Key Chain Fidget Toys

Key chain fidget toys might be my favorite occupational therapy toy yet. The just right self regulation tool needed for sitting on a noisy bus, maintaining attention during circle time, or for managing stress during conversations, a key chain fidget is the tool that supports all of these areas!

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Key Chain Fidget

Fidget tools are a fantastic way to help kids focus and pay attention when their bodies crave sensory input.  A child who is moving their hands or fingers with a fidget toy may be able to attend to a task more easily. 

These key chain fidget toys are tools for sensory needs.  Key chains can be attached to a coat zipper to help kids stand in line while waiting for the bus.  

They can be attached to the shoe laces to help a child sit criss-cross-apple sauce style during circle time.  Key chain fidgets can be held in the hands while writing in a discrete way at the desk.

 

Key Chain Fidget Toys to help kids get the sensory input they need in the classroom or at home.
 

Keychain Fidget Toys 

Fidgeting during work stimulates the brain, allowing a child to complete school work.  

Fidgeting is mindless play or touching fingers, pencils, hands…anything that allows a person to focus on the task at hand.  Kids that are fidgeting are seeking calm, and focus so that their brain can complete a task.  

The problem is when the brain’s urge to fidget distracts a child from school tasks.  They might be so wiggly and moving that they just can not sit still and focus in a functional manner.  Fidgeting can be managed with less distracting techniques which can allow the child to accomplish the homework, and move on to other things.

Using keychain fidgets are just one idea to try.  Make your own DIY fidget toy with any of these ideas.

 

Key chain Fidgets for Meeting Sensory Needs:

Affiliate links are included in this post.

The bean fidget keychain (affiliate link) that you see in the image above is such a fun way to allow kids to work their fingers using a keychain. There is a pack of 5 available on Amazon. 

A light up key chain (affiliate link) can provide a multi-sensory fidget toy. This squeezable bear keychain can be clipped to a belt loop or backpack.

Stretchy coil keychains (affiliate link) provide a fidget toy for one or both hands.

Other key chains can provide a fidget toy that interests the child like a Pokemon key chain.

Try the duck key chain (affiliate link) with a light up feature.

Squeezing the bubble wrap buttons on this bubble wrap keychain (affiliate link) is a great way to allow kids to work on thumb IP joint flexion or finger isolation.

They make a great sensory tool that blends in for those children who feel worries or needs to self-regulate by moving their hands.

Squishy keychains (affiliate link) offer a chance for fingers to pinch, stretch, and pull.

 A picture key chain (affiliate link) can be a beneficial tool for children who are calmed by a picture of a loved one. Try adding other images such as words of affirmation, coping strategies, or visual prompts in the picture space too. This might be a good place to put self-affirmation notes or a hand-drawn heart from Mom or Dad, too.

 Some children benefit from heavy work.

 A pewter key  chain (affiliate link) is a heavier tool for kids to hold and manipulate while offering a bit of weight to the hands. This might be just the fidget that is needed for kids with sensory needs.

 A fuzzy key chain (affiliate link) is a different texture that can help with calming or focus.

 Kids will love to create their own fidget toy!

 Use this bead craft kit (affiliate link)  to work on fine motor skills like tripod grasp, in-hand manipulation, motoric separation of the hand, and bilateral coordination when creating the key chain. Following the instructions may be a challenge for some kids, but with visual or verbal cues, children may be able to create their own fidget toy that they will be proud to hold and attach to zippers, shoes, or backpacks.

There are so many reasons to use a keychain as a fidget tool.

  • Squeezing small toys will add proprioceptive input to the hand and fingers.
  • A pinch between the thumb and index fingers/middle finger can be a great warm up before writing tasks.
  • The small size makes it easy to tuck into the hand as a coping tool for on-the-go or while out and about in the community. 
  • Kids who struggle with bus rides or transition periods at the beginning or end of the school day can use keychain fidget tools on a belt loop, jacket zipper, or backpack. 
  • Sometimes a child will benefit from a small fidget tool attached to the laces of a shoe. They can then cross their leg at the knee which provides proprioceptive input. The positioning of the keychain on the shoe can be a great way to cope while in a classroom or waiting area. 
  • Keychain fidget tools fit right in the hand and can be less apt to distract other students. 

 

Need more information on fidget tools?

Try these ideas:

Fidgeting During Homework

Desk Top Fidget Tool

Key Chain Fidget Toys to help kids get the sensory input they need in the classroom or at home.

Fine Motor Garland Crafts for Older Kids

I share a lot of crafts and activities here that are designed to help kids develop and build fine motor skills.  It’s usually the preschooler who is working on pre-writing skill work and building a base for holding a pencil or using scissors, or the early elementary aged child who writes with an awkward pencil grasp and needs to boost hand strength.  

Sometimes, though, I’ll get questions on how to help older kids develop hand strength and fine motor skills.  Children who are beyond the early grade levels and have aged out of the younger crafts and activities will love these garland crafts that are perfect for promoting fine motor sills and hand strength.

Use garlands as a craft to help older kids or teenagers build fine motor skills needed for pencil grasp and handwriting.

Garlands are a fun craft that can be used and created year round.  From parties to holidays, or any day, a garland is a nice way to boost self-confidence in a household decor item.  This makes garlands just the fine motor tool that can help older kids who are aware of their weaknesses and might be a little (or a lot!) proud to see their handiwork hanging on the stair banister.  

Try using these fine motor garland crafts with your teen or older kid!



This beaded garland is a great way to build fine motor skills.  Threading beads helps open the thumb web space, promote separation of the two sides of the hand, and work in-hand manipulation skills.


A craft that provides an opportunity for painting, cutting, and threading is a nice way to help kids establish and build fine motor skills. This Newspaper Leaf Garland does just that!


Kids can prepare for a party or celebrate the day while addressing bilateral coordination needs while making this balloon garland craft.


A wooden name garland would look great in a teen’s room or hanging on a door.  Older kids can customize and create a woodworking project as detailed as they like.


Older children find coloring just as stress relieving as adults do.  This woodland animal garland allows teens to cut, customize, and create a garland using printable shapes.  Make this craft for a friend.


Teens can benefit from threading activities just like smaller kids do.  This fall leaf garland provides an age-appropriate threading task to create a fun fall festive home decoration.


Making yarn pom poms is a fantastic way to work on bilateral coordination, motor planning, and in-hand manipulation skills.  Allow older kids to make several pom poms to create a pumpkin pom pom garland.


Tying knots is a great way to help kids strengthen their fine motor skills.  This knot garland would look great hanging in a teen’s room!


Older kids will love to head outside to grab some colorful leaves in order to create a fall leaf garland. While threading the leaves, they are addressing eye-hand coordination, tripod grasp, and bilateral coordination.


Teens can help prepare for a party or celebration by creating a garland like this new baby garland. Creating a pattern while putting the parts together allows for bilateral hand coordination.

Use garlands as a craft to help older kids or teenagers build fine motor skills needed for pencil grasp and handwriting.



Do you have an older child or teenager who needs to build fine motor skills? What are their favorite ways to work on these areas?

Attention, Behavior, and Meal Time Problems

attention and behavior at meal time

In this post, you will find an explanation of attention and behavior concerns that interfere with independence in self feeding and resulting meal time problems with kids.  What might look like extreme picky eating can be a variety of issues, including attention or behaviour considerations.



Attention and behavior during meal time functional skills are a vital importance to independence with independence in self-feeding.  The child with cognitive impairments or unsatisfied sensory needs can impact attention and focus leading to safety concerns, decreased independence, or limited coordination and functional ability to self-feed.  Behaviors can result in intentional or unintentional feeding difficulties. 

Attention and behavior and meal time problems, use these tricks to help kids with independence during meals.

The child who is limited in sustained attention or the child who is distracted by sensory needs or interference may be overwhelmingly unable to attend to feeding tasks. Likewise, children with behavioral tendencies may be seeing a satisfaction of other needs that therefore interferes with independence in self-feeding. 

Use these tips from an Occupational Therapist to help kids with attention, behavior, and meal time problems.

When attention of behaviors are impaired, there are many resulting problems that interfere with safety and independence during meals:

  • Impulsivity
  • Decreased concentration
  • Impaired memory
  • Poor judgement
  • Impaired direction following
  • Decreased initiation
  • Poor self-monitoring
  • Perseveration
  • Disorientation
  • Impaired problem solving
  • Slow or inefficient processing
  • Confusion



When a child presents with these problem areas, they have an impact on meal time.  Development of self-feeding is often times delayed and parents seek answers to help their child feed them selves independently.  The peaceful meal time is a sought after experience given that meal times are a time for conversation, reflection, and satisfaction.  When behaviors or attention limit a child’s ability to self- feed, the meal time can then become focused on safety or become a stressful situation.


Other times, meals are a quick operation that needs to be completed in a timely manner in order to allow families to move on to the day’s activities.  In these situations, meals need to be efficient and energizing. 


In both scenarios, a child with meal time problems secondary to attention and behavior can effect the family dynamic.  

Use these tips from an Occupational Therapist to help kids with attention, behavior, and meal time problems.

meals Depend on attention and behavior?

  • Tool use to hold utensils effectively or appropriately
  • Eye-hand coordination to scoop, poke, and cut food
  • Eye-hand coordination to bring utensils to the mouth without getting distracted 
  • Bilateral coordination to hold and use a knife and fork at the same time
  • Lip closure to maintain mouth closure on a straw while sucking and while chewing
  • Swallow control to initiate food propulsion
  • Rhythm of swallow and breath
  • Rate of eating/drinking
  • Ability to keep food in the mouth
  • Ability to tongue sweep to clear the mouth between bites
  • Visual attention (may be a concern for clients with a strong preference to one side)
  • Sensory needs that interfere with seating, including wiggling or fidgeting during meals
  • Food refusal
  • Playing in food, moving food around on plate, hiding food, throwing food
  • Eating only certain foods
  • Standing up to eat
  • Dropping utensils/spilling food or drink
  • Fidgeting and wiggling at the table
  • Talking with mouth full of food





Each of the above problem areas are concerns that may be a result of attention and behavioral issues. these patterns assume a typical oral motor and pharyngeal motor development.


The sensory variances related to attention provide distractors that interfere with attention and behavior during meal time.  In many of the examples listed above, the sensory needs or preferences of the child may impact meal time attention and behavior.  Strategies to address sensory-based attention and behavior concerns should address the child’s sensory needs prior to and during meal time.

Use these tips from an Occupational Therapist to help kids with attention, behavior, and meal time problems.

 How to help kids pay attention during meals

There are suggested interventions that can help children with attention and behavior problems during meal time:

  • Orientation to time/place/person
  • Structured environment (such as a quiet room)
  • Redirection to the task
  • Allow for extra time during meals
  • Provide visual, verbal, and physical cues: These might include modeling, gestures, imitation, and cue cards.
  • Elimination of distractions
  • Limited number of choices
  • Offer one food at a time
  • Use simple and concise language
  • Consider meal times and medication times
  • Provide respect for food preferences
  • Bright colors or high visual contrast for place settings
  • Shiny utensils/dull colored utensils
  • Provide the biggest meal at various times- Typically dinner is the largest meal of the day in the US. Try providing more at breakfast or lunch and a smaller meal for dinner.
  • Clearly established mealtime rules and expectations
  • Expect that food will spill, messes will happen, and kids will not always be hungry. 
  • Request school lunches have accommodations added to the IEP if needed.
  • Offer a routine such as a prayer before meals for kids
Use these tips from an Occupational Therapist to help kids with attention, behavior, and meal time problems.
 
 

Sometimes a simple visual or physical cue can help with strategies intended to help kids hold the spoon or fork correctly.  These are a few different visual and physical cues that can help kids boost attention while eating.  There are many adapted utensils out there (Read more on Your Kids OT’s post today) that can help with attention during meals.  Try these DIY versions:

 
Use these tips from an Occupational Therapist to help kids with attention, behavior, and meal time problems.

 

Attention for safety with feeding utensils


For some individuals, it is necessary to provide visual or verbal cues to help kids Hold a fork and spoon, or knife. 
Here are some visual supports to promote safety during mealtimes:

For these ideas, I added a few different prompts right onto the spoons: a sticker, a pipe cleaner wrapped around the spoon, a bit of modelling clay, or a couple of rubber bands are inexpensive ways to bring the child’s attention to help with just one concern that attention may impact during self-feeding.


It is important to remember that this list of suggested strategies does not include all interventions that may help kids with attention and behavior problems and resulting difficulties during meal times.  

Knowing that every child is drastically different with temperament, environment, likes/dislikes, sensory needs, cognitive level, and motor skill, there are myriad interventions that can work to address needs.  

What works for one child may not work for another. The trick with attention and behavior needs to to try one strategy and then another, sometimes in combination, to meet the needs of the child.  

Consult an Occupational Therapist for best intervention strategies and plan of action for your child.



 
Fine Motor Skills For Mealtimes  | Therapy Fun Zone
 
 
 
  
15 Tips for Picky Eaters | The Inspired Treehouse
 
 

 

Use these tips from an Occupational Therapist to help kids with attention, behavior, and meal time problems.

 

More tools for addressing attention needs in kids

There are so many strategies to address attention in kids and activities that can help address attention needs. One tactic that can be a big help is analyzing precursors to behaviors related to attention and addressing underlying needs. 

The Attention and Sensory Workbook can be a way to do just that. 

The Attention and Sensory Workbook is a free printable resource for parents, teachers, and therapists. It is a printable workbook and includes so much information on the connection between attention and sensory needs. 

Here’s what you can find in the Attention and Sensory Workbook: 

  • Includes information on boosting attention through the senses
  • Discusses how sensory and learning are connected
  • Provides movement and sensory motor activity ideas
  • Includes workbook pages for creating movement and sensory strategies to improve attention


little more about the Attention and Sensory Workbook: 


Sensory processing is the ability to register, screen, organize, and interpret information from our senses and the environment. This process allows us to filter out some unnecessary information so that we can attend to what is important. Kids with sensory challenges often time have difficulty with attention as a result.

It’s been found that there is a co-morbidity of 40-60% of ADHD and Sensory Processing Disorder. This workbook is an actionable guide to help teachers, therapists, and parents to help kids boost attention and focus in the classroom by mastering sensory processing needs. 

You will find information on the sensory system and how it impacts attention and learning. There are step-by-step strategies for improving focus, and sensory-based tips and tricks that will benefit the whole classroom.

The workbook provides tactics to address attention and sensory processing as a combined strategy and overall function. There are charts for activities, forms for assessment of impact, workbook pages for accommodations, and sensory strategy forms.
 
Grab the Attention and Sensory Workbook below.
 
 
Attention and sensory workbook activities for improving attention in kids

FREE Attention & Sensory Workbook

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    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.

    Monster at the End of This Book Grover Craft

    Do you have a book that you remember reading as a child and LOVING? The Monster at the End of This Book is that one for me.  I loved this book as a kid. It is so neat to introduce my kids to books that I loved as a child and now, they are huge Monster at the End of This Book fans, too! Share this book with your kids and make your own Monster at the End of this Book Grover craft.
     
    We love creating fun crafts and activities based on popular (and not-so-popular children’s books and this is just one more creative children’s book extension idea that you and the kids will love! 
    Also, use some of the ideas from our Elmo birthday decorations post for Grover play dough and Sesame Street party ideas.


     
     
    Monster at the End of This Book children's book and Grover craft from Sesame Street
     
    (This post contains affiliate links.) 
     
    We decided to create a based on our lovable, furry old friend, Grover!  If you are new to this book or loved it as a kid, it’s time to request it from the library, grab it on Amazon, or pull it out of your parent’s attic and share the gem that is Sesame Street with your own kids.  Then grab some paint and make our own The Monster at the End of This Book Grover craft!
     

    Grover Craft kids will love!

     
    Besides the book being completely awesome, (I mean Grover tries to nail the pages together to keep the reader from reaching the end of the book!) it’s a sure giggle inducer ask kids defeat Grover’s every attempt at keeping us from meeting the monster at the end of the book
     
    We have this book with a DVD that has Story Vision so that kids can use the remote control to “turn the pages” in an interactive manner.  The Monster at the End of This Book with Story Vision is a fun option and my kids have been enjoying watching the story play out.  But, the real-deal book is just so much fun. By the time you finish the book, your kids will be begging to read it again.
     
    For our Grover craft, we used just a handful of materials:
     
    Plastic fork
    Glue
     
    We used the technique we used to make the monsters in our Leonardo the Terrible Monster craft (which is another pretty fantastic monster book if you are on a monster kick!)
     
    Monster at the End of This Book children's book and Grover craft from Sesame Street
    To make the Monster at the End of This Book craft:
     
    Dip the fork in blue paint.  Use it to make monster-y fur all over the coffee filter. Once the monster is filled in with love-able blue furry paint, add the eyes.  To make them, dip a large marshmallow into white paint. Then create the eyes by pressing the marshmallow onto the monster’s face.  Create a nose the same way by dipping a marshmallow into pink paint and pressing it onto the monster’s face. 
     
    Monster at the End of This Book children's book and Grover craft from Sesame Street
     
    Cut two ovals from the black paper and glue them onto the eyes.  Cut a mouth shape and glue it onto the monster’s face.  
     
    Enjoy your furry old Grover craft and get ready to read that addictive book again!
     
    Monster at the End of This Book children's book and Grover craft from Sesame Street

    More crafts and activites based on children’s books that you will love:

     Big Red Barn puppets  




       

    Handwriting Accommodations for the Classroom

    Handwriting accommodations for the classroom can help the child who has tried many handwriting strategies for improving legibility and written work.  Try these classroom accommodations to help with spacing, line awareness, and letter formation in written work.  These handwriting ideas can be used by educators, therapists, and parents across the curriculum in everyday writing tasks.  Try using one or more of the strategies at a time and combining techniques to meet the individual needs of the child.  


    Here are MORE Handwriting Accommodations to try.

    This post is part of my Easy Handwriting Tips series happening this month. 


    Handwriting accommodations ideas for the classroom and written work

    Handwriting Accommodations for the Classroom–Writing Strategies, Cheats, and Hacks

    This post contains affiliate links.

    • Trace the baseline or worksheet lines with a bold marker.
    • Trace the baseline or worksheet with glue.  Allow it to dry for a DIY raised line.
    • Try raised line paper. Available in narrow rule or double rule.
    • Mechanical pencil for weak fine motor skills or proprioception issues.
    • Remove handwriting grade from requirements.
    • Don’t require a handwriting grade.
    • Set appropriate lengths of time for completing written work.
    • Allow more time for completing written work.
    • Reduce written work requirements.
    • Allow dictation of written work.
    • Writing strip on the desk.
    • Erasable pen to provide less resistance on paper.
    • Graph paper for written work, spelling tests, and math problems.
    • Allow the student to type their spelling test answers.
    • Bold lined paper. Available in single rule or double rule.
    • Try a variety of pencil grips. Universal writing aide, the Crossover Grip, or the Claw may help.
    • Sky/ground paper. Try a DIY version.
    • Box and dot paper. Read about this paper here.
    • Green dot at left margin and red dot at right margin of the paper.
    • Flexibility with written work: use all capital letters or use printed work instead of requiring cursive.
    • Highlight answers on tests instead of writing the answer out.
    • Use a stamp or highlighter to mark multiple choice answers.
    • Divide tests into smaller writing portions.
    • Dictation/note taking app on tablet/iPad. Google Chrome’s Read and Write extension is one idea.
    • Laminate worksheets or slide them into a sheet protector. Student can use a dry erase marker for answers.
    • Provide larder space for filling in worksheets. Try enlarging the page.
    • Use letter tiles to spell spelling words.
    • Handwriting checkpoints. Throughout the day, the students and teacher should encourage a self-check using a handwriting checklist.
    • Tape guide on the desk to help with paper position and consistent tilt or slant of written work.
    Handwriting accommodations ideas for the classroom and written work

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    Try these handwriting tricks for better written work:

    Get 29 pages of modified paper with a Christmas Theme for legible and neat Letters to Santa, Christmas Wish Lists, Thank You Notes, Holiday Lists, and MORE! 

    Fall Visual Processing Sensory Activities

    Use fall activities to work on visual processing needs with fall visual processing sensory activities.

    Visual Processing can result in overactive sensitivity to sights or an under-responsiveness to all that the eye sees.  During Fall, there are many more colors and visual sights that can be a sense of interest to children with sensory processing disorders.  A simple walk in the yard is much different during the Fall months when leaves are changing or there are more sticks and acorns to navigate on the lawn.  For the child who has sensory processing concerns, using the sense of sight can be a calming or alerting tool.  Try these fall visual processing sensory activities this Fall.

    Check out our free Fall Sensory Activities booklet. It’s full of family-friendly sensory activities that celebrate the season through sensory experiences covering all of the senses. The activities in this free booklet are a fun way to encourage motor movement and development through fall activities. Scroll to the bottom of this blog post to grab your copy!


    Fall Visual Processing Sensory Activities with a fall or harvest theme.

     

     

    Adding visual sensory activities to vestibular or proprioception activities can have a great affect on children with sensory processing disorders.  Check out our Fall Proprioception Activities and Fall Vestibular Activities or find all of the ideas in one place in our Fall Harvest Sensory calendar.

    Fall Visual Processing Sensory Activities

    1.     Leaf Lay– Head outdoors on a bright and sunny fall day.  Look for trees with brightly colored leaves and lay down on the ground under the tree.  Kids can look up at the leaves as the sun shines through the colored leaves.  Ask kids to notice branches in the leaves.  Address deep breathing and slow counting for a calming sensory experience.  Use this opportunity to discuss events that lead up to feelings of fear or anxiety related to the senses.

    2.     Color Assessment– Use a magnifying glass to explore the colors of leaves, tree trunks, and nature finds while out on a nature hunt.  Kids can look for each color of the rainbow in a scavenger hunt type of activity.  This fall activity builds visual scanning needed for reading and writing.
     
    3.     Pumpkin Seed Colors– Use dry seeds from a pumpkin to create colorful seeds using liquid food coloring or liquid water colors.  While these seeds won’t be edible, they are great for creative play!  Use the seeds to sort, manipulate, and create in Fall themed learning and play or artwork.
     
     
    4.     Fall Maze– Many farms or community events host a corn or hay maze this time of year.  Walking through a maze is a visual processing experience that kids can use to develop directionality needs.  You can create your own backyard version of a fall maze using fallen leaves or a trail of sticks from trees.


     

    Fall Visual Processing Sensory Activities with a fall or harvest theme.

    Fall Sensory Activities

    Work on visual processing skills this Fall AND address all areas of sensory needs while experiencing all that the Fall season has to offer! Grab your free copy of the Fall Sensory Experiences Booklet to create sensory diet activities that meet the needs of individuals in a Fall-themed way! Enter your email address below and you will find the Fall Sensory Experiences Booklet delivered right to your inbox. Enjoy!

    Visual Processing and Handwriting

    Visual Processing Skills are essential for handwriting.  Use this Visual Processing Checklist in the classroom, home, or therapy clinic to help kids address visual processing skills for improved legibility in written work.




    Visual processing checklist for Occupational Therapy, classroom, teachers to help students with handwriting and classroom tasks.
     
    You’ll also want to join the Sweet Ideas for Handwriting Practice Facebook group for more handwriting tips and tools.



    When children learn to write, they copy and learn to form letters one at a time. They copy strait lines and combine them with different curves and angles to build letters accurately.  


    After learning how to make letters, children start to place letters together to form two and three letter words.  They are shown how to place the letters next to each other, (but not on top of one another or spread too far apart) to make a word.  The words are placed on guidelines of writing paper.  Typically, kids place letters above or below the lines and with various sizes with a degree of expected inaccuracies.  


    As children gain more control on their pencil and master letter formation, they adjust line, size, and spacing on the page.  Then, as children further gain in these areas, they write longer words and sentences with the ability to organize information on the paper.  Margins, lists, copying information without omissions, and forming letters from memory all become skilled as children gain handwriting experience.


    But what happens when one or more of these skills suffer?  


    What if written work does not progress as expected? 


    The expectations of legibility and handwriting speed gain as a child grows and advances in grade. The ability to process the information that is seen translates to handwriting.  Difficulties with reversals, copying skills, placement on lines may be a visual processing difficulty.

    What is Visual Processing Disorder?

    A visual processing disorder refers to difficulty with response to visual information.  This might be the way the brain perceives and responds to visual information or it might mean the motor output that occurs as a result of visual information. The information that is received is not processed correctly.

    Visual processing skills checklist for school and home handwriting

     


    Visual Processing Skills and Handwriting

    Visual processing skills effect other areas of function but the scope of this post is addressing visual processing skills and handwriting.  In general, visual processing difficulties result in a child having trouble with processing the information that they see.  


    There are skills that are essential for handwriting that enable a person to write legibly.  These visual processing skills are part of the “hidden vision” abilities that effect handwriting.


    Visual discrimination– Noticing and identifying differences in letter parts of parts of words (Discriminating between a “b” and “d” or “bake” and “brake”)


    Visual Responsiveness– Responding to sensory input is just part of visual processing.  A child may overreact or under-react in response to visual information.  


    Figure Ground-The ability to pull relevant information while disregarding ther information in copying tasks while copying from a text


    Visual Spacing Relations– Spacing between words or letters on lines


    Visual Memory-The ability to copy written work from memory as in copying homework lists from the chalkboard without shifting vision with each letter.


    Visual Closure-The ability to recognize part of a letter or form without seeing the whole part


    Visual Sequencing– Ability to “see” letters or words in a particular order


    Visual Motor– Coordinating what is seen with the eyes into movements with the hands to place letters and words on lines and with proper letter formation


    If you think your child or student might have some of these difficulties that lead to problems with handwriting, it can be quite beneficial to speak to an Occupational Therapist.  


    There are many different signs of visual processing disorder that can be spotted in the classroom or in the homeschool dining room that might signify a potential visual processing disorder. I have created a checklist that will help to guide the plan for students with visual processing difficulties presented in written work and classroom tasks.  


    Grab your digital copy for $1.99 and print off this checklist to pass on to Occupational Therapists as part of a classroom screening, share with parents, or use when presenting information to physicians.


    This checklist is not to be used as therapy or in diagnosis of visual processing disorders, but only as an informational tool.  


    Get your copy and use it in the classroom, clinic, and home. 

    Visual processing and handwriting checklist for school and home to help with visual processing disorders

    Maybe this one tool could be the informational gathering exercise that helps your child, student, or client to get on the right track to performing learning and written work.  


    Sometimes, there are many problems with written work legibility that could be addressed with just a few simple quick fixes.  Understanding processing skills might be what is needed to help kids attend, focus, learn, and write appropriately and legibly.

    Grab your Visual Processing Checklist for the Classroom!

    Visual processing checklist

    Fall Tactile Sensory Activities

    Help kids tolerate tactile sensory play with these Fall tactile sensory activities.
    This time of year, it’s fun to encourage Fall tactile sensory activities to promote and encourage the sense of touch and tactile challenges. Kids will love these Fall tactile sensory activities.  Kids and families can get involved in these fall and harvest themed activities that just might start a new seasonal tradition while encouraging sensory play!
     
    For more Fall fun, grab our free Fall Sensory Activities booklet. It’s full of sensory activities that celebrate the season AND promote motor skills through sensory experiences. The activities in this free booklet are a fun way to encourage motor movement and development through fall sensory activities. Scroll to the bottom of this blog post to grab your copy!

     

     
    Fall tactile sensory play ideas for families and kids

     

    Fall Tactile Sensory Activities

     
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    1.     Pumpkin Seed Scoop- Carving a pumpkin is an excellent sensory experience.  When it comes to scooping out the pumpkin guts, kids can challenge their tactile sense by touching and moving the seeds.  For kids who are not able to tolerate this task, try using latex free gloves.  Kids can also try pulling off the pumpkin’s seeds from the innards using tweezers.  Once the seeds are removed, allow kids to rinse the seeds in a colander and strain them into containers.  Use scoops and spoons of different sizes to address visual motor integration skills as they move and manipulate the wet seeds. Pinching individual seeds is an excellent fine motor task.
     
    2.     Marshmallow Pinch- Kids that have made s’mores know that managing that sticky marshmallow is a messy experience.  Embrace the mess with a marshmallow pinching activity that will challenge the sense of touch.  Warm a marshmallow over a fire or in the microwave.  Allow it to cool to the touch and ask kids to pinch and pull the sticky marshmallow.  Use the pointer finger and thumb to pinch the marshmallow while addressing hand strength and pincer grasp.  Use the stringy marshmallow to create a textured sort of paint by placing the marshmallow on paper.  This is a taste-safe tactile sensory experience that kids will love.
     
     
    3.     Pumpkin Bin- Address sensory needs by creating a sensory bin with a pumpkin theme.  Use egg cartons to create pumpkins and place them in a sensory bin filled with field corn or rice.  Here is an example of how to create this sensory bin. 
     
    4.     Fall Texture Feel- Gather various textures from nature to create a multi-textural sensory experience.  Use leaves, sticks, acorns, small pumpkins and gourds, or dry corn husks for kids to explore various textures.

     

    Fall harvest tactile sensory play ideas for kids and families

     

    More Fall and Harvest themed tactile sensory play ideas:

    Create a sensory bin with leaves.  Hide small items in the leaves for kids to feel and find.

    Make Fall Slime for messy sensory play.

    Make a Fall sensory bin like this one at Fantastic Fun and Learning.

    Fall Tactile Sensory Activities and more:

    Encourage tactile sensory tolerance this Fall AND address other sensory needs while experiencing all that the Fall season has to offer! Grab your free copy of the Fall Sensory Experiences Booklet to create sensory diet activities that meet the needs of individuals in a Fall-themed way! Enter your email address below and you will find the Fall Sensory Experiences Booklet delivered right to your inbox. Enjoy!

    Fall Vestibular Sensory Activities

    Fall means jumping in piles of colorful leaves and it’s a season of vestibular sensory input. Moving, jumping, rolling, hopping, and swinging are vestibular activities that are sensory based movements that challenge the body’s ability adjust to changes in gravitational pull and movement. The vestibular sensory system can be rhythmical and calming or unpredictable and alerting. These Fall vestibular sensory activities are fun for the whole family.

     

    Fall Vestibular Activities


    Each of the sensory based Fall activities below can be used in various ways to challenge and support the sensory needs of a child.  When looking for family activities that take in all that Autumn has to offer, why not make it a sensory experience that will build traditions? 

    It’s important to remember that a small dose of vestibular sensory input can impact the entire day.  Children may seek out sensory input but dislike other aspects of vestibular input. Other children may prefer different amounts or types of sensory input.  Be sure to consult your child’s Occupational Therapist.  The information and activities in this blog post and anywhere on this blog are intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a registered occupational therapist, physician, or other qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical questions or conditions.



     

    Try these vestibular sensory activities with the family this Fall

     

    Fall Sensory Activities

     
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    1.     Leaf Roll- Create a pile of leaves and roll in them for a vestibular component.  Try somersaults and log rolls in the lawn.  Rolling and tumbling is a great way to address vestibular needs by adding movement and challenging the positioning of children.  Set up a lawn obstacle course with piles of leaves with each station requiring different movement activities.  Be sure to check kids for ticks if you live in an area that has ticks.


    2.     Leaf Swing- Kids can enjoy the scents and sights of Fall’s leaves with this activity with an added benefit of vestibular sensory input.  This activity requires a strong adult. Use a blanket to create a swing for the child.  Ask the child to lay or sit on a blanket.  Gather up all corners of the blanket and swing the child carefully just above the ground.  Lower the child into a pile of leaves.  If you don’t have leaves in your area, do this activity indoors over pillows.
     
    3.     Swing and Throw Leaves- Use a playground swing for this activity.  Ask the child to lay belly down on a swing seat, superman style.  They hold and toss fall leaves as they swing back and forth.  Don’t have leaves in your area? Cut leaves from construction paper and ask the child to toss one as they swing back and forth.  Then, ask the child to gather up the leaves and do this activity again while sitting on the swing.
     
    4.     Hayride- Use your local resources to attend a fall festival and ride on a hayride.  This time of year, most areas have hayrides available.  Riding over the bumpy terrain is an excellent vestibular activity. If you don’t have a hayride available in your area, try a wagon ride in the yard.  While riding, ask kids to notice the area, looking for colors, sights, and sounds of Fall.  Ask your child to find three orange things or two things that move while they are riding.

     

    Fall vestibular sensory activities for the family.



    More vestibular sensory activities for Fall: 

        Make a leaf balance beam
    Catch leaves as they fall
    Somersaults in leaves
    Jump in leaves
    Run through leaves
    Pumpkin patch walk on slopes and hills
    Wagon ride to look at leaves
    Jump on a trampoline with leaves
    Scatter small sized piles of leaves on a drieveway and bounce a ball into the leaf piles
    Dance outside
    Outdoor yoga
    Leaf obstacle course
    March through leaves
    Simon Says, Fall-style (Simon says jump in leaves, etc)


    Looking for vestibular sensory input tools for home, school, or therapy recommendations? Try the ones listed in our Free Fall Sensory Activities Guide: