a ton of awesome resources all year through!)

Wondering about School Based vs. Private Based OT?  Here is a link to a previous post from this blog:
https://fabulousfriendsot.blogspot.com/2013/05/school-based-vs-private-based-ot.html

March Madness Activities

Sometimes I make activity themes for my intervention plans for the week/month. I usually relate it to the season, month, upcoming holiday or an awareness week.  March is lion/lamb, St. Patrick's Day, and... March Madness! I am not a huge college basketball fan, but I figure I might as well join in on the fun. So, here are some links for some basketball theme activities...

You can download some basketball theme activities as a ZIP from this blog- the file contains a bunch of activities- fine motor, visual motor, sorting, sequencing, etc. You can pick and choose...I printed and laminated a sorting task, a clip match task and some visual motor mazes.
https://ateachingmommy.com/free-basketball-preschool-unit/

Count the basketballs and clip to the correct number.

Sort by basketball size

Here's an easy fine motor/art activity using a coffee filter:
https://www.lookwerelearning.com/coffee-filter-basketball-craft/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes&utm_term=621078280_23828564_156074

Of course you can use a basketball for some catching/throwing, shooting, dribbling...or how about these super cute brain break basketball cards from Pink Oatmeal? You can also find them on Teachers Pay Teachers ($3.50).
https://shop.pinkoatmeal.com/product/basketball-brain-breaks/

World Down Syndrome Day

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that little "extra."

Thank you to M. and family for this Down Syndrome
Awareness bracelet! You are a gift!

Winter Theme/Arctic Animals Activities

Keeping the winter theme going... the following are some wintery sensory based and fine/visual motor activities to do with your kids/students (even though we are all hoping to move on to spring activities very soon...)

Homemade Fake Snow
You need:  hair conditioner (white in color)
                  baking soda
Combine 3 cups baking soda with 1/2 cup conditioner.  Will be crumbly but sticks together.  If too sticky/wet, add a bit more soda.
I put the snow on a tray, along with some plastic trucks and diggers that I bought at the dollar store. The "snow" actually feels cold/chilled, and the kids loved it!

Sensory Bin- Cut Up Straws
I bought a few packages of drinking straws from the dollar store and cut them up into thirds.  I added some silver/white/blue pom poms and styrofoam balls of various sizes for some wintery/snowy sparkle and had the kids dig through the straws to find the "snow balls."

Variations:
Download a free Arctic Animal Sensory Bin Matching Game printable from Life Over C's- laminate the pieces and bury them in the bin of straws for your child/student to find and match to the recording sheet. (I also added velcro dots to the backs of the cards on on the sheet).
https://lifeovercs.com/?s=arctic+animals

Add some small arctic animals into the bin along with the cards. I bought some from Hobby Lobby for $4.99, and you can also get them on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Safari-Ltd-Good-Luck-Minis/dp/B014PMQWPA/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3R7PXNXRQ6RO3&keywords=safari+ltd.+arctic+mini+fun+pack&qid=1552405240&s=gateway&sprefix=safari+ltd+arctic+mini%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

You may also use the pom pons for working on isolating finger motion/pincer grasp and 1:1 correspondence:
-have the child/student place a specific number of pom pons into each cube spot in an ice cube tray.  You could also have them pick up the pom pons with tweezers or chop sticks for an added fine motor component.

Winter Clip Cards for matching and counting
Download these free cards from Life Over C's and laminate them. You can use regular clothespins, or get some smaller ones like did at any craft store for even more fine motor precision.
https://lifeovercs.com/?s=winter+clothespin