by Laurie Gombash PT, M.Ed

Are you looking for activities that are portable, fun and that can help your kiddos improve their skills? In this post, pediatric physical therapist, Laurie Gombash PT, M.Ed. shares her three therapy bag  “must haves”!

1. Body Awareness Fun Deck

The Body Awareness Fun Deck contains 56 cards that feature OTis the OT gorilla in different poses. These cards work on body scheme, spatial awareness, and visual perceptual skills. There are 5 levels of difficulty. Laurie’s Pro Tip: Use these cards at the beginning of the school year to get an idea of how students are doing since the last time they were seen!

2. Upper Body and Core Strength Fun Deck

The Upper Body and Core Strength Fun Deck contains 52, double sided cards. The fronts have pictures of different upper body activities and the backs have a description of the activity. 

3. Move Your Body Fun Deck

The Move Your Body Fun Deck contains 58 cards featuring a variety of movement activities.  These cards help improve children’s strength, their balance, their coordination, and their motor planning.

The Fun Deck cards are a great option when doing push-in services, check out these activity ideas. 

Pick, Demonstrate, & Imitate

1. The therapist or teacher fans out a set of cards from the desired Fun Deck.
2. Students take turns choosing a card and then placing themselves in the position depicted on the card.
3. All of the other students imitate the student.

Choice Boards

1. Secure a desired number of Fun Deck cards to a board (for example cardboard or a portable whiteboard).
2. Children take turns pointing to the card to make a choice.
3. The child who made the choice is the leader, leading other students in the movement activity.

Pro Tip: Pointing to make a choice is a great time to work on finger isolation!

The Fun Deck cards are a must have for your therapy tool bag!  They come in a small, sturdy tin making them very portable. They are great for push in therapy sessions and can be used with children of all abilities. In addition, Fun Deck cards can be used across a variety of disciplines including occupational and physical therapists! How will you use Fun Deck cards in your therapy practice?

Summer activities are filled with opportunities for the continued development of skills learned during the previous academic year. Summer activities also provide numerous opportunities to develop and build skills that will be needed for the upcoming school year. 

Play Ball! The visual tracking and coordination needed to accurately catch and throw a ball is linked to academic skills like copying from the board and handwriting.  Help develop these vital skill areas with simple ball games.  For beginners try using Magicatch or Gertie Balls; these types of balls are easier to catch and help to build confidence while ball skills are developing. Build strength and increase body awareness using a weighted ball for a backyard bowling game! Add a sensory element with Porcupine Balls, Koosh Balls, or Slush Balls. 

Draw! Drawing offers many opportunities to develop visual perceptual skills and fine motor control, essential elements needed for handwriting.  Step by step drawing books, like How To Draw or the Ed Emberly drawing books are great ways to work on these skills along with working on direction following. In the summertime you can get extra creative with drawing mediums and canvases. Sidewalk chalk or drawing pictures in the sand are great options for warmer days. On rainy days, there are many options for indoor art projects!  Tape drawing paper to the wall or the under sides of  a table to help develop shoulder strength and stability.   Try drawing pictures in shaving cream or whipped cream for a fun sensory experience.  

Solve a Puzzle! Dot to Dot Books, Hidden Picture Activities, and Mazes  are great rainy-day or long car ride boredom busters! They also offer opportunities to build visual perceptual skills and fine motor control that are essential for neat and legible handwriting.  

Cooking & Crafts! Students in older grades will be expected to follow schedules and take on large, multi step projects. Crafts and cooking activities are great ways to prepare for these challenging expectations.  These activities offer opportunities for learning how to  follow sequential steps, manage time,  and problem solve.  Try the free Make & Eat Activities from Sensational Fun! 

Play a Game!  With so many game options available there is no limit to the skills you can work on! Target executive function skills with the game Rush Hour, work on handwriting skills with Letter Treasure Hunt, develop directionality skills with the game Left Center Right, or work on grammar skills with the game NOVENOPS! For more ideas check out Therapros’s handy guide, Gear Up For Games!

Keep skills sharp and prepare for the upcoming school year with summer fun! 

Yoga is an invaluable resource that can be used to target skill areas like balance, motor planning, bilateral coordination, self regulation, and so much more! Thinking outside of the box allows you to incorporate simple yoga poses into everyday activities like break time!

Yoga postures are a great break choice activity because of their versatility.  Yoga poses can be done seated, standing, in small spaces, or big rooms. Most poses require no equipment and best of all there is minimal crashing and yelling involved! In the classroom or in your designated “mindfulness corner” try displaying visuals with 3-5 yoga poses. Direct students to complete the pose during the designated ‘brain break’ time, during transitions, or when students need a quiet moment to regroup.  Here are some quick tips for success: