Have a Hoot with Fine Motor Skills: Therapro’s Activity of the Month

March 6, 2015Fine Motor & Hand Skill Developmentfree activities, occupational therapy (OT) tools, parent resourcesTherapro

Looking for a fun and purposeful activity? This simple owl-themed craft is a great way to enhance fine motor skills while sparking creativity. Children will enjoy cutting, tracing, and gluing as they bring their owl to life—building important coordination skills along the way. It’s an ideal hands-on activity for therapists, educators, or parents supporting motor development at home or in the classroom.

With this easy craft, your child will:

Practice scissor skills
Trace different shapes
Use both hands (bilateral coordination)
Cross the midline

Materials

2 Sticky Back Foam Sheets or Felt
2 Buttons
Glue
Scissors
White Paper for the pattern
Markers

Step 1

Draw the pattern on white paper.

Cut the pattern shapes.

Place the shapes on the sticky-back foam sheets. Use at least 2 different colors.

Step 2

Cut the foam shapes

Step 3

Peel the back of the wings and place wings on the belly.

Step 4

Peel the back of the behind the eyes area and place on the top part of the belly.

Step 5

Peel the back of the large eyes and center on the top.

Step 6

Peel the back of the small eyes and center on the top.

Step 7

Peel the back of the nose and place it under the eyes.

Step 8

Glue the buttons to the center of the eyes.

Step 9

Decorate using the markers.

Don’t forget to make it a multi-sensory experience.

What sound does the owl make?
Sing songs about owls or birds.
Have your child feel a feather.
Use different textures; combine foam and felt, or decorate with glitter.

Here is a felt owl we made using a heart for a nose. Send us a picture of your owl, or post it on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #Therapro

Looking for more ways to build hand skills through creativity? Explore Therapro’s Art & Creative Activities for a wide range of engaging tools and ideas designed to support fine motor development in fun and meaningful ways.

Guest Blogger: Diana V. Mendez-Hohmann

Early Intervention to Preschool: Key Transition Insights

February 11, 2015Community-Based Practice, Early Learning, Therapist Resourcesearly intervention, saturday seminar recaps, therapist resourcesTherapro

On a very snowy Saturday morning on Saturday, January 24, 2014, a small, but strong contingent donned their snow gear and ventured out to Therapro to hear Barbara Sanna Collins, OTR/L’s seminar. Barbara presented her talk, Early Intervention Today, School Tomorrow…What You Need to Know to the audience of therapists, teachers, and child specialists. As the Clinical Director of the Massachusetts Brockton Early Childhood Intervention Program, she adeptly led us through the EI process from eligibility, to programming, and then to preparing for the transition to preschool or other appropriate services when the child “graduates” at the age of three years.

Barbara Sanna Collins presenter of Early Intervention Today, School Tomorrow…What You Need to Know a Saturday Seminar on the topic of Early Intervention to Preschool: Key Transition Insights

It was astounding to hear that 337,000 children and their families receive early intervention services in the US per year, with 50,000 per year in Massachusetts alone! Barbara updated us on the nitty gritty of how services are paid and how the states differ in their provision of services under Part C of the IDEA federal grant program.

Barbara shared video clips of individual and group treatment sessions in her program that took place at her center as well as at the child’s home. She noted that in the transition to a preschool program, parents who are accustomed to having their hand held through those first 3 years of participation in a program miss this when their child enters the school system – a change from “family focused” services to “child focused” services occurs. The EI team prepares the family and child for this inevitable change in service delivery. At Brockton EI, the team ensures that every child participates in a toddler group before “graduation” so that he/she experiences some typical preschool activities, i.e. transitioning from one activity to another.

Early intervention providers have several unique roles that include the provision of services that help the child with special health care needs reach their highest potential at age three and helping families gain confidence as parents and advocates for their children.

The following testimonials attest to the valuable information Barb presented in her seminar:

“Very informative – A window into the work of EI professionals. Loved the videos of the therapeutic work. Presentation was fantastic!” Marisa G.

“Wonderful presentation. So much good info. Thanks.” Anonymous.

“Very informative and motivating!” Julia H.

“Very informational – I loved the treatment videos!!” Meghan C.

Thank you, Barb!

Filomena Connor, MS, OTR/L

Banana Nut Bars: Therapro’s Free Activity of the Month

January 30, 2015Daily Livingfree activities, parent resources, self-careTherapro

Looking for a fun and functional sensory experience? Try the Banana Nut Bars activity—a delicious way to engage children in tactile exploration and olfactory stimulation right in your own kitchen. As therapists, we know that sensory-rich activities support development, and baking is a fantastic opportunity for hands-on learning. This parent-child recipe builds motor skills, encourages following directions, and fits seamlessly into any daily sensory routine.

Prepare for the activity

Make sure you have a stool for your child to use so that he can reach the counter. You can also move the activity to the kitchen table for a more accessible location, and this way the child can sit on a cushion while they help with the baking.

Have your child help gather the ingredients and the necessary tools for baking. Tell them what they are, how they are used, and encourage them to smell and taste the ingredients.

Banana Nut Bars (If you or your child is allergic to nuts, you can substitute chocolate chips)

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 overripe bananas, mashed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup trail mix

Banana Nut Bars activity ingredients display

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease a 13 x 9 pan and set aside.
3. Have your child place the bananas in a resalable plastic bag and mash them using a rolling pin. A great way to provide proprioceptive feedback and bilateral integration.

Bananas in a bag for the banana Nut Bars activity Rolling the bananas for the banana bread

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and shortening until light and fluffy.
2. Your child can stir in the mashed bananas and egg and vanilla.
3. Mix well.
4. Have your child add the rolled oats, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Wet incidents in a bowl

1. Mix until thoroughly combined.
2. Have your child stir in the trail mix.
3. Have your child place the mixture in the greased pan.

Banana bread in a pan ready to cook

1. Bake just until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Let cool, cut into squares and enjoy!

Finished banana bread

For more engaging, therapist-designed sensory activities like the Banana Nut Bars activity, explore Sensational Fun—a comprehensive collection of creative ideas that support sensory diets at home, in school, or in therapy sessions. Visit Therapro’s Sensational Fun to discover over 100 fun, functional ways to build sensory skills through play.