How To Get Your Kids to Practice Handwriting A-Z Writing Activity

You may recall that we love handwriting activities around here.  It’s a topic I’ve loved to cover since my days as a school-based Occupational Therapist. I love to take an activity that works on the skills needed for functional tasks and build them through creative play and development.  It’s just fun to be creative!   


There are a ton of creative ways to build handwriting skills here.


But sometimes, all it takes to improve letter formation, line awareness, spatial skills, and overall legibility is practicing using the skills that have been built and developed through therapeutic activities.  


Today’s post is a creative and fun way to sneak in practice on a daily basis.  We made this handwriting clipboard to work on written work with an alphabet theme.  It’s one of the activities that we found in the (affiliate link) 101 Fun and Easy Learning Games for Kids  book that two fellow bloggers have recently published.  Read more about that here

sneaky handwriting ideas for kids who need to practice writing but just don't want to. This A-Z list can be taken anywhere for writing practice on the go!



A-Z Handwriting Activity for Kids 



Kids sometimes need a little motivation to practice and work on their handwriting.  A fun activity like this A-Z writing sheet can help.  Simply ask kids to write out a word for each letter of the alphabet, based on a single topic.  You might walk through a grocery store together while completing the week’s shopping as your child writes out words of foods that he sees in the store.  You could take a walk in the park and come up with a list of A-Z words based on things you see and hear around you.  The possibilities are endless for this handwriting prompt.  


We decided that if we were to walk through a store and write out a list of items, we would need a clipboard or some kind of stable surface for writing.  From there, came our DIY cardboard clipboard!


DIY cardboard Clipboard

Make up one of these clipboards on the cheap and have a writing surface for all of your portable handwriting practice sessions. 


Materials:
Cardboard (We used a recycled shirt box.)
Ribbon
Paper Clips


To make the cardboard clipboard: Cut the cardboard to the appropriate size.  Slice a hole  and thread ribbon into the cardboard.  You’ll want the ribbon to be long enough for comfortable writing. Knot the ribbon.  Tie the other end of the ribbon to a pencil.  Attatch paper to the clipboard using paperclips.  Your cardboard clipboard is done!


Take the clipboards out and think of A-Z topics to write about while practicing handwriting.  Places and topics to include in an A-Z writing list might include:
Foods at the grocery store
Cars on the highway
Things at the park
Animals at the zoo
Things at the beach
Sights on vacation
Names of people
Book titles in the library
Toys in the toy store


Want MORE sneaky (and totally fun!) ways to incorporate handwriting into play and activities while making handwriting practice not-boring?  Try our Sensory Handwriting Summer Camp.  It’s packed with a summer full of handwriting fun.


handwriting practice idea for kids with a DIY cardboard clipboard

sneaky handwriting ideas for kids who need to practice writing but just don't want to. This A-Z list can be taken anywhere for writing practice on the go!

What A-Z writing prompt lists can you think of?

Want to find more creative ways to learn through play and games?  Grab your copy of 101 Fun and Easy Learning Games for Kids .  This book is packed to the brim with creative learning ideas that are complimented with colorful images. You need this book!


This activity has been reprinted with permission from the publisher from book 100 FUN & EASY LEARNING GAMES FOR KIDS. I received a copy of the book from the publisher.


You’ll love these handwriting activities

Playground Therapy

Ultimate guide to the playground

Whether in the school environment or accessing playgrounds in the community, it is important to discuss playground therapy as a tool for building skills. Therapy playground strategies can support development in many different areas. Here, we’ll cover how to incorporate the playground in therapy sessions, as well as playground equipment. 

You’ll also want to dive into specifics about sensory integration at the playground and balance at the playground. Another resource that is helpful for some individuals is our article on sensory diets at the playground.

Playground therapy

The playground offers a unique environment for building skills. There is so much development and therapeutic growth that can happen in an environment like a playground. 

Let’s take a look at the various areas of development that can be targeted through play on a playground:

This skillset is powerful and it’s all through the power of play!

Playground Therapy Equipment

With it’s slides and swings, surroundings, slope, surfaces, and colors, no two playgrounds are exactly alike. Just as all playgrounds are different, the childhood development that can occur using the equipment at a playground is vast.

Some important playground therapy equipment include:

  • Slides
  • Swings (regular, disk, tire swing, platform swing, etc.)
  • ​Balance beams
  • Stairs
  • Climbing wall
  • Climbing platform
  • Foam sensory stations
  • Wheelchair access
  • Ladders
  • Climbing areas
  • Monkey bars
  • Ramps
  • Auditory input stations
  • Fine motor areas
  • Musical areas
  • Cognitive skill areas

All of these spaces on the playground can be used through free play to support development. It’s through the occupation of play that children of all abilities develop. 

Creative play including pretend play and interaction with peers on the playground can promote development on a typical weekend trip to the park, or during recess time on the playground. Occupational therapy practitioners uniquely promote functional performance and play is both the therapy tool as well as the target for development. 

Using playground equipment in therapy goals can also be used to support a variety of diagnoses. 

Not only that, but a playground is a supportive and community friendly space that allows caregivers to carryover recommendations in a shared and accessible space. 

The playground offers a unique environment.  There is so much development and therapeutic growth that can happen in an environment like a playground.  With it’s slides and swings, surroundings, slope, surfaces, and colors, no two playgrounds are exactly alike.  Just as all playgrounds are different, the childhood development that can occur using the equipment at a playground is vast.  
 
 

Ultimate Guide to the Playground

 
 
The links below will guide you through childhood development of capabilities at the playground, the fine motor development that can occur at a park, gross motor requirements for safety and independence, sensory therapy strategies that can be done at the playground, modification ideas, playground games for extending therapy, rules to break for developing progress, social skills that occur at the playground, and visual skill development that can develop at a playground.
 
This is literally your ultimate guide to the playground! 

Playground Development

When playing on the playground, so many skills develop. We covered this in our resource on sensory play using playground equipment because motor skills and movement are intrinsically connected to sensory skills, meaning sensory-motor! You’ll love this resource on developmental progression of playground skills.

 Fine Motor Skills are also developed at the playground, through use of slides, swings, and other items. We know that development progresses from gross motor to fine motor and proximally to distally, but did you know the true value of climbing, sliding, balancing, and using those playground tools? Check out this blog post for more information on fine motor skills at the playground.
 

Modifying Playground Equipment for Development

Neighborhood parks, school playgrounds, and even natural play areas (hiking trails, beaches, state parks, forests, and the backyard) are in every community. What a resource we have within minutes from every home! But, when it comes to playground equipment, not all are created equal. 

Sometimes, we need to adjust our plans or activities at the park or playground. And that’s ok! A swing may not be developmentally appropriate for every individual. A climbing device or elevated play area may not work for the needs of every individual. What we can do, however, is adjust or modify the equipment we do have access to. 

This way, we can use the resources available as best we can while promoting developmental progression and achievement of individual goals. That is exactly what we do as occupational therapy professionals! 

Check out this blog on modifying playground equipment. It’s a great tool to add to your therapy toolbox!

  • This blog post includes utilizing playground equipment to support visual processing skills on the playground
  • This blog post has social skills activities while at the park or playground

Playground Games

As occupational therapists, we harness the environment and address any factors that impact functional participation. This includes using our primary occupations. For kids, that primary occupation is PLAY! 
 
By incorporating gross motor games, scavenger hunts, I Spy, and other games, the playground becomes a place to practice through play in so many aspects of child development.
 
Kids play at school at the playground, and they play 
What a resource for families and therapists!
 
The ultimate guide to kids on the playground, including fine motor, gross motor, visual skill, and social skill development, sensory integration therapy, modifications, and more.
 
 
 
The ultimate guide to kids on the playground, including fine motor, gross motor, visual skill, and social skill development, sensory integration therapy, modifications, and more.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
               
 

Try these outdoor play ideas:

 Rainbow Writing Handwriting Practice | Winter Letters Outside  | Letters on the Garage Door | Alphabetical Order Golf Tee Hammering

How to teach a child to zip their coat

how to teach a child to zip a coat
Here, you’ll fid a zippering activity that can be used for how to teach a child to zip their coat. Teach kids how to use a zipper doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be a complicated functional skill for kids and process.  Managing two hands together at the belly level, using one hand to hold down the zipper chamber AND the zipper pull AND the end of the zipper…all while the OTHER hand is holding the end of the zipper and trying to thread it into the chamber…it’s a motor planning process that requires a few essential skills to say the least.  
 

How to teach a child to zip their coat

 
The simple act of zippering a coat requires: bilateral coordination, finger isolation, open thumb web space, separation of the two sides of the hand (on BOTH hands), motor planning, pinch strength, eye-hand coordination, pincer grasp, and tripod grasp (most often of the non-dominant hand). Whew! It’s no wonder that teaching kids how to zipper can be such a complicated  orchestration of fine motor skills
 
I have a few zipper activities coming your way, and first up is this bread tie zippering activity.  It’s a fun way to work on they physical skills needed for managing a zipper, using items you probably have in the house.
Zippering activity that works to teach a child to zip a coat using fun materials like a ribbon and bread ties.

Teaching Zipper Skills

 

When it comes to teaching zipper skills, there are several skills kids need to develop in order to manage a zipper.

 
This post contains affiliate links.
 
There are some nice quality zipper tools out there that will help your child learn how to zipper clothing.  Some of the best products are ones that encourage a child to become independent while practicing the skills needed to learn how to use a zipper and fasten clothing. Looking for manufactured zipper tools?  Try a zipper board, a clothing fastener vest, or a fun cargo vest with zippers for creative play and zipper practice.
 
Here are all of those skill areas needed for managing a zipper.  Click on each link for creative activities to build these skills:
 

 

So, you could purchase zippering products online to practice zippering, struggle with a difficult coat, or use what you’ve got:
Plastic bread ties
 
 
How to teach a child to zip a coat using a ribbon and a bread tie.
 
And, that’s all you need to practice zippering in a fun way.
 
 
I mean, “tools”. Really, the kids will get a kick out of this and practice the motor skills needed to pinch a zipper, hold down the end of the zipper, and the really tough part of the process: separating the tow sides of the hand holding the zipper chamber.  And, recycling those plastic bread ties makes trash into a treasured moment when a kiddo can shout, “I did it!” then next time they zipper their jacket. 
 
Use this zippering activity for a fun way to teach a child to zip a coat
 

Zippering Activity

This simple ribbon activity uses plastic bread ties.  First, knot both ends of a wide ribbon.  Pinch the ribbon and slide the bread ties onto the ribbon.  That’s it; your zipper tool is done. 
 
Next, we’re going to practice.  To help kids learn to zipper (a real zipper),  they need to hold the bottom of the zipper while the other side is engaged into the chamber. They need to hold the bottom of the zipper between the thumb and middle/ring fingers while pinching the chamber down with the thumb and pointer finger. 
 
Use the ribbon to practice this skill by holding the ribbon down strait and taunt and pinching a bread tie between the thumb and pointer finger.  We held the ribbon tightly in a couple of ways: You can pin the ribbon to your child’s shirt, or have them hold the end of the ribbon under their chin. The latter method allows them to look down while they are completing the coordinated movements, much like zippering requires. 
 
Then, use the other hand to pull the zipper ties all the way up and all the way down the length of the ribbon.
 
You could (and should!), of course, practice zippering a coat during trips outside, and during non-busy/non-rushed periods of the day.  However, this simple activity makes working on the individual parts of zippering a little more fun.  Add this activity to typical zippering practice to work on those skills.
 
 
Help kids learn how to zipper clothing using recycled materials that you probably have in your house. This activity works on all of the individual skills needed for the motor planning of zippering a zipper and uses just a ribbon and plastic bread ties.
 
 
 
You’ll love these DIY self-care hacks: 

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

Sensory Processing at the Playground

sensory processing at the playground

It can be frustrating as a therapist and parent to have a child or client with sensory processing needs when therapy equipment resources are unavailable or too expensive for home or treatment spaces.  It would be nice to refer a child to a fully equipped sensory integration gym but sometimes that is just not possible.  Children with sensory needs may receive therapy only in the school setting or at home in early intervention and would benefit from overhead swivel swings, balance beams, and bolsters.  There is a way around this expensive therapy equipment and it involves a trip to the local playground.  Try sensory processing therapy strategies at the playground. 

Be sure to read this related resource on playground therapy.


Kids will love the vestibular activities and other ways to challenge the sensory system in a fun way right on the playground.


Add these resources to the ones you can find here under sensory diet vestibular activities to meet the sensory needs of all kids. 

sensory processing at the playground

 
 

Sensory Processing at the Playground

This post contains affiliate links.

First, and most importantly, it is necessary to receive an assessment and therapist recommendations from an Occupational Therapist.  Specific strategies meeting the individual’s needs are needed for safety and appropriate intervention.  Sensory processing interventions can be detrimental for the child with gravitational insecurity or the child who becomes overly responsive to vestibular input. Always consult an Occupational Therapist for individualized recommendations.  The child’s therapist can make appropriate recommendations while guiding the child rather than pushing interactions on playground equipment.


Read more HERE about sensory systems and hyper- and hypo-responsiveness to sensory input. 


It is important to note that simply going to the playground to play is not effective sensory integration therapy.  A typically developing child with appropriate sensory integration responses is provided with the sensory input he needs simply through the function of play.    
 
The child with sensory integration dysfunction has difficulty processing sensory input and can not respond to play in a way that is organizing and appropriate.  The sensory information that a child with sensory processing disorder needs specific interventions to meet his needs (Ayres, 1979). 
 
For more information on Dr. Jean Ayers, and occupational therapist and researcher who developed a theory on sensory integration, check out our blog post on Ayres Sensory Integration.

 

What is Sensory Integration therapy?

There is a difference between sensory play, sensory experiences, and sensory integration. Sensory integration processes information from our environment and our body in order to organize sensory input and allow us to respond appropriately.  

Sensory integration organizes information from our eyes, ears, joints, skin, mouth, nose, and our body’s position in space.  It allows our body to pull all of this information together to enable us to respond to sensory input in purposeful function. 

When there is a problem with sensory integration, the brain does not process or appropriately organize the sensory information in a way that provides allows for effective behavior.

Without effective sensory integration, a person feels uncomfortable about himself and responds to ordinary environmental demands with stress (Ayres, 1979).


There are many functional skills that are diminished as a result of sensory integration difficulties: “Children with sensory integration impairments may have difficulty orienting to and registering sensory input, filtering stimuli, or habituating to familiar stimuli.  

They may struggle to organize a response to the sensory environment that is logical and appropriate from an observer’s viewpoint.  With inaccurate sensory processing in the CNS, praxis and motor output impairments may manifest in delayed gross and fine motor development and diminished sensory discrimination abilities (such as visual perception, tactile discrimination, and auditory discrimination).” (Tomchek, 2001)


In Sensory Integration Therapy, a therapist guides the child into activities that help the child organize sensory information and allow the child to perform adaptive responses.  

Therapy is a manner of helping the child to function with through activities that the child wants to do.  

While sensory integration therapy involves many aspects that should be completed in various environments (such as vibration, deep pressure, joint compressions, brushing, as well as gustatory and olfactory sensory activities), there are SI therapy ideas that can be done at the playground that challenge or meet the needs of some children, depending on their specific needs. 

 


Vestibular and Proprioceptive Sensory Input at the Playground

The playground provides equipment in a natural environment that can effectively address vestibular needs.  

Some children may need to arouse his vestibular system.  Children with typical sensory processing abilities are able to determine their body’s position in space and determine the amount of force needed for play.  

The child with sensory processing disorders can not sense how to play on equipment that challenges his sensory systems.  Use playground equipment to provide vestibular and proprioceptive input in these ways:

  • Swings- Full body movements can be developed through gravitational insecurity on the swings.  Lying in a prone (superman) position on the swings is organizing in a forward/back motion on the swings. Slow swinging in the prone position helps to normalize a child with tactile defensiveness.  
  • Swings- Encourage the child to look up in front of them and even toss bean bags into a bucket. Ask the child to notice things around them in the playground area and play games like “I Spy” while slowly swinging back and forth in the prone position.  
  • Swings- Spinning on playground swings requires strength of the arms and upper body to maintain an upright position.  The vestibular stimulation received from spinning is intense and shouldn’t be utilized for more than 10 minutes. 
  • Swings- Position the child sideways in the swing so the swings are straddling the seat of the swing.  Children can then be slowly pushed side to side as well as front-to-back. 
  • Slide- Riding down a slide promotes use of position in space as the child holds themselves up against the pull of gravity.   
  • Slide- Another idea for using the slide in sensory play is to have the child lay prone on the slide without movement.  Use the upward ramp of the slide as a positioner for art creation or eye-hand coordination games like rolling a tennis ball up the slide and catching it as it rolls back down. 
  • Slide- Walking and crawling up the slides while looking upward is a test of gravity while encouraging bilateral coordination and core body strength.
  • Tunnels- Encourage crawling and scooting through playground tunnels with eyes up and looking out of the tunnel so that the child’s head and neck are resisting gravity and vision is guiding movement. 
  • Merry-go-round- Spinning on a merry-go-round can be done in a seated, prone, or supine position.  Holding onto the bars and maintaining upright posture is a strengthening exercise and a source of proprioceptive input. 
  • Balance Beam- Balance beams can be used in obstacle courses and are a great source of vestibular and proprioceptive input while encouraging visual changes.  Show the child how to look up forward as they walk along a balance beam.
  • Steps- Many playground equipment sets have small sets of steps to reach different levels.  Children can climb the steps, using the banister for support if needed.  Try having the child pull themselves up the steps using the banister for a change in body and head position that promotes proprioceptive input, using the body’s weight against gravity.
  • Picnic Bench-Lying prone on the seat of the picnic bench while the hands are dropped to the ground is a way to work against gravity through the arms in a ball tossing game, or drawing in the dirt with a stick.  Ask the child to scoot forward on the bench so that they need to work harder for efficiency of the vestibular system and against gravity. This type of activity promotes use of the eyes in an activity while the back, arms, head, and neck are used against gravity and help to build visual perception. 
  • Vertical Ladder- Climbing a ladder to monkey bars requires strength, bilateral coordination, and provides vestibular input.  Using the child’s own body weight is effective in providing proprioceptive input.  Children can look up with neck extension to further adjust vestibular receptor response to movement in space.
  • Ramps-  Many playgrounds have ramps built in within the playground. Crawling, scooting, walking toe-to-toe, and sliding up and down these ramps provide many different sensory input opportunities.  Try rolling a ball up or down these ramps into a target or to a friend.
Other children may require vestibular sensory input in order to modulate excessive vestibular activity and will avoid equipment that provides a sense of gravitational insecurity.  
 
These children tend to avoid movement and changes in position.  In these cases, children should be guided by an Occupational Therapist in treatment techniques that allow modulation of vestibular input. 
 
Try these sensory integration therapy ideas at the playground for vestibular and proprioceptive sensory input.
 

A word of caution about vestibular sensory input:

Vestibular sensory input can have a late-effect on children.  They may not appear to respond to sensory input immediately, so children should be monitored and carefully watched for the effects of vestibular stimulation.

Vestibular input (especially spinning) can evoke a powerful response in children and too much input can be overwhelming and disorganizing for children.

These tools can be overpowering for children and the children should always be monitored for overreactions to sensory input.  

It is for this reason that sensory integration strategies at the playground should be addressed by an Occupational Therapist.  

The OT practioner can train parents, teachers, or student aides in appropriate sensory strategies at the playground, all while making adaptations to the vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile experiences. 

Continued play over and over again on playground equipment in manners that are designed to integrate the sensory systems can help the child with sensory processing disorders to respond appropriately through memories of motor plans.  
 
The sensory experiences at the playground can have a lasting impact on organization of sensory processing.
The playground provides a wide variety of opportunities for movement through crawling, climbing, reaching, swinging, and sliding.  
 
The playground provides a fun environment for establishing confidence in the child’s response to movement activities. 
 
This post is part of the Functional Skills for Kids series that myself and  nine other Occupational Therapist and Physical Therapists are completing.  
 
Each month, we are covering a different childhood function.  You can see all of the past topics here.
Stop by to see all of the playground posts from the Functional Skills for Kids team:
Resources: 
Ayres, A. J. (1979). Sensory integration and the child. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Tomchek, S.D. (2001). Assessment of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder utilizing a sensorimotor approach. In R.A. Heubner (Ed.), Autism: A sensorimotor approach to management (pp. 103-138). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers
 
 
 
Looking for more ways to add sensory play to your day?  Try these favorites: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
All of these playground sensory integration tips and strategies can support students as they head back into the classroom. We love using the playground as back-to-school sensory activities to meet the needs of students transitioning back into school mode!
 
For more fun and functional tips, check out the Sensory Lifestyle Handbook to create meaningful and motivating strategies to support kids in all environments.
 

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook walks you through sensory processing information, each step of creating a meaningful and motivating sensory diet, that is guided by the individual’s personal interests and preferences.

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is not just about creating a sensory diet to meet sensory processing needs. This handbook is your key to creating an active and thriving lifestyle based on a deep understanding of sensory processing.

Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

Flower Match-Up Activity

Flower visual closure worksheets

This matchup worksheet is a fun matching activity that therapists can use to support development of many areas. From visual perceptual skills to fine motor and eye-hand coordination…this flower matching worksheet is a fun way to support development.

This is a great addition to a flower craft or flower theme when using themes in occupational therapy planning!

Flower Matchup Worksheet

Matching related objects like the flowers in this worksheet require use of and develop an area of visual perception called visual closure.

Visual closure is so important when it comes to reading and writing (and really-any written work)!  When a child looks at words and sentences, they typically are able to fill in missing parts of information.  

They can predict what is coming when reading sentences, copy words if they don’t see the whole word, solve puzzles, and fill in worksheets.  When visual closure and predicting information or self-correcting missing information is difficult, kids don’t recognize errors in reading, writing, and math.
  

Visual closure flower themed visual perception activity

Today I’m sharing a flower theme visual closure worksheet.


This visual closure worksheets can help work on the skills needed to develop visual closure.  


To use this visual closure worksheet  

Match up the flower on the left with the  flower on the right.  


Extend this activity:

  • Use yarn to complete the match.  
  • You could also (Amazon affiliate link) laminate these to re-use.  
  • Use play dough to match the flowers.
 
Visual closure flower themed visual perception activity
 
 
 
Looking for more visual perception activities for kids? Try these: 
 
 

 

 

More Matchup Games and Activities

The cool thing about these matchup games is that they are printable worksheets, which reduce the prep. But, they can be gamified or used in many different ways.

  • Add dice to make it a race.
  • Use a counter to finish the whole sheet
  • Play with a friend and race to finish the matchup with a variety of fine motor tasks (connect the matching items with string or playdough, etc.)

More Matching Worksheets to Use:

Grab your Bug Themed Visual Closure FREE worksheets, too.

Use this Dinosaur Free Printable for developing more visual perception tasks.

Print off this outer space free printable for matchup skills.

Also read about this space visual discrimination worksheet use.

Benefits of Stickers in Occupational Therapy

Visual Tracking with Cardboard Tubes

Printable Matchup Game

You can grab this flower matching worksheet below as a free download. It’s actually part of our huge visual perception packet (you’ll get the whole thing when you enter your email address below). But the individual items are also available inside our Member’s Club. Members can log in and grab each matching worksheet from the Vision Toolbox right inside the club. No need to enter your email address for each item!

FREE VISUAL PERCEPTION PRINTABLE PACKET

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    Baking Soda Vinegar Powered Boat STEM

    This baking soda and vinegar powered boat was such a fun way to build and explore movement powered by science.  My kiddos and a niece and nephew built this boat using recycled materials, (a lot like we did last week with our evaporation experiment).  This boat required a baking soda and vinegar reaction to power movement across water.  It’s the perfect outdoor STEM fine motor activity

    Baking soda and vinegar react in this movement and power STEM activity to power a boat made with recycled materials. This is a fun outdoor STEM science experiment for kids.

     

    Baking Soda and Vinegar Powered Boat

    This post contains affiliate links.


    My kids LOVE baking soda and vinegar reaction STEM activities.  They’ve tried a rocket and volcano so I knew they would love this boat activity.


    This recycled boat was pretty easy to put together.  We a recycled used Styrofoam egg carton to cut a triangular shape.  To that, we taped a plastic lid.  We used two small pieces of straws and taped them to the back of the boat and coming from the lid.  With that, our boat was ready for power.

    Baking soda and vinegar react in this movement and power STEM activity to power a boat made with recycled materials. This is a fun outdoor STEM science experiment for kids.

    A tip for the boat construction:  Be sure the straws are taped securely in the lid and parallel to the water surface.  We used electrical tape for this job.


    Next, fill the lid with baking soda.  We have this HUGE bag of baking soda and love it.  The quantity is perfect for experiments that kids want to do over and over again. 

    Baking soda and vinegar react in this movement and power STEM activity to power a boat made with recycled materials. This is a fun outdoor STEM science experiment for kids.

    Carefully pour in vinegar and watch the boat sail across the water. We noticed that our first run was the best and we think it was because the straws were better positioned at the start of our STEM activity.  We also tried aiming the straws down into the water and that seemed to help with powering movement, better too.


     We did this boat activity in a tub outside, but want to try it in a larger area like a baby pool very soon.  One of the kids said we should build a cruise ship and make it go with baking soda and vinegar.  I’ll be sure to share how that project pans out 😉


    This post is part of the 31 Days of Outdoor STEM series.  Stop by and see all of the STEM fun!

    Baking soda and vinegar react in this movement and power STEM activity to power a boat made with recycled materials. This is a fun outdoor STEM science experiment for kids.

    Let us know if you make a baking soda and vinegar powered boat!

    More STEM ideas you will love:
     

    Slime Writing Tray

    Have you made slime?  I have to admit. We’ve got tons (and tons) of play dough recipes…but we have never made slime.  It’s been on our list for a long time, but we just never got around to it.  We whipped up our first batch the other day and I think I have created a family of slime monsters.  My kids were all. over. the slime.  When we started using the slime in a slime handwriting tray activity, they were even more into it!  This is a perfect addition to our writing trays for handwriting ideas. 





    (Psssst: This sensory writing activity would be perfecto in a DIY Sensory Handwriting Camp this summer!)



    They were a little hesitant to try touching the slime at first, but once they saw mom getting in on the fun, they had to try the squishy, slimy material. After a few “eeeewwww!”s, they were loving the slime!  I think we have a lot of slime in our future. 

    Have you ever wondered how to make slime? This slime recipe is super easy and a great tactile sensory play texture for kids. We used it to work on letter formation and motor control of the pencil with a sensory handwriting writing tray!

    How do you make slime?



    So, you’ve probably seen all of the awesome slime sensory play pictures all over pinterest.

    (Check out our Play Dough, Clay, Goop, and More pinterest board for tons of fun sensory play ideas.)



    But, how do you actually make the stuff?  As a newbie slime-making mom, I had to look it up.  We used this recipe and it turned out completely slimy and fabulous.  I have to tell you though: If you are a new slime maker, there is no way you can mix up a batch of slime and take pictures.  It just won’t happen.  So, I have to apologize for the lack of awesome slime-in-process pics, and even the requisite slime-falling-from-a-child’s-hands pictures. We are a ways off from those action shots in our slime journey.


    So after we mixed up our new slime baby, we had to get to playing.  


    Slime novice tip:  Slime is messy.  And by messy, I mean M.E.S.S.Y. If you are looking for a tactile sensory play activity, this is it.  It’s the coolest texture, but it is mess in a bowl.



    Slime Handwriting Tray

    After playing Slimer from Ghost-busters with our wiggly glob, we decided to try a writing tray.  This was super easy and a creative way to work on letter formation.  Plop the slime into a low edged tray.  I used a lid from a plastic bin.  Then, grab a pencil with an intact and new(ish) eraser.  Use the eraser to write letters and shapes.  


    Love writing trays? Try this easy rice writing tray to work on letter formation and number formation. 
     
    Have you ever wondered how to make slime? This slime recipe is super easy and a great tactile sensory play texture for kids. We used it to work on letter formation and motor control of the pencil with a sensory handwriting writing tray!

    Sensory handwriting idea: Try this sensory writing tray for high visual contrast letter formation.

    Have you ever wondered how to make slime? This slime recipe is super easy and a great tactile sensory play texture for kids. We used it to work on letter formation and motor control of the pencil with a sensory handwriting writing tray!
    This is a GREAT way for new writers and pre-writers to work on letter formation and pre-writing forms.  The slime maintains it’s form for just a little while, but long enough for the letter to stay visible for a bit.  It’s a nice way for kids to trace shapes with an appropriate motor plan and tripod grasp on the writing tool.  
     
    Try these handwriting activities with a slime writing tray:
    • Trace shapes, lines, and letters in the slime.
    • Copy words into the slime.
    • Practice spelling words in the slime.
    • Do single, double, and multiple digit addition and subtraction problems in the slime.
     
    Have you ever wondered how to make slime? This slime recipe is super easy and a great tactile sensory play texture for kids. We used it to work on letter formation and motor control of the pencil with a sensory handwriting writing tray!

    How would you use a slime writing tray for handwriting practice?

    A few of our favorite messy, sensory activities that you will love:

    .

                                                       Fizzy Dough Cursive Letters 
                                                        Sensory Letter Formation 

    Handwriting Travel Printable

    Are you traveling with the kids this summer?  Work on handwriting while you’re at it!

    These activities are perfect for addressing handwriting practice needs in a meaningful (and non-nagging) kind of way.  Many kids love to participate in the planning of a vacation, so give them a job to do that involves the family’s travels…with handwriting practice mixed in!

    When encouraging these travel handwriting ideas, use the handwriting modifications that work best with your child.  Some that might work well include spatial awareness tricks and tips, letter size tricks and tips, or line awareness tricks and tips.

     
    Looking for more handwriting strategies, tricks, and ideas for specific handwriting needs?  Try these: 
     
     Writing too dark or too light.  Line awareness and spatial awareness without handwriting DIY slant board  Spatial awareness in handwriting

     

     
     
     
     Pencil Pressure Handwriting Trick Use sandpaper to help kids with letter formation handwritingBoxes and Dots Handwriting Method Easy Trick for Tripod Grasp Pencil Grip
     
     
     
     

    Handwriting Ideas for Travel

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      Gardening Play Date for Kids

      My kids have a love of fresh veggies.  Every year, we dig up a little plot of dirt and plan out a garden. Any worms that are dug up are buried back into the freshly turned ground.  (My kids also have a love of all things mud,  and worms.)
       
      After the garden is planned, we trek out to the garden supply store.  We choose our veggies and flowers and (usually) squeeze too many plants into the space that we have.  They love to help me plant, help pull weeds, and then eat the fresh veggies right from the garden.
       
      How awesome is it to have kids WANT to eat fresh vegetables?  They head over to the garden all day long and pop ripe (and sometimes not-ripe) cherry tomatoes right into their mouths.


       
      Our garden has become a family project that lasts all season long.
       
      So, of course we had to share our love of dirt and gardening (and worms) with some friends.  With the winter behind us and the cold of this long slow start to Spring, we are SO ready to get outside and playing in nature.  We knew a few of our friends were feeling the same way about wanting to do some outdoor activities, so a gardening group activity seemed like a great idea!
       
      We decided to throw a Start a Garden play date, complete with craft time to make garden markers.  Is there anything better than growing friendships just like a garden?  
                                  Host a Start a Garden play date with kids.

      Garden Play Date Idea

       
       
      Tips for how to host a Start a Garden play date with kids.
      Tips for how to host a Start a Garden play date with kids.
       
      I added all of these items into a laundry basket and headed outside to our porch.  The big table was perfect for hosting lots of busy scooping and dirty hands as we prepped our containers.  We added potting mix to the containers and then only had to gently press the Gro-ables Project into the dirt.  This was the perfect project for a group of kids and even better for building memories of starting a garden together! 
       
      Tips for how to host a Start a Garden play date with kids.
       
      I loved that this group of friends got to learn together about gardening and had an experience of working together.  Moms know that there is a lot to learn from something as small as a seed so it was fun to see the kids working together to dig and create as they planted.  There was a real shared a joy as they planted the seed pods.  I think one of the comments was, “This was really a lot of fun, Mom!” It was a hands-on play date that will be a lasting memory for all of the kids.  
       
      Tips for how to host a Start a Garden play date with kids.

      Tips for hosting a gardening play date:

      • Load all of the supplies up in an easy-to-carry bin like a laundry basket.
      • Work outside (there will be dirt everywhere!) on a large table or right in the garden.
      • Provide small plant starter pots for each child.
      • Make it simple! Use Miracle-Gro Gro-ables Project.
      • Allow each child to take their plant starter home in their own small pot.
      • Label the plant with a garden marker.  Make garden markers together with the group of children.  (See below for a fun garden marker idea!)
      • Write each child’s name on their pot.  They can take home their seed starter container and transplant the plant into a garden.
      The only thing we needed for our newly planted seeds were plant markers.  We decided to make this craft part of the play date and it was a huge hit.

      Craft stick garden marker craft


      Easy Garden Marker Craft

      To make these colorful garden markers, you’ll need just a few items:
      Large craft sticks
      Small colorful rubber bands
      Plastic Beads (optional)
      Fine Point Permanent Marker
       
      Craft stick garden marker craft
       
      Making these garden markers was a workout for the fine motor skills.  We have an over abundance of these small rubber bands and decided that they would add a colorful pop to our garden markers.  Grab one or two rubber bands and wrap them around one end of the craft stick.  Double them up and wrap them around the craft stick a second time.  Keep adding rubber bands until 2-3 inches of the craft stick is covered with rubber bands.  Add another layer of rubber bands toward the bottom of the craft stick.
       
      We stuck our garden markers into the potted plants with our Groables Project. 
       
      Once they start to sprout seedlings, we’ll transfer them to the garden where we can watch the plants grow all summer long.  We will move the garden markers to the garden, too and keep a close eye on our plants as we water and weed them.  
       
      Do you have any tips for growing plants with your kids?  Tell us about them in the comments!  
       
      Garden marker craft for kids

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