Colleen Beck OTR/L

Colleen Beck, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist and the owner and author of The OT Toolbox website. She manages all of The OT Toolbox social media accounts and runs the popular newsletter. Read about Colleen's experience and career as an occupational therapist, including how The OT Toolbox began on our About The OT Toolbox page: https://www.theottoolbox.com/about-us/ Colleen created The OT Toolbox in 2011 and since then has written thousands of blog posts designed to support therapy providers, educators, parents, counselors, admin, and caregivers in promoting the healthy development of kids. Check out Colleen's blog posts below:

Pencil Control Exercises

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Pencil control exercises

Pencil control exercises, or visual motor exercises using precise pencil lines in a given space, support the motor skills needed for handwriting. Unlike what you typically think of when you hear the word, “exercise”, pencil exercises do not need to be rote physical work. The pencil control exercise ideas we have listed below are fun and easy ways to support refined and coordinated pencil control when writing.

Pencil control exercises

Pencil Control Exercises

We originally wrote this blog post back in 2017 and used graph paper to create a DIY pencil control exercise, targeting small pencil movements, eye hand coordination, and visual motor skills. The pencil exercise remains a valuable tool now, too! In fact, there are many reasons why using graph paper supports handwriting and the visual motor precision needed for forming and writing letters of the alphabet. Don’t forget about that sleeve of graph paper that is in the bottom of your filing cabinet!

When we say pencil control exercises we are referring to just one tool in the occupational therapy provider’s toolbox.

Pencil control can be achieved in many ways.  Using crayons to help with improving pencil control in handwriting  is one fun way that doesn’t seem like handwriting practice.  

Colored pencils are another tool that can be used to work on pencil control, like we did with these rainbow pencil control exercises. 

Below, I’m sharing how to use graph paper to address pencil control.  

But first, what is pencil control?  Glad you asked.

What is Pencil Control?

Pencil control is using the pencil to write in a way that is fluid and in control.  It’s writing letters with changes in direction at a speed that is developmentally appropriate and automatically.  

Writing with pencil control allows children to write letters and words on the lines and with in a given space efficiently. 

Pencil Control Exercises

These pencil control exercises are so easy to throw together and a sure way to help kids work on line awareness and pencil use.  Working on pencil control is a way to help kids with letter formation and legibility in handwriting.  

When kids write quickly, legibility often times diminishes.  When kids have control over pencil strokes, they are able to carry over those skills.  

There are many ways to work on pencil control in creative and fun ways.  

We’ve shared a few different pencil control activities ideas that may help.  The pencil control practice sheets below are one that can be done quickly and in between classroom or therapy activities. 

 
 
Use this free pencil control exercise to help kids work on handwriting legibility.
 

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.
 
 

Use graph paper to work on pencil control:

It is very easy to work on pencil control with graph paper.  Graph paper is readily available.  Grab this inexpensive pack of graph paper, (affiliate link) and get started!
 
First, it doesn’t matter what size graph paper you use.  Younger kids are using less control naturally, so changes in direction in a smaller area are more difficult for new writers.  
 
However, beginning lines and control with those lines can be used with smaller graph paper sizes.  
 
By that, I mean learning the beginning strokes of pencil control don’t contain a lot of changes of direction in a small area.  Beginning pencil control includes starting and stopping pencil lines, line length, and placing the pencil and pick it up in the correct areas.  
 
More advancing pencil control, and the ability needed for smaller handwriting size can use smaller sized graph paper for more changes in direction.  
 
Use this free pencil control exercise to help kids work on handwriting legibility.
 

Pencil Control Practice Sheets

This exercise is very easy to set up.
 
You need just two items:
  1. Graph paper
  2. Pencil
 
How to set up this pencil control exercise:
  1. Using the graph paper, just draw lines, shapes, dots, angles, and shapes.  
  2. Then, show kids how to copy those forms.  They will need to keep their pencil on the lines of the graph paper, start where the model starts, and end where the model lines end.  
 This is a good sheet to start with for kids who are writing.  Kids who have never written letters before or are new writers may benefit more from pencil control worksheets without the graph paper grids.  
 
 

 Other Pencil Control Exercises

You can use graph paper or regular notebook paper for these exercises.
 
  • Another way to work on pencil control with graph paper is using increasingly complicated forms and shapes on the graph paper.  Think: squares, X’s, and up/over/down lines.
  • Used lined paper and simply draw a series of lines from top to bottom lines, going across the page. Show the student how to start at the top line and stop at the bottom but not go over the line.
  • Then go across the page and draw lines down. 
  • Draw circles on the line.
  • Draw diagonal lines in both directions, starting at the top and then starting at the bottom.
  • Use blank paper and draw small circles like we did in this rainbow pencil control activity. Then fill in the circles with colored pencils.
  • Make your own pencil control worksheets.
 
 
Use this free pencil control exercise to help kids work on handwriting legibility.
 

Use this free pencil control exercise to help kids work on handwriting legibility

 

Read more on pencil control and find creative ways to improve handwriting through improved pencil control activities. 

 

Skills needed for pencil control exercises?

Movements of the pencil in order to form letters and place written work on lines or in a given space requires several underlying skills. Those skills include:

These skills enable the individual to move the pencil with the smaller joints of the hand, place the pencil point in a precise location, and move the pencil with graded movements.

When these skills are lacking, you might see the pencil movements not being precise or refined, the pencil not moving fluidly when forming letters, letters not being placed on the lines, lack of legibility, writing at an appropriate pencil pressure, poor re-trace in letters, and other factors that lead to challenges with controlled pencil strokes.

Looking for more Pencil Control Exercises?

Grab some of the pencil control worksheets we have here on the website! The OT Toolbox membership members can also access many resources inside the membership that target this area of development.

Level 2 members will find over 130 pencil control exercises, activities, and tools to specifically support this skill, with more being added all of the time. Plus, there are over 1500+ other printables, activities, screening materials, and much more available to target other skill areas.

Members can log into their account and click this link to access the printable materials.

Not a member yet? Learn more here.

The OT Toolbox membership club

Free Pencil Control Exercise

This free printable sheet is perfect for kids who struggle with legibility during writing, older kids who need to touch back on the basics of pencil control.  

It’s a great start for kids who need to work on visual perceptual skills needed for handwriting. Plus, we created this activity to target pre-writing skills. So, for our younger learners in kindergarten who are possibly pushed to write before they have developed the fine motor and visual motor skills needed to copy letter forms on a line, this is a great morning work activity or center activity.

Get the printable below by following these directions:

  1. Enter your name and email address into the form below.
  2. Click the button.
  3. Check your email.
  4. Find the email that just arrived from The OT Toolbox (sometimes it lands in spam, so check there too).
  5. Download the file in that email.

Here you go…

FREE Pencil Control Exercise

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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.

    Rainbow Bottle Xylophone

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    Plastic bottles filled with water at different levels with colorful water in rainbow order. Text reads "bottle xylophone"

    Many years ago, we made a DIY instrument…a bottle xylophone to be exact! We used recycled plastic water bottles to create a rainbow xylophone and explored not only colors of the rainbow, but also creating a water xylophone made from plastic bottles. This was a fun activity the whole family loved! Another of our favorite DIY instruments is our DIY tambourine craft.

    bottle xylophone

    Bottle Xylophone

    If you have plastic water bottles or a couple of drink containers or recycled plastic bottles in the recycle bin, this is an easy activity to do with kids. It’s actually a great science experiment too. By exploring how different levels of water make different sounds in the bottle, you can really foster a lot of learning.

    Here is one easy way to use plastic water bottles to make a color xylophone with the kids. 

    We made these music bottles to explore auditory processing skills: specifically, these musical bottles were perfect for noticing differences in tone of sound. When we notice these differences and put them together with other tones, we get music! This simple instrument is a DIY music activity my kids loved…and they didn’t mind the auditory processing lesson.

    You’ll need just a few materials to set up your own bottle xylophone:

    • Empty and clean plastic bottles
    • Water
    • Food coloring (you can make a bottle xylophone without the food coloring, but the rainbow feature is fun, especially if you are including this activity in rainbow activities or a rainbow theme.)

    How to make a Water Xylophone with Plastic Bottles

    If you follow this blog, then you know that we love to use recycled materials in play and crafts. After our bottles of Coca-Cola were empty, we decided to make our own songs with a DIY water xylophone!


    To make a water xylophone using recycled plastic bottles:
    This was SUCH a huge hit with my kids.  The process is very simple, and it’s a great activity for kids.

    1. We filled the plastic bottles with varying amounts of water.
    2. We used all six bottles from the six pack of plastic Coke bottles and added liquid food coloring to the bottles.  Each bottle held a different color of the rainbow to make a rainbow water xylophone.
    3. Start by pouring water to almost the top of one water bottle. Then, pour a little less into the next plastic bottle. Continue down the line.
    4. Test the sound by blowing across the top of each bottle. You should get a nice hollow sounding sound. When you have the sound as you like it, add drops of food coloring to create a rainbow. 
    Kids love this rainbow water xylophone using recycled bottles to make music.
     

    I showed my kids how to blow across the top of the opening of the bottles to make a musical sound.  It was fun to see my kids’ expressions as they realized they could make a sound on the opening of the bottles.  

    Even better was watching them make a little tune with the xylophone!  This is one activity that they will remember for a long time to come.  

    A hint for pouring water into the plastic bottles: One functional skill that can be challenging for some kids is pouring water. Pouring water into the plastic bottles requires skills such as: 

    • bilateral coordination
    • eye-hand coordination
    • refined dexterity of the pouring (dominant hand)
    • strength

    Doing this activity over a kitchen sink or outside can make the process easier for some. You can also use a funnel or a small pitcher with a lipped spout to make the pouring task graded. To foster pouring skills, try these pouring and scooping activities.

    This is a great activity for addressing oral sensory needs. Blowing across the top of the open bottles to create a sound can even be a calming oral motor exercise. Check out some of our favorite ways to provide sensory input through oral motor exercises for sensory calming sensory input in our animal cracker oral motor activity and our plastic egg boats activity. 

    Kids love this rainbow water xylophone using recycled bottles to make music.
     

    A water xylophone would be the perfect addition to a summer bucket list!  Take this idea outside to create memories with your kids!  Just like music invokes memories, making music with this water xylophone will be the hit of the summer break.

    Kids love this rainbow water xylophone using recycled bottles to make music.

    Other DIY instruments that we loved include:

    Don’t forget to check out all of the great resources on the OT Toolbox, including the Auditory Processing Tool Kit.

    The resources support listening skills, auditory memory strategies, and includes games and activities to foster auditory processing during functional tasks.

    Get your copy of the Auditory Processing Kit here.

    Auditory Processing Kit

    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 Bin Base Ideas

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    Child playing in sensory bin with tongs to pick up shredded paper. Text reads "sensory bin base materials"

    In this blog post, we are covering a very important sensory materials: sensory bin base ideas, or sensory bin fillers. You have probably seen a sensory bin activity here or there and thought nothing of it. But, did you know that the sensory material that is used to create the sensory bin is very much a part of the tactile sensory experience? Include these fillers in our easy sensory bin ideas to include themes or motivating activities.

    Let’s explore various sensory bases as a tactile therapy tool.

    Sensory bin base materials

    Sensory Bin Materials

    If you read our blog, you’ll see that we are both huge fans of sensory play.  Sensory bins are such a fun way for kids to explore textures and the senses while learning about the world and themselves. 

    Sensory bins can be tailored to any learning theme and are just fun for exploration. 

    We wanted to put together a collection of sensory bin base ideas.  These are the materials that you start your sensory bin with.  Add letters, numbers, animals, sight words…the possibilities for sensory play is endless!

    Usually, a sensory bin has several materials:

    • sensory base container (bin, basket, tub, baby pool, etc.)
    • sensory bin filler or sensory base material
    • sensory bin items to explore- these might be manipulatives or small objects
    • scoops, cups, funnels, tongs, spoons, or tools to pick up and move objects

    Each component can be used to develop various motor skills. In this blog post, we’re covering the base material or the sensory bin filler that you first place in the sensory base container.

    Why Use Different Sensory Bin Fillers

    Children learn about the world through touch, and exploring different textures fosters their understanding of the differences between soft, rough, smooth, bumpy, wet, dry, and other tactile sensations.

    Using different textures in sensory play, especially in a therapeutic context like pediatric occupational therapy, serves specific developmental and therapeutic purposes that can greatly benefit children’s growth and well-being.

    As an occupational therapy provider, it’s important to know why we are using the therapy tools that we select for therapy interventions. Here are some reasons why different textures are important in sensory play, particularly from a therapeutic perspective:

    1. Tactile Exploration and Confidence: Introducing a variety of textures allows children to explore and interact with different sensory experiences. This sensory touch exploration helps them become more comfortable with and confident in touching, feeling, and interacting with different materials.
    2. Tactile Discrimination: Different textures challenge children’s tactile discrimination skills, enabling them to differentiate between various sensory stimuli. This enhances their ability to identify and understand the subtleties of touch.
    3. Sensory Challenges and Desensitization: For children with tactile defensiveness, incorporating textures that might be initially challenging for children helps them gradually become accustomed to those sensations. Therapists can use this approach to address sensory sensitivities and aversions, gradually desensitizing children to certain textures.

    Sensory Bin Fillers

    1. Rice
    2. Kinetic Sand
    3. Shaving Cream (Here is a shaving cream sensory bin).
    4. Play Dough
    5. Dry Pasta
    6. Oats
    7. Beans/Lentils
    8. Cloud Dough
    9. Sandbox sand or play sand
    10. Cornmeal
    11. Pom-Poms
    12. Corn Kernels
    13. Ice Cubes
    14. Cotton Balls
    15. Jello
    16. Foam Shapes
    17. Buttons
    18. Shredded Paper (Try this shredded paper sensory bin)
    19. Fabric Scraps
    20. Beads
    21. Colored Salt
    22. Cereal
    23. Pom-Pom Balls
    24. Slime/Goo
    25. Old or stale cereal

    Nature Sensory Bin Fillers

    Other sensory bin base materials can be found in nature. These are materials that you could find in your own backyard.

    1. Sand
    2. Water
    3. Rocks and Pebbles (check out this rock sensory bin)
    4. Leaves
    5. Pine Cones
    6. Grass Clippings
    7. Bark
    8. Mud
    9. Seashells
    10. Acorns
    11. Tree Branches
    12. Flowers
    13. Pine Needles
    14. River Stones
    15. Moss
    16. Seaweed
    17. Dirt/Soil
    18. Feathers
    19. Seeds
    20. Coconut Husk
    21. Feathers
    22. Pine cones

    Water-Based Sensory Bin Fillers

    Then, there are water-based sensory bin fillers. These include things like water, colored water, and soap. We have done many water bead sensory bins, too. Here are some more ideas:

    1. Water
    2. Colored Water
    3. Soap Water (This foam soap sensory bin is a fine motor workout, too.)
    4. Ice Water
    5. Water Beads
    6. Gelatin Water
    7. Lemon or Orange Water
    8. Scented Water
    9. Watercolor Paper
    10. Sand and Water (for a combination sensory bin)
     
     
     
    Add to these base materials for sensory bin play.
     

     

    Sensory Bin Base Ideas

     

    Add colored noodles to a bin and add cups, spoons, funnels, and more for fine motor play.  Crayon Box Chronicles made this concept sensory bin in their dyed noodles sensory bin.

     

    Shredded paper makes a great sensory base.  Save the junk mail and send it through the shredder to make a shredded paper reptile sensory bin from Crayon Box Chronicles.

     
    Something as simple as rocks can make a great base for a sensory bin.  We make this rock sensory bin and explored the senses.
     
     
    Explore letters in like in this rock letter sensory bin.
     

     

    The dollar store has a vast amount of ways to incorporate learning into sensory bins.  Crayon Box Chronicles made this colored hay sensory bin.  How fun!

     
    Colored water is an easy way to create a sensory bin.  We made this dyed water swamp sensory bin and explored colors, animals, and more in a swamp theme.
     
     

    Have you ever made snow dough?  Seriously the coolest stuff!  This snow dough Arctic Circle sensory bin is one of my favorites from Crayon Box Chronicles .

     
    It doesn’t take much to make a sensory bin.  This letter sensory bin required nothing other than the letters for learning and play.
     
     

    Dirt makes a great sensory bin base.  How many ways can you think of to play?  I love what Crayon Box Chronicles did with their dirt monster truck sensory bin.

     

    Many sensory bin bases can be found in your pantry.  We used split peas as the base in our split pea sensory bin.

     

    Sand is one way to create a simple sensory bin.  A few ingredients is all it takes to make the sand into sand dough link in this sand dough beach sensory bin from Crayon Box Chronicles.

     

    Water Beads can be found in the floral section of many stores.  The non-toxic material makes a great base for sensory play.  We had a blast with our purple sensory bin.

     

    Jello is such an interesting material to eat…and to play with!  The texture is perfect for sensory exploration.  Crayon Box Chronicles used it to create this jello iceberg sensory bin.

    What are your favorite sensory bin fillers?

     

    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.

    Back to School Sensory Activities

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    back to school sensory activities

    It’s that time of year and having a few back to school sensory activities up your sleeve can make all the difference in a stuffy, hot classroom when kids need self-regulation tools after a long summer break. Whether you are looking for classroom sensory diet strategies, or sensory strategies for the school-based OT, putting a back-to-school spin on “sensory” is a hit during the Fall months.

    back to school sensory activities

    Back-to-School Sensory Activities

    The back-to-school season is a prime time to dust off those sensory cobwebs and consider how sensory motor input supports students.

    In this blog post, you’ll find a list of ways to support sensory needs using a back-to-school theme. The ideas are great for this time of year when welcoming a new roster of students into the classroom.

    • Our free sensory strategy toolkit is another great resource that supports school-based OTs, educators, and parents of students with sensory needs.
    • You’ll also find many resources, including a printable sensory activity sheet here on this article about calm down strategies for school.
    • These ideas for sensory seekers can be adapted to meet school-based needs (or used in the home for homework time, the after-school period, or homeschooling)

    Why Use Back-to-School Sensory Activities?

    Heading back into the school year can throw some kids for a spin.  The first few weeks can be a change in routine from the safety of home. For kids who are starting up on a homeschool routine, it can be difficult to pay attention when sensory needs and distractions are in the next room. This can lead to self-regulation needs that support the student’s ability to concentrate and learn after a summer off from the routines of school.

    Other reasons for using sensory strategies during the back-to-school season include:

    • Earlier wake-up times after a summer of staying up late and sleeping in. A quick sensory motor brain break can make all the difference.
    • A new routine may throw some students for a loop.
    • The transition period can be a real challenge for some children. It might be the early alarm clock or using time management in the morning that is a challenge. For other kids, moving to a new school, or even just going back to the classroom in general can be a challenge. Try these transition strategies to support these needs.
    • Distractions and Technology: With the prevalence of screen time in kids, and the use of technology/devices, students may find it difficult to focus on schoolwork without being distracted by social media, video games, or other online activities. A quick sensory break can help with attention and distractions.
    • Social-emotional needs: Social emotional dynamics can change over the summer, and students may feel pressure to fit in or establish their social identity when school resumes. This pressure can affect their self-esteem and confidence. The ability to regulate emotions might lead to challenges with learning due to the emotional regulation and executive function connection.

    You may have a child of your own that “crashes” after a week of school during this time of year. There is a lot happening that is just exhausting during the return to school. Sometimes, all it takes for an easy transition into the back to school days is a sensory strategy that meets the needs of the sensory child. Let’s explore these ideas below…

      Classroom sensory activities and sensory strategies for back to school or throughout the school year.

     
     
     

     

    back to school sensory ideas and strategies for the classroom that teachers can use with sensory kids.




    Back-to-School Sensory Ideas

    These sensory activities are ones that can easily be used in the classroom or homeschool room.  They are strategies that can be incorporated into the student’s daily routine within the school environment.  

    These school sensory activities are presented in list form for ease and planning, but they can be used in a classroom sensory diet or in various strategies.  

    The ideas below are ones that easily allow the child to meet their sensory needs in a natural way, so that it is not an interruption to the classroom or other students.  

    Rather, some of these sensory strategies are movement and heavy work-based ideas that can easily be adapted for the whole classroom for brain break type of activities. 

    As always, these sensory ideas are ONLY ideas and should be regarded as a reference.  Every child is different and has different sensory needs.

    The ideas presented below are not regarded as Occupational Therapy treatment and should only be used in addition to and along with an individualized Occupational Therapy plan made following assessment. 

    Sensory Activities for Back to School

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    1. Wall Push-Ups- Show the student how to push against the wall while doing “push-ups” from a standing position.  This is a great heavy work activity, or a quick “brain break” activity that provides proprioceptive input for heavy work for improved focus, calming, and self-regulation.

    2. Desk Fidget- Use a DIY fidget or a store bought hand fidget toy (affiliate link) to allow the child tactile sensory or proprioceptive input to the hands for improved attention and focus while sitting and performing desk work.

    3. Chair Push-Ups- Allow the child to push up from the seat with his arms, keeping the elbows strait.  Pushing up through the arms provides proprioceptive heavy work through the upper body.

    4. Move desk/furniture.

    5. Erase the chalkboard or dry erase board.

    6. Sensory errand- Carry milk crates or plastic bins full of books or supplies from center to center around the classroom or from room to room in the building. Some schools have an “important message” to other classrooms or the office in the form of a folder. Just moving, taking a quick walk through the hallway, to deliver a note or other message can offer a much-needed sensory break. For more heavy work input, add a tote bag filled with books or ask the student to push a cart with materials.

    7. Shoe laces fidget-  Add a couple of beads to the child’s shoe laces for a fidget toy that can be used discretely while sitting in floor circle time or during desk work.

    8. Manual Pencil Sharpener-  Turning and sharpening pencils with a manual pencil sharpener provides proprioception to bilateral upper extremities.  This can be a good task prior to writing tasks.

    9. Backpack for carrying supplies from room to room-  Students can carry supplies to other classrooms in a backpack for heavy input.  This can be a calming strategy while walking the hallways to other areas in the school as well, such as while walking to the lunch room or special classes. The hallway can be an overwhelming and high-sensory environment so deep pressure to center the child can be helpful.

    10. Stapler heavy work- Staple paper or remove staples from a bulletin board for upper body proprioceptive input.


    11. Sensory seat- Air cushion seating such as a wiggle seat cushion (affiliate link) or a frugal, DIY version using a $1 wiggle seat cushion option. Here are more ideas for alternative seating options and even some DIY flexible seating ideas.

    12. Place chairs on rugs.  Sliding chairs on classroom floors can lead to auditory overload for some sensory kids.  Try using carpet squares under each individual chair.  When the child pushes his chair out, he can slide the chair right on the carpet square out from the desk.  

    13. Hallway March-  Get the whole class involved in a “walk this way” activity.  They can march from the classroom to specials or the lunchroom.  Try other brain break and whole body movements while walking in the line down the hallway, too: Try high knee lifts, toe walking, heel walking, elbows to knees, and patting the knees while walking.

    14. Sports bottles for drinking- Sipping water through a long straw or sports bottle (affiliate link) can allow the students to focus and attend given proprioceptive input through the mouth. This is a great whole classroom strategy for helping with attention and self-regulation. Read more about using a water bottle as a sensory tool.

    15. Movement breaks in the gym or classroom- A quick brain break can help kids focus during periods of desk work.

    16. Push mats in the gym- Moving those big gym mats is a great whole body proprioception activity. Or, ask students to move desks or other equipment that uses the whole body.

    17. Auditory support- Headphones for limiting auditory stimulation during center work or times when there is a lot of chatter in the classroom. Here are more tips for auditory sensitivity in the classroom.

    18. Visual picture list- Knowing what to expect is a non-traditional sensory strategy. But when you think about it, the visual input is a support when it comes to knowing what is next, how much time is left until lunch, and how much longer the day will last. A visual schedule can be a benefit for the whole classroom.  Try this daily pocket chart schedule. (affiliate link)

    19. Simon Says Spelling-  Try practicing spelling words with a movement and vestibular sensory input Simon Says version. Try these Simon Says commands if there are a few extra minutes to use up during the school day or between transitions.

    20. Play dough math for proprioceptive input through the hands.  Try a math smash type of activity and use a heavy resistive dough like this DIY proprioception dough. There are many benefits of play dough and sensory input is just one of them!

    21. Kneaded eraser for sensory input through the hands- Use a kneaded pencil eraser (affiliate link) for a hand-held fidget that doubles as an eraser with proprioceptive input.

    22. Crunchy snack break- Try snacks like pretzels, crackers, kale chips, popcorn, or roasted chickpeas for an alerting snack. Oral motor exercises offer calming or alerting input and using a crunchy (or chewy) snack can support these needs.

    23.  Sensory bin for math or sight words-  Create a sight word sensory bin or even use a sensory bin for math or spelling words. This can be a fun and unexpected way to dive back into spelling after the summer break! Add tactile sensory input to learning using a variety of sensory bin fillers.  Ideas include shaving cream, shredded paper, crafting pom poms, among many other ideas.

    24. Vibrating pen rainbow writing for sight word or spelling practice-  Proprioceptive input to the hands can be very helpful for many kids, especially if they are writing with too much pencil pressure.

    25. Jump/move/hop in hallway- Take a movement and brain break with a hallway movement activity.  Add learning aspect with spelling, facts, or math.

    26. Roll a ball on the legs-  Add a vestibular aspect to vocabulary or themed learning, including history, English language arts, or science.  Kids can answer questions and when they answer the question, they roll the ball along their legs by bending down to roll the ball on their thighs.

    27. Hopscotch Math-  Add a hopping proprioception activity to the classroom with a hopscotch board created right in the classroom using masking tape.

    28.  Graph Paper Writing-  Add a visual sensory twist to handwriting, math, spelling, or any written work by using graph paper.  The added lines can be just the visual spatial prompt needed for kids with visual sensory processing concerns. Here are more sensory based reasons to use graph paper.

    29. Make a desk sensory diet box-  Use a dollar store pencil case to create customized sensory diet bins that can fit right into the desk. Items would be used specific to the child’s needs, but might include resistive putty, paper clips for fidgeting, or movable toys (affiliate link). Use these occupational therapy kits for more ideas.

    30. Wash desks with spray bottles. Squeezing a spray bottle to wash desks or water plants offers heavy work through the hands.

    31. Cut classroom decorations from oaktag. Heavy input through the hands by cutting thicker paper is a great way to add a quick and functional movement break. Students will love to see their handiwork on the walls, too.

    32. Create a calm down corner in the classroom– This can include fidgets, mindfulness centers, books, and many more sensory tools. Plus try these other calm down strategies for school.

    33. Try a sensory swing- Sensory swings for modulation can be used when applicable and recommended by an occupational therapy provider. Sometimes, you’ll see these in a sensory room or in a therapy room in the school. Here is more information on types of sensory swings.

    34. Use the playground! Getting those students outside can make a great sensory movement break. Check out how to use the playground for sensory input and read this resource on sensory diets at the playground.

    All of these ideas support sensory needs and are great activities to use during the back-to-school time. We love that they are fun, functional, and the whole classroom can benefit!

    Want more ideas to support sensory needs at school? Grab a free copy of our Classroom Sensory Strategy Packet.

    Free Classroom Sensory Strategies Toolkit

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      Related resources include our blog post on Ayres Sensory Integration. This is a great place to start with gathering information on the sensory processing systems and the related behavioral, emotional, physical, and cognitive responses that we see.

      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.

      The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook
      The Sensory Lifestyle Handbook

      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.

      Back to School Writing Prompts

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      Back to school writing prompts

      Looking for first day of school writing prompts? The free back to school writing prompts in this blog post is a great addition to your back-to-school occupational therapy ideas. Grab the printables below and let’s head into the new school year with tools to support students!

      First Day of School Writing Prompts

      It’s that time of year! Getting back into the classroom means switching from summer fun mode to handwriting, reading, writing, and learning. These Back to School Writing Prompts are a fun way to get to know new students and get those pencils moving.

      Handwriting can be an overwhelming topic to dive into at the start of the school year, so let’s make it easy and low-stress. Print off these free back to school writing ideas and start the school year off right (or write)!

      Free back to school writing prompts for first day of school writing ideas

      Back to School Writing Prompts

      Sometimes you need some back to school activities and specifically, ideas for back to school writing that are “no brainer” for the student. In other words, kids can struggle with getting back into routines of the classroom. They might not have picked up a pencil all summer long, in some cases! That’s where these back to school writing activities come into play.

      There are several ways you can use these free writing prompts with kids this school year:

      First day of school writing Prompts

      The first day of school is all about learning the classroom, setting up expectations, getting to know the building, the schedule, and getting to know the teacher and peers. But what about easing into handwriting and writing tasks?

      Setting up a first day of school writing activity that is low-key, fun, and all about the student is the way to go. Use these first day of school writing prompts to get kids back into the routine of a daily writing prompt.

      First day of school writing prompts may include:

      • Favorite things
      • All about me info (Use these All About Me PDFs)
      • Things done over the summer months
      • Favorite vacation
      • Goals for the new school year

      Another resource for first day of school writing are these middle school journal prompts for older kids.

      Writing prompt of the day

      Continuing with the thought that returning to school after a summer break means a few days of getting used to classroom rules and schedules, you can use these writing cards for the first week or more.

      Print off the cards and randomly select a card each day of the first week of school. This is a great way to get to know students and incorporate handwriting into each day of the first week of school.

      Give the student a choice

      Handwriting can be like pulling teeth for some kids. It’s just hard. Whether their hand hurts when they hold the pencil, or handwriting is hard to read, it can be a real challenge for some kids. Offering a choice can give the student some say in the matter. Allow them to select a card randomly and then they can write out their response to the writing prompt. Or, give them a choice between two writing prompts.

      Play a writing game

      Use these printable writing prompts in a game! Print off the writing prompt cards and then allow the students to pick one card. They can use that card as their back to school writing topic. It’s a great way to get to know the students in the classroom or on your therapy caseload while getting an idea of their current handwriting levels and abilities.

      So, how will you use these back to school writing prompts?

      Print off these back to school writing prompts for a writing prompt of the day the first week of school.

      To grab your copy of this free resource, just enter your email address into the form below. Print them off and get ready to start the school year off on the right foot!

      FREE Back-to-School Writing Prompts

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        More Back to School Writing ideas

        Add these writing prompt cards to your back-to-school line up of activities:

        First, be sure to check out our back to school sensory activities for meeting self-regulation needs in the classroom.

        Meet the teacher Meet the Therapist letter
        Meet the Therapist Templates
        Back-to-School Memory Game and List Writing Prompts
        Back to School Memory Game
        Back to School Activities
        Back to School Visual Perception Slide Deck
        Back to school activities for occupational therapy or the classroom
        Back to School Toolkit

        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.

        Activities to Improve Smooth Visual Pursuits

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        Eyes looking in different directions with arrows from each set of eyes. Text reads "what are visual pursuits"

        For our kids who are challenged to visually observe their environment, or who struggle to demonstrate visual tracking in reading or other learning experiences, activities designed to promote smooth pursuits and eye movement can be helpful. The visual activities listed here can be helpful in addressing the smooth pursuits of visual input. Visual pursuits or tacking is an oculomotor skill that is necessary part of visual processing. Read on for various eye exercise that can be done in fun ways as a part of occupational therapy geared toward visual processing skills.

        Activities to improve smooth visual pursuits

        There are several activities to improve smooth visual pursuits that are used in occupational therapy to target smooth pursuits of the eyes. These smooth pursuit exercises are typically fostered through play, especially in occupational therapy interventions. 

        Below, you’ll find ocular pursuit activities, but first, let’s cover what visual pursuits are and how they impact a child’s learning.

         
        These activities to improve smooth visual pursuits are needed to improve visual tracking needed for reading and visual processing.
         
         
         
         
         
        Visual skills like visual tracking, or smooth visual pursuits are a visual processing skill that allow us to perceive and retrieve visual information. This is an essential part of reading and learning.

         

        What are visual pursuits?

        Visual pursuits are another term for visual tracking. Visual tracking is an oculomotor skill that is essential for learning, reading, and so many tasks we perform.

        Smooth visual pursuits refer to the eye movements that enable us to track moving objects smoothly and accurately with our gaze. It’s the eye following a moving target through coordinated motion of the eye muscles.

        When we watch a moving object, follow a moving object with our eyes, or follow a moving ball, our eyes move smoothly to follow the visual input. This allows us to maintain visual focus on the object as it moves. We can use that visual information to understand how fast and far the item is moving based on the object’s trajectory, speed, and direction.

        Here are more information about visual tracking activities. You will also love checking out these activities to improve visual tracking.

        Visual processing skills have a huge impact on learning. In fact, it is one of the visual skills that can impact learning in a way that isn’t always directly observable.

        Visual skills like visual tracking, or smooth visual pursuits are a visual processing skill that allow us to perceive and retrieve visual information. This is an essential part of reading and learning.

        These skills may be covered by a behavioral optometrist or developmental optometrist.

        Want to learn more about HOW visual pursuits and other aspects of visual processing impact learning (in a really big way)? Scroll below to join our free visual processing lab. It’s a 3 day email series where you will learn SO much about visual processing and how it impacts everything, but especially learning and cognitive skills.

        Visual tracking activites are needed for learning and everything we do! These activities to improve visual pursuits can be used in occupational therapy treatment sessions or part of vision therapy activities.

         

        Activities to improve visual pursuits

        These visual tracking activities are easy and creative ways to work on eye movement and smooth eye movements. Kids can perform these activities as part of a therapy program and while working on functional skills within an occupation.

        1. Relaxing breathing eye stretches- This visual tracking activity is a way to work on smooth pursuits in a very mindful way. Just like yoga brings awareness to the body and a sense of being present, this eye stretch activity is a great way to calm a class during a busy school day.

        Combine slow and deep breathing with deliberate eye movements. Kids can watch and follow directions to take deep breaths combined with slowly looking in a single direction. As they look up and breath or look to the left and breath, kids can even use this activity as a coping strategy.

        Try these yoga activities: 

        2. Flashlight Tag- Use a flashlight to help kids follow a target in various directions. Try a circle, uppercase letter “H”, triangle, straight/diagonal lines, etc. To make this activity more fun, try adding a deflated balloon to the top of the flashlight. Encourage kids to keep their face steady as they use just the eyes to follow the light.

        3. Craft Stick Puppets- Create small craft stick characters puppets to make a visual cue as a visual prompt for follow movement patterns. These barnyard animal puppets make a great DIY puppet tool for a visual pursuit and tracking activity.

        This pirate puppet is one idea that builds fine motor skills, too.

        4. Marble run activities- There are many marble run products on the market that provide an opportunity for improving smooth pursuit of the eyes. Here are DIY marble run activities that make a great activity in themselves for kids.

        We love to add slow moving items to marble run games too, to provide a slower object for visually tracking, encouraging smooth pursuits of the eyes. Encourage kids to keep their face steady while using their eyes only to watch the item fall through the marble run.

        Try these marble run ideas:

        5. Roll a ball- Roll a ball up a slanted surface and ask the child to keep their eyes on the ball! Some ideas include creating a sloped surface with a poster board and books.

        Simply roll a small ball slowly up the ramp and kids can watch the ball as it rolls. Also try having the child to sit in front of the ramp and be in charge of rolling the ball. Mark off where the ball should reach and stop so the child works on graded movement at the same time.

        Sitting in front of the ramp encourages visual convergence and binocular fusion as well. This activity works well with a large ball such as a kick ball and a sidewalk ramp, too.

        This baby brain building activity list has more ideas, too.

        6. Double Light Eye Tag- Use two different colored lights (light-topped pens work well). Flash one color on and then the other. Kids can move their eyes from color to color or follow directions to look at the two lights when they change.

        Hopefully, these activities to improve visual pursuits is a helpful addition to your therapy toolbox. Use these strategies to work on various visual processing skills and oculomotor skills.

        7. Hands-on visual tracking therapy activities- Use the ideas below to target visual tracking skills through play:

         

        More visual processing activities

        For even MORE visual tracking and pursuit activities to use in your occupational therapy practice, you will want to join our free visual processing lab email series. It’s a 3-day series of emails that covers EVERYthing about visual processing. We take a closer look at visual skills and break things down, as well as covering the big picture of visual needs.

        In the visual processing lab, you will discover how oculomotor skills like smooth pursuits make a big difference in higher level skills like learning and executive function. The best thing about this lab (besides all of the awesome info) is that it has a fun “lab” theme. I might have had too much fun with this one 🙂

        Join us in visual processing Lab! Where you won’t need Bunsen burners or safety goggles!

        Click here to learn more about Visual Processing Lab and to sign up.

        Free visual processing email lab to learn about visual skills needed in learning and reading.
         
         
         
         
         




          
         
         
         
         
        Visual pursuits visual tracking activities to help kids with the visual skills needed for learning, reading, and everything they do!

        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.

        oculomotor tools

        In The OT Toolbox Membership, you’ll find oculomotor tools that support visual tracking, smooth pursuits, and much more.

        Development of Eye-Hand Coordination

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        hand eye coordination

        Hand eye coordination plays a powerful role in daily activities. Through the integration of fine motor skills and visual processing, we see intentional and controlled motor skills. But there’s more to catching and throwing a ball at a target than the coordinated use of the hands and eyes. Let’s break down hand eye coordination development skills as well as the other underlying skills needed.

        hand eye coordination

        We have included affiliate links to resources in this blog post on hand eye coordination milestones. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

        Hand Eye Coordination

        Hand eye coordination refers to the coordination, or integration, of visual input and the processing of that visual information for coordinated movement of the hands. These skills impact fine motor dexterity and motor movements in functional tasks for so many tasks while manipulating movements and objects.

        Eye-hand coordination is essential in handwriting, scissor use, threading beads, reading, throwing a ball, placing a cup on a shelf, coloring in lines, feeding, self-care, and much, much more.

        The phrases “Hand-eye coordination” and “eye-hand coordination” are used interchangeably, however, we tend to use the phrase eye-hand coordination more appropriately, because input comes through the eyes first and the hand responds in motor tasks. However, the general population may primarily use the phrase “hand-eye coordination”.

        In this blog post, we will use both phrases interchangeably, in order to reach the populations seeking information on either phrase.

        In essence, hand-eye coordination, or eye-hand coordination, are the  Visual motor skills used in motor tasks.

        Part of this development is the refined motor skills led by arch development in the hands. Paired with dexterity and precision skills, along with visual motor components, we see hand-eye coordination.


         
         
        Eye hand coordination develops from a very young age! Here is information about the development of visual motor skills, specifically eye hand coordination in babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

         

        Eye Hand Coordination Development

        Eye-hand coordination development typically occurs through movement, beginning at a very young age. The visual components of oculomotor skills (how the eyes move) include visual fixation, visual tracking (or smooth pursuits), and visual scanning. These beginning stages of child development play a big part down the road in taking in visual information and using it to perform motor tasks. 

        These hand-eye coordination developmental guidelines listed below are general guidelines of development based on approximate development of the visual motor skills needed for play, motor skills, and visual motor development.

        Holding and talking to baby in the very young ages plays such an important part in the puzzle of visual motor skills. 


        Additionally, tummy time and as the baby gains head strength and control, they eyes become stronger in their ability to fixate, track, and scan from the prone position. This is why we place toys around a baby on a baby blanket and encourage reach.

        That pivotal stage when baby begins to roll is a social media-worthy time in the parent’s life. But there is more to celebrate than baby’s new rolling skills. Control of the eyes with movement is a big accomplishment and something that baby strengthens with movement. 

        Hand Eye Coordination

        These skill areas are broken down by months, all the way up through the preschool years. 


        Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links are included in this post.

        ONE MONTH:
             Tracking a rattle while lying on back                                    
             Tracking a rattle to the side                
           
        TWO MONTHS:
             Infant regards their own hands
             Tracks a ball side to side as it rolls across a table left to right and right to left.
             Tracks a rattle while lying on back side to side
           
        THREE MONTHS:
             Extends hands to reach for a rattle/toy while lying on back
           
        FOUR MONTHS:
             Reaches to midline for a rattle/toy while lying on back
             While lying on back, the infant touches both hands together.

        hand Eye coordination and Crawling

        Crawling on the hands and knees plays a vital role in hand eye coordination, too. When baby positions themselves up on all fours, they are gaining awesome proprioceptive input, strength in the shoulder girdle, core, and neck.

        When crawling, baby is gaining mobility, but also using targeted movement toward a goal they visually process.

        Research shows that hands-and-knees and walker-assisted locomotor experience facilitate spatial search performance. Spatial awareness, or visual spatial relations, and visual skill development is needed for coordinated use of the hands in motor tasks.


        In fact, crawling improves so many areas needed for refined eye-hand coordination, including the fine motor skills, gross motor skills, gross motor coordination, balance, and strength needed for tasks like precision of in-hand manipulation, positioning in activities, and sustained endurance. We cover more on this topic in our blog post on spatial awareness for baby.

        Eye hand coordination develops from infancy! Playing with baby in tummy time is a crucial element to eye hand coordination development.


        SIX MONTHS:
             Brings hands together to grasp a block/toy while sitting supported on an adult’s lap
             Extends arm to reach up for a toy while laying on back
           
        SEVEN MONTHS:
             Transfers a block/toy from one hand to the other while sitting supported on an adult’s lap.
             Touches a cereal piece with index finger
             Bangs a toy on a table surface while sitting supported on an adult’s lap

        NINE MONTHS:
             Claps hands together

        TEN MONTHS:
             Removes loose pegs from a Peg Board (affiliate link) 

        ELEVEN MONTHS:
             Removes socks
             Releases a cereal bit onto table surface
             Places blocks (affiliate link) into a cup

        A lot of eye hand coordination development occurs in the toddler years. Here are developmental milestones for eye hand coordination from 1-3 years.

         

        Development of Eye Hand Coordination for Toddlers

        Development of hand eye coordination accelerates during the toddler years because motor skills develop at an increasing pace during the years of 1-3. 

        TWELVE MONTHS/ ONE YEAR:
             Turns pages in a board book
             Imitates stirring a spoon (affiliate link) in a cup

        THIRTEEN MONTHS:
             Imitates tapping a spoon on a cup
             Begins to places large puzzle pieces in a beginner puzzle (affiliate link) 

        FOURTEEN MONTHS:
             Scribbles on paper

        SIXTEEN MONTHS:
             Imitates building a tower of 2-3 blocks (affiliate link) 

        NINETEEN-TWENTY MONTHS:
             Builds a block tower, stacking 4-5 blocks (affiliate link) 

        TWENTY THREE-TWENTY FOUR MONTHS:
             Imitates copying vertical lines


        TWENTY FIVE-TWENTY SIX MONTHS:
             Removes a screw top lid on a bottle
             Stacks 8 blocks (affiliate link) 
             Begins to snip with scissors

        TWENTY SEVEN-TWENTY EIGHT MONTHS:
             Imitates horizontal strokes with a marker
             Strings 2 Beads (affiliate link) 
             Imitates folding a piece of paper (bending the paper and making a crease, not aligning the edges)

        TWENTY NINE MONTHS:
             Imitates building a train with blocks
             Strings 3-4 Beads (affiliate link) 
             Stacks 10 blocks (affiliate link) 

        THIRTY ONE MONTHS:
             Builds a “bridge” with three blocks (affiliate link) 

        THIRTY THREE MONTHS:
             Copies a circle

        THIRTY FIVE MONTHS:
             Builds a “wall” with four blocks (affiliate link) 

        Eye hand development continues in the preschool years. Here are ways that eye hand coordination develops in preschool and how to improve these visual motor skills.

         

        hand Eye Coordination in Preschoolers

        During the preschool years, we see even more fine motor and gross motor development. These refined skills, along with more coordinated efforts enable precision and dexterity with hand-eye coordination. Check out some of the preschool activities that we love to use to support this development.

        Additional information and resources are covered in our blog post on crossing midline activities for preschoolers, as the eye-hand coordination at this age develops quickly and the sensory motor skills needed for play is an important part of development.

        Preschoolers are beginning to use tools such as crayons, scissors, markers, glue sticks, and more. You’ll see greater control in using these materials. 

        Preschoolers are also playing with more pretend play, and are able to use different toys with more refinement. While the preschool age may be able to use a pencil to create forms, occupational therapy practitioners prefer that handwriting is not encouraged at this age.

        Read about the detrimental impact that handwriting has when pushed before preschoolers build the visual motor experience in this stage.

        THIRTY SEVEN MONTHS:
             Cuts a paper in half with scissors

        FORTY MONTHS:
             Lace 2-3 holes with string on Lacing Shapes (affiliate link) 
             Copies a cross

        FORTY TWO MONTHS:
             Cuts within 1/2 inch of a strait line.
             Traces a horizontal line

        FIFTY MONTHS:
             Copies a square
             Cuts a circle within 1/2 inch of the line
             Build “steps” with blocks (affiliate link) 

        FIFTY FOUR MONTHS:
             Connects two dots to make a horizontal line.
             Cuts a square within 1/2 inch of the line
             Builds a “pyramid” with blocks (affiliate link) 

        FIFTY FIVE MONTHS:
             Folds a piece of paper in half with the edges parallel
             Colors within lines


        There is so much happening through regular play, interaction with babies and toddlers at each stage. What’s important to know is that the development doesn’t stop there! 


        Studies have shown that eye-hand coordination impacts learning, communication, social-emotional skills, attention, and focus. Wow! 

        Coordination Skills

        Here are some ideas to work on eye-hand coordination for preschooler kids and older: 
        This Letter Eye Hand Coordination Activity helps with bilateral coordination and the visual processing skills needed for reading and so many other skills. 

        Try this scooping and pouring eye-hand coordination activity that can be adjusted to meet the needs of many ages and abilities.

        More visual processing activities

        For even MORE information on eye-hand coordination and activities to use in your occupational therapy practice, you will want to join our free visual processing lab email series. It’s a 3-day series of emails that covers EVERYthing about visual processing. We take a closer look at visual skills and break things down, as well as covering the big picture of visual needs.

        In the visual processing lab, you will discover how oculomotor skills like smooth pursuits make a big difference in higher level skills like learning and executive function. The best thing about this lab (besides all of the awesome info) is that it has a fun “lab” theme. I might have had too much fun with this one 🙂

        Join us in visual processing Lab! Where you won’t need Bunsen burners or safety goggles!

        Click here to learn more about Visual Processing Lab and to sign up.

        Free visual processing email lab to learn about visual skills needed in learning and reading.
        Work on eye-hand coordination with preschoolers by building with blocks!
         
        Try activities like geoboards, pegboards, and lacing beads to improve eye hand coordination development in kids.

        References:
        Kermoian, Rosanne & Campos, Joseph. (1988). Locomotor Experience: A Facilitator of Spatial Cognitive Development. Child development. 59. 908-17. 10.2307/1130258. 

        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.

        Spring hand eye coordination fine motor worksheets

        Hand eye coordination activities can be as simple as lacing cards, hole punching activities, and paperclip tasks using printable OT activities. The ones in the image above are found in our Spring Fine Motor Kit, but there are many others in our other Fine Motor and Therapy Kits:

        Working on fine motor skills, visual perception, visual motor skills, sensory tolerance, handwriting, or scissor skills? Our Fine Motor Kits cover all of these areas and more.

        Check out the seasonal Fine Motor Kits that kids love:

        Letters Fine Motor Kit
        Kit de motricidad fina de verano
        Summer Fine Motor Kit
        Outer Space Fine Motor Kit
        Space Fine Motor Kit
        Spring fine motor kit
        Valentines Day fine motor kit
        winter fine motor kit
        Winter Fine Motor Kit

        Or, grab one of our themed Fine Motor Kits to target skills with fun themes:

        Want access to all of these kits…and more being added each month? Join The OT Toolbox Member’s Club!

        Types of Temperament

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        types of temperament

        Did you know there are different types of temperament and that various temperament types impact all aspects of daily living, from learning in the classroom, interacting with peers, social and emotional development, self-regulation, and more? Consider how two different types of temperament would respond to a challenge or learning a new concept. One temperament type might respond to challenges with growth mindset and adaptation to changes in what they know and believe. Another type might respond with negative mindset and sensitivity or withdrawal.

        types of temperament

        Types of Temperament

        There are various types of temperament that you may have heard explained over the years. This is personality at work. Temperament is something to consider when evaluating a person in occupational therapy and it might be part of a parent interview or a teacher interview during the occupational therapy screening or eval.

        Types of temperament might be defined as (other names or phrases may be interchanged for these types as well):

        1. Easy Temperament- also defined as flexible, stable, happy-go-lucky, cheerful, take on challenges, etc.
        2. Difficult Temperament- Also defined as inflexible, unstable, doesn’t do well with challenges, unresponsive to others, pessimistic, etc.
        3. Slow-to-Warm-Up Temperament– This temperament type might look like a cautious personality around others. The individual might take their time to warm up to new people and situations. They might have lower activity levels, higher sensitivity, and may be more hesitant when faced with change. However, once they feel comfortable, they can engage more freely.
        4. Sensitive Temperament– People with a sensitive temperament are highly attuned to their environment and emotions. They often react strongly to sensory stimuli and emotions, both positive and negative. They may require more time to process experiences and may benefit from strategies to manage their emotional responses.
        5. Active Temperament– Individuals with an active temperament are characterized by high excitement and energy levels and a preference for physical movement and engagement. They may be easily excited and have a need for constant stimulation and activity. Such individuals might struggle with activities that demand prolonged focus.
        6. Slow Temperament- On the contrary is a slower response. These individuals might have low energy.
        7. Shy or Inhibited Temperament– People with a shy or inhibited temperament tend to be more reserved and cautious in new situations. They might be more hesitant to approach unfamiliar people or experiences. This temperament type can affect social interactions and require supportive environments to help individuals feel at ease.
        8. Feisty or Spirited Temperament: Individuals with a feisty temperament are known for their strong-willed nature and intense emotional reactions. They often express their feelings and opinions strongly and may resist directions they perceive as limiting. Managing their strong emotions and channeling their energy constructively is key.
        9. Adaptive or Flexible Temperament: This temperament type refers to individuals who are adaptable and can easily adjust to different situations. They often display a balanced approach to emotions, are open to new experiences, and tend to have moderate activity levels.

        All of these variances in human personality can impact goal achievement. It’s considerations that need to be in mind when creating goals and working toward goal progression.

        Occupational therapy providers are trained in the cognitive realm and so this impact of personality on functional performance and daily occupations is ingrained into OT in every therapy session!

        Understanding Temperament and Its Early Signs

        From birth, a person’s temperament becomes evident in various ways. We hear infants described as “easy babies” or difficult babies”. While this is not always the best way to describe ease or difficulty of daily tasks during the infant years, it definitely is common verbiage that we hear as therapy providers.

        Development of temperament has many factors. Take a look at this article which examines temperament development from infancy to toddlerhood.

        The study also discusses the genetic and environmental influences on child temperament.

        Components of Temperament:

        Several components define temperament, including activity level, regularity of routines, sensitivity to surroundings, mood qualities and intensity, as well as tendencies towards persistence and distraction. These are the qualities that make us who we are. It’s how we perceive and respond to daily tasks and challenges.

        When we think about all of the components that impact how we respond to daily life situations, there are many! A lot of this has to do with metacognition!

        How Temperament Types Shapes Behavior

        Thinking about the various influences that temperament has on our response to situations and the descriptions we shared above, you might start to see how temperament types can impact behavior, or the way to behave in daily tasks.

        Things like our activity level, interoception, sensory thresholds, mood, intensity of mood, distractibility, persistence, the ability to adapt to change, withdrawal tendencies, and attention are just some of the ways that temperament type can impact daily activities.

        Activity Level: Temperament plays a pivotal role in determining an individual’s activity level. Some people are naturally more energetic and dynamic, while others tend to be more laid-back and relaxed. This variance in activity level affects how individuals engage with their surroundings, interact with others, and approach tasks.

        Interoception: The regularity of biological functions, such as sleep patterns and meal times, is influenced by temperament. Certain individuals have a consistent and predictable rhythm in these functions, while others exhibit more variability. This can impact their daily routines and how well they adapt to schedules and changes.

        Sensory Thresholds: Sensory thresholds, or how sensitive individuals are to sensory stimuli, are intricately tied to temperament. Some people are highly sensitive and notice even subtle changes in their environment, while others have a higher threshold and require more intense stimuli to elicit a response. This sensitivity level affects how they experience and interact with the world around them.

        Quality of Moods: Temperament greatly affects the emotional landscape of an individual. Some individuals tend to experience predominantly positive moods, while others may be more prone to experiencing negative emotions. This can influence their overall outlook on life, interactions with others, and how they handle challenges.

        Intensity of Mood Expression: The intensity with which individuals express their emotions is a facet of temperament. Some people are more expressive, openly showing their emotions, while others are more reserved and exhibit emotions in a more subdued manner. This impacts how others perceive and respond to their emotional cues.

        Distractibility: Distractibility, or the degree to which individuals are easily diverted from tasks or activities, is a temperament trait. Some individuals find it challenging to maintain focus, becoming easily sidetracked by external stimuli. Others have a higher ability to concentrate and remain engaged in tasks.

        Persistence: Persistence refers to an individual’s ability to initiate tasks and then stick with a task or activity despite challenges or obstacles. Temperament influences this trait, with some individuals being naturally tenacious and determined, while others may be more inclined to give up more easily. This trait affects how individuals approach goals and overcome difficulties.

        Adapting to Change: The way individuals respond to change is influenced by temperament. Some people embrace change and adapt quickly, while others may struggle with transitions and prefer stability. This adaptability trait can impact how individuals cope with new situations and unexpected events.

        Approach/Withdrawal Tendencies for New Situations: Temperament shapes an individual’s approach or withdrawal tendencies when facing new situations. Some people eagerly approach novel experiences, showing curiosity and enthusiasm. Others may be more cautious or hesitant, preferring to withdraw initially before engaging.

        Attention Span: The length of time individuals can focus their attention on a specific task or activity is impacted by temperament. Some individuals have a longer attention span and can sustain focus for extended periods, while others may have a shorter attention span and require more frequent shifts in activities. There is a lot related to executive functioning skills.

        Adaptation to Change: The ability to adapt to changes varies among individuals, with some children finding it challenging while others adjust more easily.

        Approach and Withdrawal: Temperament shapes how individuals approach new situations and their attention span in such scenarios, thus influencing their learning about emotions and social interactions.

        Things to consider about temperament type

        Temperaments can change: People exhibit different levels of activity, routine regularity, and sensitivity to their environment, leading to varying temperaments.

        Extremes in Traits: Some individuals experience mood swings, intense moods, and show extreme persistence or distractibility. This is ok!

        Slower Rhythms: Some individuals have irregular routines, changing moods, and difficulty maintaining focus. They usually possess moderate activity levels and sensitivity. This might look like a slower response, destructibility, inattention, but it can also just be a slower temperament response. It’s ok to have a slower response!

        Balanced “Flexible” Temperament: Others have a balanced temperament or flexibility when it comes to their response to activity, routines, and sensitivity. They adapt well, maintain positive moods, and tend to avoid extremes. It’s ok to have a balanced temperament, or to not!

        Temperament’s Impact on Learning

        When you think about it, there is a close relationship to self-regulation, coping skills, social emotional skills, impulse control, persistence, and temperament. This is the connection of self-regulation and executive functioning skills in action.

        • Influence on Self-Regulation: Temperament significantly shapes how individuals exhibit self-regulatory behaviors and manage their impulses.
        • Understanding Effortful Control: The final developmental step is “effortful control,” where individuals learn to resist impulsive actions and choose more socially acceptable responses. Children grasp this concept quickly.

        Whatever temperament type you are working with as a therapy provider, educator, or even parent, remember that every individual is unique. And, we all have variations in our mood and reactions to life events, and that sometimes these variances change in a single day. Just like differences in regulation is ok, and it’s perfectly ok to feel or respond to situations in different ways, temperament changes are ok as well.

        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.

        One Handed Shoe Tying

        by
        Special needs child with braces and shoe laces. Text reads "One handed shoe tying"

        With the modern era of velcro, laceless, and stretchy lace shoes of every size and color, one might wonder why bother learning one handed shoe tying (or shoe tying at all). However, for some individuals, tying shoes with one hand is a necessary component of function. This post will not only teach you how to learn one handed shoe tying and teach it to others, but understand the why behind one (or two) handed shoe tying.

        One handed shoe tying

        One Handed Shoe Tying

        Let’s break down several things here…

        • Why bother to learn one handed shoe tying methods
        • Helpful tips for one handed shoe tying
        • One handed shoe tying videos
        • Step-by-step directions for one handed shoe tying with two bows
        • Step-by-step directions for one handed shoe tying with one bow

        The fact is that one handed shoe tying requires skills. While going with slip on shoes or loafer style of shoes might be ideal for some to don and doff shoes quickly and independently, sometimes a laced shoe is necessary. (See below.)

        One handed shoe tying does require some skills:

        To develop these skills, try some of these activities:

        Why Learn One Handed Shoe Tying?

        There are times when one handed shoe tying comes in “handy”.  Stroke patients, people with only one hand/arm, learners who only have one functioning hand, or a time when you only have one hand free to do the job. 

        There are tons of adaptations out there that are easier than struggling to learn one handed shoe tying. Alternate closure shoes are very popular and stylish, not to mention convenient and easy to use.  Young children are not being taught shoe tying because it is easier to offer laceless shoes.  Non lace-up shoes are easier for kids to be more independent, and easier for teachers who have to re-tie 20 pairs of laces a day. 

        If there are so many cool alternatives to lace up shoes,  why learn?

        There are several reasons to learn to tie laces

        • Physical Disabilities or Injuries: People with certain physical disabilities, such as limb amputations, strokes, cerebral palsy, or conditions affecting their hand dexterity, may need to learn one-handed shoe tying in order to independently manage their footwear. Some of these individuals need to learn to tie their shoes with one hand from a very young age, while others learn this skill at an older age following a CVA or injury.
        • AFO support- Individuals who require an ankle foot orthosis, brace, or more stability in the foot for other reasons will require shoes that hold these devices while offering stability.
        • Temporary Hand Injuries: Other individuals recovering from hand injuries or surgeries may have limited use of one hand temporarily, making one-handed shoe tying a practical skill for maintaining their daily routines.
        • Increased Independence: Being able to tie shoes with one hand can boost self-confidence and overall self-sufficiency.
        • OT School- I still remember learning to tie my shoes in OT school many moons ago, as a strategy to have in my toolbox to teach individuals to tie their own shoes with just one hand! While there are always adaptations for things, it is better to know the basics when faced with something that is not adaptable (those darned velcro shoes)
        • Types of shoes- There are velcro shoes but for many of our clients and patients, they are just not trendy enough! Have you ever seen velcro prom or tuxedo shoes? Nowadays they might make some more trendy versions of them, but the ones I found look like they belong on my grandfather. Try and get those on a teenager!
        • There are more things that require tying than just shoes: boat ropes, string, balloons, a corset, ice skates, roller skates, work boots, wilderness survival skills, a bonnet, hair bows, arts and crafts, and so much more
        • If you are working on skill building, learning to tie laces helps builds fine motor skills, balance, executive functioning skills, and independence with the ADL of self-dressing.

        Before working on teaching one handed shoe tying, check out this blog post on the OT Toolbox for the basics of shoe tying, tips and strategies, benefits, and activities.

        Helpful Tips for Teaching One-Handed Shoe Tying

        When learning a new skill, there are helpful strategies to employ in order to have a better outcome when it comes to shoe tying skills in general:

        • PRACTICE – every new skill takes practice. Take time to practice over and over again
        • Timing – choose a time of day when people are not in a rush, or stressed out.  On the way to the school bus is not the best time to start teaching
        • Break it down – break any task down into steps to make it more manageable
        • Backward chaining – do all of the steps for your learner except the last one. Have your learner finish the task, feeling that sense of accomplishment.  Work backward from there
        • Forward chaining – have your learner do the first step, then finish for them.  Teach them one step at a time
        • Model – wear tie shoes as much as possible and model this task
        • Practice not on the foot first – it is helpful to start with a shoe tying board or a pair of shoes not on the learner.  The added step of bending over, is just one more hurdle
        • Use long laces that are easy to manage when practicing
        • Work side by side tying shoes together one step at a time
        • Environment – choose a quiet non distracting space for learning. Remove television and other media unless you are following along with a video tutorial
        • Work on the underlying skills needed for shoe tying
        • Make the task fun!  Choose games related to tying, buy awesome fun shoes with laces, or have a competition
        • Incentivize – it is not a bad idea to offer an incentive to a reluctant learner.  New shoes when shoe tying is learned, a trip to the park to try out the new shoes, a call to grandma or a video message, or good old ice cream often helps.

        One Handed Shoe Tying Videos

        The following are steps to complete one handed shoe tying.  Decide what the best method for teaching your particular learner is going to be (backward/ forward chaining, modeling, side by side training, video tutorial).

        Here is a tutorial on one handed shoe tying with two bows:

        This video has another strategy for tying shoes with one hand toward the end of the video:

        Professor Shoelace has his own “Ian Knot” technique for teaching shoe tying. This strategy requires more finger dexterity, but has less steps:

        This strategy is used by an individual born with cerebral palsy and uses high top shoes, which may be a required form of stability for some:

        Step-By-Step One Handed Shoe Tying Directions (one bow)

        For those learners, a method for traditional shoe tying will be described below

        1. Begin by anchoring one end near the toe then run straight across and into the opposite eyelet
        2. Snake the loose end through all of the eyelets, running straight across on the outside and straight up on the inside, until the end is fed into the last eyelet near the top of the shoe
        3. The loose end is now fed straight across and back out through the opposite eyelet. This second pass of shoelace through the eyelet keeps this knot nice and tight
        4. TIP: When loosening the lacing to remove the shoe, don’t pull this lace all the way out, as it’s difficult to feed through each time.
        5. Create a loop with the loose end sitting across the final straight section of shoelace. This is easy to do by holding the loose end between the right thumb and forefinger, then forming the loop around the right thumb.
        6. Feed a new loop of shoelace underneath the straight section (blue) and out through the previous loop. The lace is fed underneath with the right forefinger, meeting up with the thumb – which should still be inside the previous loop
        7. Grab the emerging loop and pull downwards and to the right. Take care not to pull the loose end all the way out!
        8. Continue pulling the loop until it sits snug and close to the eyelet.

        One handed Shoe Tying with Two Bows

        It is probably best to watch a few video tutorials or have someone demonstrate before trying to follow these directions.

        1. Hold one shoelace down with your opposite foot while crossing the other over and pulling it tight
        2. Make a loop while still holding the lace under your opposite shoe
        3. Bring the loop behind and under the straight lace
        4. While holding the loop with your thumb and first finger, release the other side from under your shoe
        5. Use your fingers to wrap the free lace around the first loop
        6. Use your thumb to push the lace through the newly formed loop
        7. Holding one loop in place with your free foot, pull the loops tight

        One Handed Knot Shoe Tying Technique

        Then there is this One handed knot with pictures of each step of one-handed shoe tying. This seems to be the most straight forward type of one handed shoe tying technique.  Some learners do not like it  because it looks “different” than traditional laces.  Use these steps for a one handed knot:

        1. Tie a knot at one end of the shoelace.
        2. Thread the unknotted end into the one of the holes nearest to the toe of the shoe.
        3. Take the shoelace and lace it across the tongue of the shoe and then diagonally to the next hole. Lace up all of the holes using the single shoe lace.
        4. Continue to lace across the tongue of the shoe and up to the opposite side until you reach the top of the shoe.
        5. Circle the lace toward the toe of the shoe and under the lace that is the last straight part of the lace going across the tongue of the shoe.
        6. Circle around toward the top of the shoe. Pull the lace through the loop toward the ankle and out to the left side.
        7. Pull the loop tight.

        One Handed Shoe Tying Adaptations

        When the shoe tying techniques listed above don’t work, there are still alternatives! Even when using the adaptations listed below, one-handed shoe tying can be achieved, enabling functional independence.

        Try these shoe tying tools and special laces: (Amazon affiliate links included. As an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases.

        When Teaching One Handed Shoe Tying

        Remember to practice, add incentives, and talk about the reasons for learning to tie shoes.  I can’t tell you how many students I have asked if their mom is coming to prom to help them tie their shoes!

        Victoria Wood, OTR/L is a contributor to The OT Toolbox and has been providing Occupational Therapy treatment in pediatrics for more than 25 years. She has practiced in hospital settings (inpatient, outpatient, NICU, PICU), school systems, and outpatient clinics in several states. She has treated hundreds of children with various sensory processing dysfunction in the areas of behavior, gross/fine motor skills, social skills and self-care. Ms. Wood has also been a featured speaker at seminars, webinars, and school staff development training. She is the author of Seeing your Home and Community with Sensory Eyes.