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Month: March 2018

The OT Toolbox Contributor Author Spotlight-Regina

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Meet Regina!




Regina Parsons-Allen is a school-based certified occupational therapy assistant. She has a pediatrics practice area of emphasis from the NBCOT. She graduated from the OTA program at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in Hudson, North Carolina with an A.A.S degree in occupational therapy assistant. She has been practicing occupational therapy in the same school district for 20 years. She loves her children, husband, OT, working with children and teaching Sunday school. She is passionate about engaging, empowering, and enabling children to reach their maximum potential in ALL of their occupations as well assuring them that God loves them!


Contributor Posts by Regina on The OT Toolbox:
Occupational Therapy Activity Toolkits
MORE Themed Occupational Therapy Toolkits
Dragonfly Occupational Therapy Activities
Fine Motor Craft: Soap Holder Animal Craft

Regina has an e-book you may want to check out. Recently, she’s written an e-book called Fine Motor Stations. 


Follow Regina on social media:
Instagram: COTA Life 
Twitter: COTALife1 
Pinterest: COTA Life



Disclaimer Statement: 
Regina Parsons-Allen is a certified occupational therapy assistant, but is in no way representing herself as a certified occupational therapy assistant in the publication of any post. The information, ideas or activities presented here are not intended to provide medical advice or physician/therapist instruction nor should they be used as a substitute for occupational therapy or other medical services. The information, activities, and ideas do not replace any relationship with a child and their therapist nor do they provide one to one treatment or consultation for a child with an established plan of care based on an assessment. Consult with a qualified occupational therapist if you have questions regarding the information or ideas presented or how to implement them with a child. If concerned about your child’s development, consult your child’s physician or a licensed occupational therapist regarding specific concerns or other medical advice. Any information, ideas or activities presented here are designed for complete adult supervision. Never leave a child unattended during implementation of any ideas or activities. Always follow and be aware of any age recommendations when using all of the products contained in any activities or ideas. The adult implementing and preparing the ideas or activities is ultimately responsible for using their best judgement when choosing and providing activities to best meet a child’s skill and safety level. Do not provide objects or materials that would pose as a choking hazard to a child. Regina Parsons-Allen  is not liable for any impairment, damage, accident or loss arising out of the use or misuse of the information, ideas, and activities suggested in the publication of any post.  

Zipper Pull Craft

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When kids are learning to manage a zipper, it can be frustrating if fine motor skills or visual motor skills are delayed. Even children who are developing fine motor and visual motor skill work at an age-appropriate level can have difficulty with using a zipper. When kids learn to zipper up a coat or jacket, children can have difficulty with all of the steps that go into zippering. Using a zipper pull on a coat zipper can be a helpful tool in independence. 

You will find more information about teaching kids how to zipper here on The OT Toolbox. In fact, zippering is an important part of self-dressing and functional independence that toddlers can begin with. 


Make this DIY zipper pull craft to help kids learn how to zipper their own coat or jacket, while working on fine motor skills and self-dressing skills in kids.
When small children are able to pull up their zipper or pull down their zipper, they can feel a sense of self-confidence that makes them want to try harder to work on the skills involved in zippering: engaging the zipper into the zipper chamber, holding both sides of the zipper in a coordinated way, and holding down the edge of the coat while pulling up the zipper pull. 
Other children who are more challenged with physical abilities benefit from a zipper pull. 

Try this DIY zipper pull craft that is not only functional, it’s also fun to create! It’s a real fine motor power-craft for kids. 

Click here to see the directions to make this craft over on our guest post at Craft Project Ideas!
Make this DIY zipper pull craft to help kids learn how to zipper their own coat or jacket, while working on fine motor skills and self-dressing skills in kids. This fine motor craft is great for teaching kids how to zipper!

Looking for more ways to teach kids how to zipper? Try these ideas:

 Teach kids how to use a zipper and 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.
Clothing fasteners and sensory processing challenges

Teach Kids How to Use a Zipper

DIY Fidget Tool Zipper Pull

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This DIY Fidget Tool is a good one to add to your therapy toolbox! A fidget tool attached to a zipper pull can be helpful for kids who struggle with wiggles, over or under responsiveness to sensory input, those who have worries or sensory challenges on the school bus or while out in the community. Using a zipper fidget tool can be helpful when waiting in line and it’s hard to keep little hands to oneself. 
 
This DIY fidget tool is also a fine motor powerhouse for kids to make. I love adding crafts like this one to the therapy line up because not only does it work on essential fine motor skills, it also creates a functional tool that kids can wear and be proud of. When they have made a colorful and fun zipper pull fidget tool, they will be proud to wear it, show it off, and use it to address needed sensory processing struggles!
 


Kids can use this DIY fidget tool zipper pull for addressing sensory needs that result in worry or anxiety, sensory meltdowns, or other issues as a result of sensory processing challenges. Read how to make a DIY fidget tool for sensory needs and how to use a fidget tool.

DIY Fidget Tool Zipper Pull

 
This DIY Fidget Tool Zipper Pull is very easy to make. You’ll need just a couple of materials:
 
Pony beads
Fuzzy craft sticks (pipe cleaners)
 
We received both of these items from www.craftprojectideas.com
 
To make the fidget tool, thread the beads onto a whole pipe cleaner. Bend the pipe cleaner in half and create a small loop. There should be enough space between each bead and at the top of the loop to allow for movement when the bead is wiggled. 
 
Kids can use this DIY fidget tool zipper pull for addressing sensory needs that result in worry or anxiety, sensory meltdowns, or other issues as a result of sensory processing challenges. Read how to make a DIY fidget tool for sensory needs and how to use a fidget tool.
 
Twist the top shut and loop the end through a zipper pull. Use the ends of the pipe cleaner around the zipper pull. 
 
And that’s it! The diy fidget tool zipper pull is done!
 
Kids can use this DIY fidget tool zipper pull for addressing sensory needs that result in worry or anxiety, sensory meltdowns, or other issues as a result of sensory processing challenges. Read how to make a DIY fidget tool for sensory needs and how to use a fidget tool.
 

So, why would a child need a fidget tool on their jacket?

 
When kids have difficulty with self-regulation, emotions, anxiety, sensory processing, or other concerns, they may act out or end up in meltdown mode. This can be especially true in settings where environmental stimulation is on overload. 
 
A situation such as on the noisy school bus where students are jostled around among other loud students and a lot of other children sitting nearby can be overwhelming to the child with sensory needs. 
 
Standing in line at school as students wait to go outside to recess or to come indoors after recess can be a time when students have trouble keeping their place or keeping their hands to themselves. 
 
A child who becomes overwhelmed by worry and anxiety heading into new situations can find comfort in movement that a fidget tool offers. 
 
All of these are situations when a zipper pull fidget tool would be a great sensory diet accommodation to keep on hand. 
 
Kids can use this DIY fidget tool zipper pull for addressing sensory needs that result in worry or anxiety, sensory meltdowns, or other issues as a result of sensory processing challenges. Read how to make a DIY fidget tool for sensory needs and how to use a fidget tool.
 

A Fidget Tool is a Sensory Diet Tool

Children who have a sensory diet in place or utilize sensory strategies to address specific needs may have other accommodations or tools in place such as a fidget tool. A keychain fidget tool can be just the item that provides children with a grounding point and gives them the ability to focus, attend, or participate in activities. 
 
This DIY Fidget Tool would be great alongside our DIY Fidget Tool for School, allowing kids to wiggle and move those fingers!
 
This jacket fidget tool is inconspicuous, making it a great fidget tool for school, much like this DIY weighted fidget tool.
 
Kids can use this DIY fidget tool zipper pull for addressing sensory needs that result in worry or anxiety, sensory meltdowns, or other issues as a result of sensory processing challenges. Read how to make a DIY fidget tool for sensory needs and how to use a fidget tool.
 
Want to know more about what a sensory diet is or how to implement one? Check out some of our recent posts on sensory diets and be on the watch for our upcoming book, The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook. 
 
 
Kids can use this DIY fidget tool zipper pull for addressing sensory needs that result in worry or anxiety, sensory meltdowns, or other issues as a result of sensory processing challenges. Read how to make a DIY fidget tool for sensory needs and how to use a fidget tool.

What is a sensory diet?

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Many times, parents are told that their child with sensory needs would benefit from a sensory diet. Most of the time, they respond with “what is a sensory diet?!” In this article, we’ll be talking a bit about what a sensory diet is and how it can be beneficial to kids with sensory needs. You may have seen some of our recent posts here on The OT Toolbox about Sensory diet activities for the classroom or sensory diet activities for outdoors that may give you a better understanding of some of the sensory activities that can be used within a sensory diet. 

A sensory diet is not just for kids! A sensory diet for adults is just as powerful in supporting regulation needs for individuals of all ages.




Wondering what a sensory diet is? This article explains what exactly a sensory diet looks like and how a sensory diet is used to help kids with a variety of sensory-related challenges, using sensory diet activities.

Wondering what a sensory diet actually is? Check out this video we’ve shared on Facebook. Sound familiar?

 

What is a sensory diet?



Often times, when you mention the term “sensory diet”, individuals respond with a comment about food or a eating healthier. A sensory diet has nothing to do with food or restricting foods, or eating healthier!  

A sensory diet can be described this way: 

 

A sensory diet is a set of activities that make up a sensory strategy and are appropriate for an individual’s needs.  These are specific and
individualized activities that are scheduled into a child’s day and are used to assist with regulation of activity levels, attention, and adaptive
responses. 
Sensory diet activities are prescribed based on the individual’s specific sensory needs.  
Just as there are no two people that are alike, there are no two sensory diets that are alike. 
 
Sensory diets are a commonly known strategy for addressing sensory needs. We’ve seen sensory diets implemented in sensory spaces in the school environment. Read our blog posts about creating a sensory diet on a budget and calm down corners for more information.

The term “sensory diet” was coined by Patricia Wilbarger in 1984 to
explain how certain sensory experiences can improve occupational performance and help to remediate disruption of the sensory processing systems. 
A sensory diet is a means to adjust sensory input in relation to an individual’s needs. A sensory diet is a meaningful set of strategies for developing sensory programs that are practical, carefully
scheduled, and controlled in order to affect functioning. 
 
Sensory diet activities provide appropriate sensory input based on the needs of an individual. 
Just as a healthy diet consists of a variety of foods, a sensory diet is a balanced set of sensory information that allows an individual to function.  A person cannot survive on broccoli alone.
Similarly, a child cannot function with only one type of sensory
activities.
 
Sensory diets are not just for kids with identified sensory issues.  We all
need a diet of sensory input.  Most people naturally participate in conscious or subconscious acts that meet their specific needs.  
 
Think about the student who taps their pen against the desk while struggling on an exam.  That’s a sensory strategy.
 
You might pace the floor while on the phone with your child’s pediatrician.  That’s a sensory strategy.
 
You might see a teenager who jiggles her leg while watching a movie.  That’s a sensory strategy. 
 
We all have a big yawn every once in a while. That’s a sensory strategy. 
 
Our bodies and minds instinctively know that varying sensory input allows us to function appropriately.  Neurotypical children naturally seek out a variety of proprioceptive, vestibular, and tactile sensory input.  As a result, they are able to accept and regulate other sensory input such as a seam in their shirt, a lawnmower running outside their classroom, or the scent of chicken cooking in the kitchen.
Some individuals lack the ability or support to perform these sensory strategies without interventions. 
 
We’ve talked about the goals of a sensory diet before here on The OT Toolbox. The goals of a sensory diet are very important. 
 
Equally important is the development of sensory diets. A sensory diet needs to be specific with thoughtful regard to timing, frequency, intensity, and duration of sensory input.
Sensory diets should be created by an occupational therapist who evaluates the child or individual and ensures carryover, and response to sensory input.
 
These vestibular sensory diet activities can give you an idea of the type of activities typically found in a sensory diet…remembering that each child’s sensory diet is specific to their needs. 
 
Wondering what a sensory diet is? This article explains what exactly a sensory diet looks like and how a sensory diet is used to help kids with a variety of sensory-related challenges, using sensory diet activities.

Why use a sensory diet?

 
Sensory diets can be used to address the following challenges, using specific sensory input:
  • Emotional overreaction
  • Meltdowns
  • Aggression
  • Hyper-attention
  • Difficulty with transitions
  • Inattention
  • Sleep issues
  • Impulsivity
  • Sensory-seeking behaviors
  • Sensory-resisting behaviors
  • Resistance to textures/food/clothing

Poor social Interactions 

 
If you are interested in learning more about sensory diets and how they can be used to create a sensory-enriched life in all aspects of a child and family’s day, you will want to watch for The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook.
 
Sensory diets and specific sensory input or sensory challenges are a big part of addressing sensory needs of children who struggle with sensory processing issues. Incorporating a schedule of sensory input (sensory diet) into a lifestyle of naturally occurring and meaningful activities is so very valuable for the child with sensory needs. 
 
That’s why I’ve worked to create a book on creating an authentic and meaningful sensory lifestyle that addresses sensory needs. The book is now released as a digital e-book or softcover print book, available on Amazon. 
 
The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook walks you through sensory diet creation, set-up, and carry through. Not only that, but the book helps you take a sensory diet and weave it into a sensory lifestyle that supports the needs of a child with sensory processing challenges and the whole family.
 
The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a resource for creating sensory diets and turning them into a lifestyle of sensory success through meaningful and motivating sensory enrichment.
 
 
Here are more sensory activities that may help with sensory needs or for a sensory play idea.
 
Wondering what a sensory diet is? This article explains what exactly a sensory diet looks like and how a sensory diet is used to help kids with a variety of sensory-related challenges, using sensory diet activities.

Outdoor Sensory Diet Activities for Playing in the Woods

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Kids just don’t get much time to play outdoors anymore. We talked about the impact that reduced outdoor play has to do with sensory processing needs in kids in our recent Outdoor Sensory Diet Activities post. We chatted about the benefits of outdoor play in a typically developing child as well as those with sensory processing needs. This post covers the benefits of playing in the woods or a wooded area of a backyard or park. This might be a great recommendation for families who are going camping this summer and need some sensory strategies. Playing in the woods offers so many opportunities for sensory input, movement, gross and fine motor work. Not only that, but playing in the woods is a calming and organizing way to play! 


These activities can be used as part of a sensory diet of specific activities and sensory tools designed to meet specific needs of an individual. 


This will help when explaining about what a sensory diet is and what a sensory diet looks like for kids with sensory needs. 


These ideas would be a great addition to all of our summer occupational therapy activities here on The OT Toolbox! 

Occupational therapists can use these sensory diet activities for wooded areas to recommend sensory diet activities for outdoors or as part of a home program for children with sensory processing needs or SPD.

Disclaimer: When therapists develop a specific and highly individualized sensory diet, it’s not just throwing together a day filled with sensory input. A sensory diet  is a specific set of sensory tools used to meet and address certain needs of the individual based on sensory need and strategizing. Each of the sensory diet activities above should meet specific needs of the child. Every child is different so applying sensory input to one child may look very different than that of another. Parents should use the tactics below along with your child’s occupational therapist.

Wooded Area Sensory Diet

Fallen tree balance beam
Jump in leaves
Climb small trees
Look Up scavenger hunt
Bird watch
Touch tree trunks
Natrue collection
Picnic in the woods
Magnifying glass to find bugs
Lift rocks and inspect what’s underneith
Hike
Climb rocky areas
Play in streams
Climb steap hills
Ride bikes on a trail
Bug hunt
Collect sticks
Build a fort
Climb trees
Scent scavenger hunt
Carry a backpack full of supplies


Accommodations for addressing sensory needs in a wooded area

For kids with sensory needs, the sensations of the outdoors and a wooded area can be too much for the child to tolerate. Try these accommodations for addressing sensory needs in backyard play:

Calming snacks for a picnic
Drink water from a sports bottle with a straw
Wear sunglasses
Wear a brimmed hat
Wear high top shoes or shoes that provide proprioceptive input
Wear shoes that the child is able to tolerate
Compression clothing
Wear a lightweight wind jacket
Be cognizant of the scent of bug spray
Recognize early signs of sensory overload and head back to the house or car before a meltdown occurs (Leave on a happy note)


How to incorporate sensory play into playing outside

Sensory diet activities can be specific to sensory system like these vestibular sensory diet activities. Sensory activities can be prescribed according to need along with environment in order to maximize sensory input within a child’s day such as within the school day. Using authentic sensory input within the child’s environment plays into the whole child that we must understand when focusing on any goal toward improved functional independence. 





Many sensory diet activities can naturally be found outdoors. In fact, outdoor sensory diet activities are a fun way to encourage sensory input in a child’s environment and without fancy therapy equipment or tools. 


It’s a fact that kids are spending less time playing outdoors. From after-school schedules to two working parents, to unsafe conditions, to increased digital screen time, to less outdoor recess time…kids just get less natural play in the outdoors. Some therapists have connected the dots between less outdoor play and increased sensory struggles and attention difficulties in learning. 

Knowing this, it can be powerful to have a list of outdoor sensory diet activities that can be recommended as therapy home programing and family activities that meet underlying needs.

That’s where the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards come into play.

They are a FREE printable resource that encourages sensory diet strategies in the outdoors. In the printable packet, there are 90 outdoor sensory diet activities, 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities, 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards. They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input.

Here’s a little more information about the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards
  • 90 outdoor sensory diet activities
  • 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities
  • 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards
  • They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input. 
  • Research tells us that outdoor play improves attention and provides an ideal environment for a calm and alert state, perfect for integration of sensory input.
  • Outdoor play provides input from all the senses, allows for movement in all planes, and provides a variety of strengthening components including eccentric, concentric, and isometric muscle contractions. 
  • Great tool for parents, teachers, AND therapists!


Be sure to grab the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and use them with a child (or adult) with sensory processing needs!

Outdoor sensory diet activity cards for parents, teachers, and therapists of children with sensory processing needs.

More about outdoor sensory diet activities

Sensory diets and specific sensory input or sensory challenges are a big part of addressing sensory needs of children who struggle with sensory processing issues. Incorporating a schedule of sensory input (sensory diet) into a lifestyle of naturally occuring and meaningful activities is so very valuable for the child with sensory needs. 

That’s why I’ve worked to create a book on creating an authentic and meaningful sensory lifestyle that addresses sensory needs. The book is now released as a digital e-book or softcover print book, available on Amazon. 

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook walks you through sensory diet creation, set-up, and carry through. Not only that, but the book helps you take a sensory diet and weave it into a sensory lifestyle that supports the needs of a child with sensory processing challenges and the whole family.

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a resource for creating sensory diets and turning them into a lifestyle of sensory success through meaningful and motivating sensory enrichment.
Occupational therapists can use these sensory diet activities for wooded areas to recommend sensory diet activities for outdoors or as part of a home program for children with sensory processing needs or SPD.

Sensory Diet Activities at the Beach

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Whether you live at the beach or just travel to the beach for an annual family trip, it can be overwhelming for a child with sensory needs to cope with the sensory input that a trip to the beach can cause. The beach has so many sights, sounds, scents, and textures that can be used to meet sensory needs. For the family that is travelling with a child with sensory processing challenges, the beach can be both a blessing and a source of sensory overload. Use the strategies listed below to address sensory needs on a trip to the shore and the tactics to address hypersensitivity during a beach trip. These sensory diet activities at the beach can be a powerful tool or recommendation by occupational therapists and part of an outdoor sensory diet. 


Knowing what a sensory diet is and how it can be used within a sensory lifestyle is a big part of integrating sensory activities and sensory play, even while travelling or for the family who lives at the beach or water area. 


 
Kids with sensory processing challenges or SPD can use these sensory diet activities at the beach, perfect for Occupational Therapists to recommend as a home program for beach play or for families travelling to the beach for vacation.
 

 

Sensory Diet Activities at the Beach

Make a sandcastle
Rake the sand (for pulling and pushing proprioceptive input)
Bury feet or hands
Sprinkle sand on hands or toys
Fill a bucket with water
Carry water from the shore to dry sand
Dig wet sand 
Dig dry sand
Make a “wet castle” using wet sand
Firm pressure massage with sunscreen
Carry a bucket of sand
Scoop and pour sand
Scoop and pour water
Inspect tide pools
Pick up, scoop, and carry pebbles
Jump low waves
Sit at water’s edge for sand play
Bury a toy and then find it
Play visual discrimination games with sand toys: Child can look at a collection of toys then one is removed and the child needs to determine which is missing
Play beach “I Spy”
Roll up in a beach towel burrito with heavy input
Fill a gallon sized bag with sand for a DIY weighted lap pad or shoulder pad
Pull or push a bin or wagon of beach toys
Carry a beach bag
Fly a kite (great for visual motor skills, visual scanning, and proprioception)
Catch and toss a beach ball
Play beach ring toss
Chase waves
Look for seashells
Rinse and clean seashells



Kids with sensory processing challenges or SPD can use these sensory diet activities at the beach, perfect for Occupational Therapists to recommend as a home program for beach play or for families travelling to the beach for vacation.

 

Accommodations for addressing sensory needs at the beach

Children with sensory processing challenges can be overwhelmed given all of the sights, sounds, scents, and textures that the beach provides. Try these accommodations for addressing sensory needs in backyard play:
 

Play in a baby pool to enjoy water without the waves
Use a large beach blanket and weight down edges
Be cognizant of hot sand
Provide calming snacks
Wear long sleeved sun clothing

Wear water shoes instead of sandals or bear feet
Proprioceptive input such as firm touch to the shoulders
Bucket of water to rinse hands if child is sensitive to sand
Sheltered area such as a wind tent or low umbrella if child is sensitive to wind blowing on skin
Wear a lightweight wind jacket
Use baby powder to remove sand
Hat with brim to reduce bright light or intense light in eyes or on face
Wear sunglasses
Wear headphones to reduce background noise
Be aware of certain sunscreens which as a strong scent
Bring extra dry towels
 

How to incorporate sensory play into playing at the beach

Sensory diet activities can be specific to sensory system like these vestibular sensory diet activities. Sensory activities can be prescribed according to need along with environment in order to maximize sensory input within a child’s day such as within the school day. Using authentic sensory input within the child’s environment plays into the whole child that we must understand when focusing on any goal toward improved functional independence. 

 

 
Many sensory diet activities can naturally be found outdoors. In fact, outdoor sensory diet activities are a fun way to encourage sensory input in a child’s environment and without fancy therapy equipment or tools. 

It’s a fact that kids are spending less time playing outdoors. From after-school schedules to two working parents, to unsafe conditions, to increased digital screen time, to less outdoor recess time…kids just get less natural play in the outdoors. Some therapists have connected the dots between less outdoor play and increased sensory struggles and attention difficulties in learning. 
 
Knowing this, it can be powerful to have a list of outdoor sensory diet activities that can be recommended as therapy home programing and family activities that meet underlying needs.
 
That’s where the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and Sensory Challenge Cards come into play.
 
They are a FREE printable resource that encourages sensory diet strategies in the outdoors. In the printable packet, there are 90 outdoor sensory diet activities, 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities, 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards. They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input.
 
Here’s a little more information about the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards
  • 90 outdoor sensory diet activities
  • 60 outdoor recess sensory diet activities
  • 30 blank sensory diet cards, and 6 sensory challenge cards
  • They can be used based on preference and interest of the child, encouraging motivation and carryover, all while providing much-needed sensory input. 
  • Research tells us that outdoor play improves attention and provides an ideal environment for a calm and alert state, perfect for integration of sensory input.
  • Outdoor play provides input from all the senses, allows for movement in all planes, and provides a variety of strengthening components including eccentric, concentric, and isometric muscle contractions. 
  • Great tool for parents, teachers, AND therapists!
 
 
Outdoor sensory diet activity cards for parents, teachers, and therapists of children with sensory processing needs.
 


 
The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook is a resource for creating sensory diets and turning them into a lifestyle of sensory success through meaningful and motivating sensory enrichment.
 
 
Kids with sensory processing challenges or SPD can use these sensory diet activities at the beach, perfect for Occupational Therapists to recommend as a home program for beach play or for families travelling to the beach for vacation.

Be sure to grab the Outdoor Sensory Diet Cards and use them with a child (or a sensory diet for adults) with sensory processing needs!

Sensory diets and specific sensory input or sensory challenges are a big part of addressing sensory needs of children who struggle with sensory processing issues. Incorporating a schedule of sensory input (sensory diet) into a lifestyle of naturally occurring and meaningful activities is so very valuable for the child with sensory needs. 

That’s why I’ve worked to create a book on creating an authentic and meaningful sensory lifestyle that addresses sensory needs. The book is now released as a digital e-book or softcover print book, available on Amazon. 

The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook walks you through sensory diet creation, set-up, and carry through. Not only that, but the book helps you take a sensory diet and weave it into a sensory lifestyle that supports the needs of a child with sensory processing challenges and the whole family.

Get The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook here.

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.

Ice Cream Play Dough Mat Thank You

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Thank you for grabbing the Ice Cream Play Dough Mat! You should have an email in your inbox right now with a link to access the file. 

The email also includes some instructions and the “why” behind play dough mats like this one. There is a lot of development going on when a little one uses a play dough mat like the one you just accessed! Scroll below to to find some additional usage instructions.




Use this free printable ice cream play dough mat to work on fine motor skills in kids.





Housekeeping Information:


If you do not see the email right away, check back within 30 minutes. Be sure to check your SPAM folder.  Other subscribers using an email hosted on a school system’s email provider may have security restrictions in place that block the email. If you still don’t see the email, shoot me a message at contact@www.theottoolbox.com and I will send the file to you directly.

If you arrived here by accident and would like to receive a free ice cream themed play dough mat to improve hand strength, check out this post that shares information on the Ice Cream Play Dough Mat.





How to use Improve Intrinsic Hand Strength with a Play Dough Mat

You are going to build so many small muscles of the hand with this activity!

1. To use this play dough mat, you will first want to cover it with a plastic surface so you can use it over and over again. Some ideas to do this include (Amazon affiliate links are included below):

  • Cover it with clear contact paper. Click the link to purchase a large roll of clear contact paper.
  • Slide the play dough mat into a clear plastic page protector sleeve. Add it to a folder workbook or binder booklet of play dough mats for quiet time or a busy bag-type of activity.
  • Use a laminator to cover the play dough mat with a laminated surface that can be used over and over again. This is a great price on a quick laminator and laminating pouches.
  • Use pocket sleeves to create a quiet time or fine motor center activity.



2. Once the play dough mat is covered, provide the child with play dough, clay, foam dough, or other moldable material.



3. Ask the child to roll small balls of play dough using just the fingers and thumb of one hand. They should use their dominant hand to roll small balls of play dough with the tips of the fingers and thumb. This is an AWESOME hand strengthening exercise for kids. 

4. Ask the child or children to roll various sizes of play dough so the balls of dough fit into the various circle sizes on the play dough mat. 

Rolling play dough within one hand promotes development of a variety of areas: 

  • Strengthens the arches of the hands, helps awareness and coordination in separation of the two sides of the hand.
  • Promotes finger isolation for improved control and dexterity
  • Encourages dexterity and coordination of the thumb and index finger which are important in pencil grasp
  • Strengthens the intrinsic muscles for improved endurance in fine motor tasks such as maintaining hold on a pencil, manipulating clothing fasteners, managing and using scissors, coloring, and many other tasks.

 

Be sure to try some of the other fine motor activities that we have here on the website:

Scooping and pouring fine motor and hand dominance with beads
  Hand Dominance and Fine Motor with Scooping and Pouring




Skills Kids Need for Handwriting

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If you are following The OT Toolbox, then you know I love handwriting. While it’s true that OTs are not “handwriting teachers”, it’s the underlying skills that go into handwriting that have a special place in my heart. 



As therapists, we are specialists in development, motor skills, visual processing, self-awareness, spatial concepts, kinesiology, sensory processing, regulation, and all of the other areas that really make a big difference in a child’s functional ability to write. There are many skills that kids need for handwriting! 


Kids need different skills for handwriting.
 

 

Skills Kids Need for Handwriting

Handwriting is SO much more than crossing t’s and dotting i’s.

Here are some important facts about the skills kids need for handwriting:

1. Handwriting development starts at birth. Yep, it’s true! When babies are swaddled, reach for mama’s face, and crawl, they are developing the postural stability and visual motor skills needed waaaaay down the road when they write their ABCs.


2. Visual processing skills are key. The perceptual skills of knowing the difference between a b, d, p, and q are essential for written work. Addressing the basics in form copying at a young age (and in a variety of sensory-motor manners) can be a huge asset for kids as they head into the school-age years.


3. Letter formation starts before learning to make a letter! This is important: when kids learn improper formation of letters like starting letters at the bottom or “building” the parts of a letter, it can be hard to break those habits. When kids teach themselves because they just pick up a crayon and copy their name, they might not form letters properly, using developmental strokes of top to bottom. Letter formation habits are HARD to break. And proper formation is important for legibility, speed, spatial use, letter recall, organization, and functional written work.


4. Bilateral coordination is essential. When we write, we need to easily coordinate both sides of your body for effective posture, holding the paper, moving the pencil, erasing, using margins, and filling in given spaces on worksheets. Forming letters requires pencil strokes that involve moving to the midline. Think about it this way: A new writer forms letters very large in size. As they develop coordination and motor skills, letter size decreases. But those letter strokes continue to remain the same. A pencil still needs to move to the midline when crossing an uppercase T or adding the middle line to an uppercase A, right?

>5. Visual memory is a must! Especially as kids age, they are required to write faster and faster. But functional writing at all ages requires a visual picture in the mind to ensure formation. Starting with beginning strokes using developmental concepts ensures success down the road with kids as they develop handwriting skills.

 
6. Fine Motor Skills are a powerhouse when it comes to handwriting! From pencil control to an efficient grasp, to endurance in writing…fine motor skills are required. Working on fine motor skills can be a huge help for many kids who struggle with handwriting. 
 
These are just a few of the skills needed for handwriting. There are so many:
Eye-hand coordination
Sensory processing and filtering out unnecessary information
Visual perceptual skills
Attention
Executive functioning skills
Organization
Posture
 
What would you add to this list?
 
 

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.

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