Fiber barrels are hard to find these days but they are a real treasure for motor challenges. I used to have a great big one, so I fit inside and could demonstrate some of the more challenging moves to the folks I worked with. Those demos gave my hips a big workout and when I […]
If there was only one piece of equipment I was allowed to keep, it would be my scooter board. Built by my husband 28 years ago, it’s still solid as a rock and works beautifully. Countless number of children have gotten stronger, mastered critical motor skills and had fun on my scooter. Riding a scooter […]
One of my colleagues takes one look at GAK and wants to puke…definitely sensory issues going on. While I personally have some real tactile hypersensitivities, I am fascinated by the textural experience GAK provides. This big blue blob feels wet, cold and gooey. But it’s actually dry and not very messy. It has a […]
Parents and teachers frequently ask, “What’s the best way to introduce drawing and writing?” My knee jerk response: “Throw away the pencils and workbooks!” Exploration through a variety of mediums is a great way to get a child loving the creative process of drawing and eventually writing. Dot art is a perfect way to start […]
Good fine motor dexterity requires each finger to get fairly strong and be able to move in several directions with ease. The perfect motion to strengthen the pointer finger is pulling a trigger. This posed a big problem for me. I did not allow my own children to play with guns (OK so my […]
Even though my children are grown up, no mater where I travel, I always find my way to the toy stores to look for new, interesting toys. Museum shops have the best! I discovered this Spinner at The General Store in Vermont during a ski trip. It’s harder than is looks and captivates the interest […]
As a working mother, meal time was always a challenge. Juggling homework help, checking voice messages (we had telephone answering machines back then), cooking dinner AND squeezing in the “family quality time” often took heroic efforts. Having your child help in the kitchen can be a nice way to spend quality time together. Using a […]
This project uses the spinner in the classroom. It is a great way to incorporate art and science into one fun activity! Benefits: The spinner provides a fascinating visual experience. This helps draw children’s visual attention to the activity. Placing the greens into the bowl helps develop eye hand skills and stimulates touch receptors. For younger children position both […]
I love when I find an activity that works for all ages. With the right amount of help even the littlest hands can manage this simple project. It is easy to do and materials are inexpensive. Benefits: The sponge should be held between the thumb, pointer and middle fingers. This strengthens the muscles used for […]
When beauty meet utility we have a perfect creation! There are so many great things going on (developmentally speaking) as a child “creates” this work of art. Introduce concepts of science and you have a block buster learning experience! For example: Collecting specimens on nature walks Learning the concepts of “natural dyes) […]
When I was young, my mother sent me outside and I would spend HOURS swinging. I would sing, I would close my eyes to surprise myself by how high I’d gone and as I got bigger I’d challenge myself by jumping off at the highest point. Swinging does so many good things for sensory motor […]