Something For Those That Don't Like Fine Motor Tasks...

This is what one of my little preschool students and I did today:

He really is not fond of any paper/pencil tasks.  Not.at.all.  He does everything he can to avoid markers, crayons and scissors at all costs.  However, today his favorite distractions were "missing" from the room, so I had his attention a bit more than usual.  And, I had to get creative to keep him attentive and make things at least a bit interesting.  So, we started with scented markers.  Who doesn't love scented markers?

$3.49 at Staples

Of course we had to spend a bit of time smelling each one, which often means marker under the nose or on the lips.  We talked about and I showed him how to correctly hold the marker because that is something that he is working on for his IEP.  He started to draw a person on his own piece of paper, so I made a face on mine, which turned into a sun at his request.  We worked on drawing pre writing lines by putting rays on the sun (imitation or copying pre writing lines is also an objective that he is working on).  I had him work on filling in an area to color by coloring the sun yellow. We worked on drawing more vertical lines by making "grass" (mine is the green, his are the pink lines).  At this point I was losing him, so I started to draw things and he guessed what I was drawing (flowers, butterflies, etc).  He then took his marker and had some of the bugs "fly" to the flowers (which addresses drawing a line from one point to another on paper, which is often a skill required for worksheet completion).  Okay, that was all he could tolerate, so we had to then move on to some type of movement activity.  It may not be exactly what I wanted or how I wanted to originally go about it, but, I just wanted to illustrate to parents/caregivers that even though your child does not "like" fine motor tasks, you can accomplish some objectives by adding some fun, creative media and by letting them think that they are doing exactly what THEY want to do.  Any productive work is better than a flat out refusal.  And, my little friend was very happy with "our" picture.

Using Movement to Diagnose and Treat Autism?

We know that kids with ASD process movement differently than their typically developing peers.  OTs and PTs who work with children/students on the Autism spectrum address the disruption of movement/motor planning issues and motor delays, but I recently came across an article that referenced a study that suggests that the movement profiles of kids with ASD "were unique enough to distinguish how severely affected children were by the developmental disorder. All the autistic participants — regardless of their age — were essentially stunted in their ability to process movement by age three."
The article goes on to further suggest that there may be a way to "both diagnose autism via movement patterns, and potentially treat the condition using similar action-based strategies."

It is an interesting read.  Find it here:
http://healthland.time.com/2013/07/24/using-movement-to-diagnose-and-treat-autism/

Weighted Blankets/Lap Pads

Small weighted blanket and weighted lap pad (commercially bought)

The benefits of weighted blankets, lap pads, etc. are documented and known to many professionals and families who work with and have children on the autism spectrum.  But, they can also help with a variety of needs and issues, not just ASD.  Weighted blankets and lap pads provide proprioceptive input, which is calming to the central nervous system.  They can help to calm for a good night's rest, or even provide just enough input to help keep a child focused and attentive for learning in the classroom.

Weighted lizard-  every kid loves this!

Weighted blankets and items are commercially made and are available through a number of catalogs and companies.  I would encourage you to check out Dreamcatchers Weighted Blankets.  This, is a business that I ran across at a workshop that I attended several years back.  I bought a weighted lap pad from them, and found it to be excellent quality.  This business is based out of Montana (which is right next door to me), and their website contains a ton of information, from who weighted blankets can help, how they work, how to use them, how to order the appropriate weight, etc.  They have testimonials on their page, you can choose the fabric used to make your blanket or lap pad, and they also have a free monthly giveaway valued up to $200.  You can also check out and "like" their facebook page to receive information on sales and giveaways.  Check them out:

http://www.weightedblanket.net/

ASD Website Entry That You Don't Want to Miss!

While I was perusing facebook this morning, I came across this post that was posted by a dear lady and professor of mine from Eastern Michigan University.  There is a ton of information that only a parent of a child on the autism spectrum could know and share, and links all over the entry that I hadn't even heard of or knew about.  I personally am going to read and view a lot of the books, blogs and documentaries mentioned in this post, and look up and read about the people and authors mentioned.  If you are the parent of a child on the autism spectrum or a professional working with a child who has autism, I encourage you to check this out:  http://emmashopebook.com/2013/04/04/what-i-wish-id-been-made-aware-of-when-my-daughter-was-diagnosed-with-autism/

Thumb Opposition/Open Webspace and Separation of Function of the Two Sides of the Hand

Today I am expanding on the "Secrets to Good Handwriting" post from several weeks back by addressing Thumb Opposition/Open Webspace and Separation of Function of the Two Sides of the Hand.  Remember that developing all of the skills mentioned in that original post (dated 5-28-13) will positively affect your child's fine motor skills. Think of those skills mentioned as the building blocks of fine motor skills.

Thumb Opposition and Open Webspace:
For effective manipulation within the hand, the thumb must be able to move and rotate so that it can touch each fingertip. In doing so, the thumb is able to produce movements for manipulating items and controls the amount of pressure exerted on an object for speed and dexterity.

If kids don’t develop good strength in the thumb area, they often substitute for the weakness by positioning the thumb in against the side of their index finger, closing the webspace (the web space is the open area that runs between the thumb and the index finger).  They might pick up small items in this manner, or, when holding a pencil, this presents as a lateral thumb wrap pencil grasp.  Use of this type of grasp can mean heavy pressure on the pencil/paper, and can result in hand fatigue when writing or coloring (we have all heard kids saying that their "hand hurts" or that they are "tired of writing," or have seen them take a break and shake their hand when writing and coloring).

An example of a lateral thumb wrap pencil grasp

Activities:
-playing with a racquetball or tennis ball promotes an open web space when grasping them
-playing with bulb syringes or eye droppers
-pinching clothespins or clips, playing with tongs and tweezers (make sure that the child is not using a lateral pinch, however)

Separation of Function of the Two Sides of the Hand:
Refinement of movement of the radial (thumb and index index finger) side of the hand happens when the ulnar (ring finger and pinky) side of the hand is stabilized (or still). When the ulnar side of the hand is still, kids have better control of their middle and index fingers and thumb for precise motions.  When a child is holding their pencil with a correct or refined grasp pattern, the 4th and 5th fingers are curled into the palm.  If you wind a small knob, like on a wind up toy, the 4th and 5th fingers should not be moving along with your index and thumb. The movement is separated, and this provides the most stability through the hand while allowing free movement of the thumb, index and middle fingers.

Separation of the two sides of the hand develops early on when an infant crawls and bears weight through their hand while carrying toys with the thumb and index finger.  Because we have different nerve innervation to the fingers on each side of the hand, we are able to learn to not move the ring and pinky fingers while the other fingers are moving. When kids are writing or coloring, this separation is important because it allows them stabilize the side of their hand on the paper or surface that they are working on.  Think about kids who do not stabilize their hand on the desk/table top when using a marker or pencil-  they are not getting separation of the 2 sides of their hand.  Cutting with a scissors also requires separation of the two sides of hand.

This little guy is not resting his forearm on the table top, and has not yet developed a refined grasp pattern.

Activities:
-color, print or draw while laying on the tummy; this requires a child to stabilize the side of their hand on the surface in order to hold themselves up.  Can also do this on a vertical surface.
-string beads
-when writing or coloring, see if your child can hold a penny or a small smooth object in their hand (held against the palm with the ring and pinky fingers curled around it)
-Roll small balls of play dough, putty, aluminum foil, etc with the fingertips
-Tear paper while keeping ring and pinky fingers tucked into palms
-thumbtack designs:  place a simple coloring page on a small cork board, and have them push thumbtacks (pushpins) into the board to trace the design
-play with water guns or squirt bottles with one- or two-finger triggers
-Penny play: pick up pennies and place them into a piggy bank or see how fast they can turn over a row of pennies.  Have them hold a penny or small object in their hand and try to move the penny to their fingertips and place it on a table without using other hand.

Scissor Activities

On 6-11-13, I posted an entry on scissor types, and at the end of that blog entry, I said that I would be posting an entry regarding some scissor activities at a later date.  So, here it is...

***Remember to have your child hold the scissors correctly with the correct forearm position:  the thumb is ALWAYS up.

-cut short, random snips in paper or construction paper.  Have your child cut snips along the edge of a piece of paper (like “fringe” or “grass”).

-cut across colored construction paper strips: start with 1” wide strips so that they only need to make a single snip and then gradually increase the width so that it takes more than one snip to cut across it.  I often will then have the kids glue the pieces that they cut onto something (trace a basic shape and have them glue the paper they snipped into the shape outline) or glue the pieces on paper to make a design of their choice.

-practice following a line when cutting.  Start with short, wide lines and gradually decrease the width of the line and increase the length.

-glue 2 pipe cleaners, yarn or craft sticks on paper and have your child cut between them.  You can also use wikki stixx.  Vary the width between them to make the paths wider or narrower.  Curve the paths or make them zig zag.

-use a marker and make straight, curved and angled lines on paper for your child to cut along.  Gradually decrease the size of the curves and angles to encourage more precise cutting.

-cut simple shapes.  Start with larger diameter shapes and decrease to smaller sizes.  Straight lines are always easier to cut than curved and angled lines.

**use stiff paper such as construction paper when first practicing cutting, as kids are more successful with it.  You can also work on increasing hand strength when cutting by using stiffer paper such as poster paper, card stock or card board.

Other activities that enhance scissor skills:
-pick up items using tongs, tweezers or clothespins.  Aluminum foil balls, cotton balls, beads, small toys

-play with squirt guns, bulb syringes/squeezers, hole punch, medicine dropper

-roll play dough or clay into long strips (“snakes”) and cut into pieces using a scissors

-a higher level skill that might be fun to try with some older kids is to have them use a scissors to cut along a simple dot to dot picture.  This is also an excellent motor planning/sequencing activity.

The Tactile System and some "Messy Play"...

We all have seen (or have) those kids who do not like to get their hands messy...they want to wash their hands as soon as anything sticky or messy gets on them, or they refuse to participate in (or at least don’t enjoy) finger painting or playdough activities.  There are also those kids who just can't get enough of messy play.  Check out what Carol Stock Kranowitz, author of "The Out of Sync Child" has to say about the importance of messy play:
http://out-of-sync-child.com/articlesinterviews/in-praise-of-mud/

A brief overview of the tactile system:
The skin is the largest organ of the body.
Touch receptors are located in the skin.
A type of touch is discriminative touch (fine touch)- Discriminating touch implies an awareness of an object's shape, texture, three-dimensional qualities, and other fine points.  It also implies the ability to recognize familiar objects simply by tactile manipulation.
Firm touch is organizing to the central nervous system (so tickling is not enjoyable to kids who are already over sensitive to touch/tactile defensive).

Different touch can be calming or alerting to the central nervous system-
calming: warmth, smooth/soft textures, deep pressure
alerting:  cold, rough textures, vibration, light touch

When the tactile sense is not processing well, your child may have difficulty with modulation, discrimination, or sensory based motor skills (over sensitivity, under sensitivity, sensory seeking behaviors, or may not be able to discriminate tactile sensations).  In addition, other daily skills can be affected, such as:

-body awareness
-motor planning
-visual discrimination
-language
-learning
-social skills
-emotions

Providing your child or student with tactile input is super easy to do (especially if the child is a sensory seeker or is under responsive to tactile input).  However, if they do not like it (if they are over sensitive to tactile input), you will likely get resistance to participation.  If this is the case, you can modify the way your child participates in messy or tactile type play by letting them use a paint brush, playdough tools or a popsicle stick initially to "touch" the messy stuff vs using their fingers, or by only asking them to use one or two fingers to touch it vs. their whole hand.  You can also negotiate with the child, requiring them only to touch the messy activity 5 times, for example, or less and work your way up.  Dry tactile play vs. wet or messy tactile play is sometimes also easier for some kids to tolerate.  Here are some ways and activities that you can add some tactile input into your child's/student's day:

-use finger paints
-play with playdough, clay, floam, gak
-finger paint with shaving cream, whipped cream, pudding or honey

-finger paint with a mixture of karo syrup and food coloring on a poster board cut out.  Dries shiny and smooth
-play with magnetic bingo chips and wand

Magnetic bingo chips and wand

-pop bubble wrap
-play in water: play in a pool, sprinkler, tub, water table, etc.
-write with a squiggle pen (vibrating pen)
-play with a koosh ball or ball with texture

-play in a tub of rice, flour, sugar, salt, sand or dried beans.  Hide small items in the rice or beans and have your child find them.  Try having them find them with their eyes closed as well.
-pur some salt, sugar or sand on a tray and have your child use their finger to draw basic shapes, letters, pictures, etc.  Have your child drive drive a toy car through the salt to make roads and a track.
-freeze some shaving cream on a paper plate and let your child play with it as it melts
-freeze jello and play with it (ok to eat, too)

Frozen blue raspberry jello

-freeze popsicle sticks into ice cubes.  Sprinkle various colors/flavors of kool aid on paper and use the ice cubes to color on the kool aid and paper.  Makes various lines and colors and smells great!
-freeze tempera paint in ice cube trays.  Freeze a popsicle stick in it for a handle.  Paint on paper using the frozen tempera cubes.

Frozen tempera paint

Here are some fun "recipes" for tactile play:

sand playdough
4 cups clean, colored sand
3 cups flour
1/4 cup oil

snow dough
1 cup ivory snow flakes
2 cups warm water
add food coloring if desired
(this will harden if you make shapes with
it and let it dry)

silly putty (glarch)
mix equal parts liquid laundry starch and Elmer's glue until no
longer sticky.  Add food coloring if desired.

kool aid playdough
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
2 small packages kool aid

Tactile input isn't just for the hands...
-have your child walk on bubble wrap to pop it
-make an obstacle course or trail of different textures and have your child walk on/through them ie: mud, cotton balls, water, dried beans or macaroni, a square of carpet, scraps of different kinds of fabric, etc.
-have your child eat a variety of textured foods-  eat something crunchy, chewy, etc.
-play with and apply different scents and types of lotion to the skin.  Have your child put it on themselves.

Have any other good "tactile play" ideas?  Share them here so others can enjoy them, too!

I'm Back from Vegas!

Looking North on the Vegas Strip

I am back from our family vacation to sunny (HOT) Las Vegas!  Had a great time, did lots of fun things and now I am back and ready to get back to my yard project and work.  No time to blog today, but I will be adding another entry in the next day or so, so stop back soon!  And, feel free to leave me some comments!  I have yet to get one comment, but have had over 800+ visits...so...leave me a note, if even just to say hello~

Celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks at the Bellagio and Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas.