Ever wonder what’s in your OT’s bag? It’s the start of the school year and there are just
some things that will stay in my bag all year long! These are staples that are flexible
and can be used to include a variety of fine motor and sensory activities. Things that pretty much every child can benefit from in some way! I’m about to share them with you right now!
1. Theraputty is great for strengthening tiny hands and fingers. Great for bilateral
coordination and sensory processing as well. You can pull it, push it, pinch it,
and bury small objects in it. Just be careful not to get it on your clothes or in
your hair!
2. Small pop beads are excellent for improving dexterity, finger strength, and pincer
grasp.
3. Small beads to string are great for improving bilateral coordination and grasp
patterns.
4. I always carry my pictures and schedule builder, no matter where I go! While
especially useful for kids who struggle with attention, transitions, and self-
directed behavior, all children benefit from the structure these tools provide.
5. Books can always be found in my bag. They are great for working on improving
attention, improving visual perceptual skills, and for building social skills.
6. Puzzles are so important for the development of visual perceptual skills. I keep
a variety of puzzles including 4, 6, 8, and 12-piece interlocking puzzles in my
bag.
7. Crayons – I use all kinds! Broken crayons, regular crayons, large crayons,
melted honeycomb shape crayons, and rock crayons. It all depends upon the
child and where they are developmentally.
8. I always have paper (white paper and construction paper), scissors (Fiskars are
my go-to), and glue. You can come up with an endless supply of
developmentally appropriate activities with those three items alone!
9. Dry erase boards – two of them. One for me and one for my student. Dry erase
boards allow kids to try things out, make mistakes, and try again. I use these for
learning to imitate drawing simple lines, shapes, and letters.
10. Painter’s tape can be used in so, so many ways. I use it for working on body
awareness, bilateral coordination, visual motor integration, and balance, just to
name a few!
11. Get-to-know-you block tower (Jenga) is one of my favorite games! Kids absolutely love to answer the questions about themselves (What is your favorite color? Favorite song? Favorite food?) on one side of their block and then follow the movement direction (jump 10x, stand on one leg, plank) on the other side of the block. A fun way to build social interaction and motor skills at the same time!
Σχόλια