This blog post by contributor author Regina Parsons-Allen describes a cute dragonfly-themed craft that can be used to address a variety of occupational therapy activity areas including: fine motor skills, visual motor skills, crossing midline, bilateral coordination, dexterity, and more.
Looking for a creative and crafty occupational therapy activity that is easy to
prepare and packs big punch in addressing a variety of skills? This dragonfly occupational therapy activity and craft creation may be just what you
need! It’s fun, versatile, easy to
implement, and addresses a large variety of skills and multiple skill levels
while also being cheap!! It’s a great
activity that can be easily upgraded or downgraded to provide the “just right”
challenge. While this dragonfly craft is perfect for the pediatric and school-based occupational therapy practitioner, but would make
a great classroom center or take home activity too.
These dragonfly
crafts are so versatile they could be used as a simple occupational therapy craft activity, an
assembly activity, a game-like activity, or any combination. Take a look at all of the crafty fun that can
be had with these fun flying creations.
Dragonfly Craft – A Fun Occupational Therapy Activity
as a take home occupational therapy craft encourages skill development during the making process
with the end product being used for play or display.
The child could make one dragonfly or a group
of dragonflies with the focus of the activity being on coloring and cutting
which addresses a child’s fine motor coordination, manipulation and grasp, distal
control, bilateral coordination and visual motor skills.
Related: For more bilateral coordination activities like this one, try some of the ideas on our list of Winter Bilateral Coordination Activities.
How to make a dragonfly craft:
Affiliate links are included below:
Color the clothespins with either a marker, crayon, or a colored pencil working on grasp patterns and distal control.
Cut the wings from selected tactile material working on scissor skills, including scissor grasp, bilateral coordination, and eye-hand coordination.
Possible materials that can be used for dragonfly designs could include felt, sandpaper, sticky sticks, chenille stems, paper straws, plastic straws, foam, Velcro, craft sticks, and plastic canvas.
Place the wings that are cut into an X pattern and pinch the clothespin to insert the wings. This process addresses fine motor strength, manipulation, pinch, and visual perceptual skills.
Dragonfly Occupational Therapy Activity- Assembly Activity
dragonflies as an assembly activity requires the dragonfly materials to be
prepared prior to the session.
The therapist pre-assembles the clothespins, having the googly eyes
glued on and the wing materials are already cut.
Having these pieces ready
prior to the session allows the focus of the session to be on targeted skill
development directed by the therapist addressing individual goals.
Activity focus
areas might include fine motor skills, bilateral coordination, tactile
tolerance, isolated or intersecting diagonal line practice, visual scanning,
motor planning and problem solving.
To set up the dragonfly craft as an occupational therapy assembly activity:
the wing materials scattered on the tabletop and have the child visually scan
the table top for matching pieces.
the child take the matches and create an X pattern for wing assembly.
the child pinch clothespins open to insert the wings.
this process until all dragonflies are assembled with matching wings.
Dragonfly Occupational Therapy Activity or Game
dragonfly materials would be prepared prior to the session with one set of wing
materials inside of a bag.
Game
1: Have the child reach into the bag, feel for only one wing, pull it out and
locate its match on the table top for dragonfly assembly.
Game
2: Have child reach into the bag and feel the texture of one wing inside of the
bag and while keeping their hand in of the bag, use their other hand to locate
its match on the table top and assemble the dragonfly.
assembly, but with this game-like approach tactile perception is more actively
targeted.
Dragonfly Occupational Therapy Handwriting Activity
A bonus would be to couple this activity with some
handwriting practice. Take a look below at how easy it is to toss in some quick
handwriting work.
easy to implement during therapy sessions and packs a big therapeutic punch. What therapist doesn’t enjoy those elements
for a therapy activity?
This post was written by Regina Allen. Read about Regina in her Contributor Author Spotlight.
