Demonstration

My son's occupational therapist was kind enough to let me capture a video  and a picture of her working with Tyler today. Tying shoes has been an ongoing struggle for us.

It was suggested for us to use a jump rope for practice as it is a larger scale model. It worked very well and with some more practice, Tyler should be able to tie his own shoes soon!

Here is today's quote!

No act of kindness, 
No matter how small, 
Is ever wasted.

New Idea

I went to our local Swap Meet and found something interesting. I picked up a plastic baby bottle dryer. I also bought some rubber bands and did some experimenting.

The tall prongs can be used to place rubber bands around them, and you can turn it into a counting game. The small prongs can also be used to place smaller rubber bands around them and this can be turned into a pattern game.

Grasping the rubber bands helps with fine motor skills and the addition of a game makes it fun!

Here is today's quote!

This above all, to thine own self be true.

Flower Project

I was able to have three volunteers today for the flower project. It was awesome. All of the kids enjoyed themselves and had pretty flowers to share at the end.

Here is today's quote!

Once you choose hope, anything is possible.

Family Fun Night Project

While volunteering at my son's school, I helped with a project they were doing on the parts of a flower. I want to share this project because it can help with fine motor skills.

The end result is a flower with leaves, roots, and lots of petals. I will share the process with pictures when we do this at home. Here are the basic supplies that will be needed. Cut a sheet of tissue paper in half. You will need four halves per flower, green pipe cleaners for the stem and leaves, and brown pipe cleaners for the roots.

The flower shown here is the one we completed at school. This can also be an educational opportunity to explain how flowers get water and grow!

New Idea

I was shopping at Walgreen's and noticed they had some cute red noses for sale at the pharmacy. They are for Red Nose Day and the proceeds are for charity. I was looking at the nose and had a wonderful idea!

If you put a pencil in the opening where your nose would go, a child could easily grasp the squishy foam, and this would help with correct finger positioning for writing. I had my son try it, and it worked! The only setback is that the pencil may need to be taped to help keep it in the opening.

Here is today's quote!

No one has ever become poor by giving.

Family Fun Night Project

I came across a project post on Facebook, and I would like to share it. This will require one gallon size plastic bag, clear hair gel, glitter, and an assortment of small plastic sea creatures.
Add the gel to the gallon bag along with some glitter. Now, add the sea creatures. Seal the bag.

This project creates a sensory bag that would be great for little one to manipulate!
The post was originally from Ziploc and they call it Ocean In A Bag!

Instead of using sea creatures, try using bugs or dinosaurs. The possibilities are endless.

Big Project Started

Yesterday, I began the task of starting my big project. I still have quite a bit to do, but it is coming together nicely!

I am hoping to have it finished within the next week. I will keep updating with pictures. Here is the first picture!

Here is today's quote.

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.

New Idea

We have all seen those plastic back scratchers. I bought two at our local Sunday swap meet. They have a hand at the end that is cupped.

You can put  blocks or some other small toys in front of a child, and have them sit and reach with the hand part of the back scratcher to pull the objects toward them. This can be used to cross mid-line. Can't wait to try this out!

Here is today's quote.

Happiness is a journey... Not a destination.

New Idea

While shopping at our local weekly swap meet, I came across some small plastic clamps. I tried them, and it took very little tensile strength to squeeze them open.

This is perfect for helping to increase hand strength! They came in cool colors too!

Big Project

I gave a hint the other day that I was trying to finalize a really big project. I am not going to spill the beans just yet, but I have a wonderful idea.

I am starting the process of creating this tool, which I hope will be greatly beneficial and universal across the board. I am giving you a picture of the materials I have collected so far for this project.

I will keep you updated as things progress and will display the final product with a big bang!

Here is today's quote!

Don't wait for the perfect moment, take the moment and make it perfect.

Ideas Are Everywhere

I was at Big Lots again the other day picking up some more of those salad tongs I found earlier. Tyler's teacher wanted a couple sets for her classroom! I happened to spy a set of cookie cutters that had a unique pattern to them.

One side of the cookie cutter is a solid square. The other side is a scalloped pattern. These can be used as stencils. Have the child grasp the side that has scallops, and then they can trace around the solid square. This will help to enforce that pressure is needed to write and to hold the stencil in place.

Here is a demonstration!

The scallops allow a place to firmly grasp the shape!

Tooth Brush Update

After a few days of using the spin brush followed by the double sided brush, we are having some great results. Those hard to reach places are finally getting some attention.

Tyler also has a condition known as enamel hypoplasia. He had to have a special sealant placed on his permanent molars to delay erosion. Hopefully with this new toothbrush, we will continue toward health dental habits that he can tolerate!

Here is a picture of Tyler holding his special toothbrush. It has an indentation under his thumb to help with gripping.

Help From The Dentist

I had a dentist appointment today, and I was talking with him about Tyler's refusal to brush his teeth sometimes. The stimulation from the brush will cause him to go into a meltdown every now and then. He suggested we try a double sided toothbrush and gave me one to take home.


 I will post an update late and see if this helps. It is supposed to cut brushing time in half because it cleans all angles of the teeth at once. I will also post a picture with this update.

New Project

I found some interesting magnetic clips the other day at Family Dollar. They are refrigerator magnets. I added a face and they look cool!

They have hard rubber grips with an indent. This is perfect for maintaining correct finger position to manipulate the clips. They were only $2.00!

Here is today's quote.

You can have anything you want if you are willing to give up the belief that you cannot have it.

Wooden Tool Box

I finally found a reasonably priced wooden tool box set to use for a project. I am hoping to have this done in a few days. I am very excited about this one.

I also have a very big idea that I will be sharing once I work out some more details. This will be the largest project to date and I am hoping it will be very helpful!

Here is today's quote!

In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take.

Finished Project

I am not sure how receptive a child would be to this one, but you never know until you try. Here is the idea I had about the empty pill bottles. One game could be that the character on the bottle has to rescue 5 friends or beans. Or the character has to take 5 friends or beans, home. Use tweezers to place or remove the beans. This can help with basic math as well as fine motor skills.

Here is today's quote!

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.