Bean Bags

Toss bean bags to parnter.
Count how many times you can clap while the bean bag is in the air.

Additional Fun:
Count how many times your can spin/turn while bean bag is in the air.

Adapted Pumpkin Carving

For those little ones that need a little more help making a Jack O Lantern at Halloween, here are my suggestions for a successful pumpkin experience....

1. Endure the mess of the pumpkin - EMBRACE the goo!! (see sensory post) Use the hands, not the scoopers and/or spoons
2. Instead of using a knife to cut the pumpkin, here are some alternative that the child can do with less assistance from mom/dad/family/etc.

MY FAVORITE : This is made by Pumpkin Masters and is currently VERY difficult to find. I recently purchased some online to have in my "stash" for therapy during Halloween time. Using the punch outs elimiates the need for precise fine motor skills, but yeilds a nice, clean result. The metal stencil is punched through the pumpkin with the wooden hammer. I LOVE THESE!

MY OTHER FAVORITE

Another Pumpkin Masters, this kit uses the same concept as the punch outs, but uses pegs (like Light Brite) to create a face or picture on a pumpkin. Another GREAT adapatation for pumpkin carving!

Clothespins

Clothespins work the fingers and hands. Have the child squeeze the clothespin with the thumb and pointer finger to open and close the clothespin. You can have your child help you actually put clothes up to dry or have them put clothespins on the rim of a container.

Put In

Use an old food container (cool whip, butter, sour cream, etc) and cut a circle in the top. You can judge the circle size based on what you want the child to put in the container and how much you want them to push it in. For example, if you put in cotton balls, I would make the circle cut out smaller than the cotton ball to help the child push and work at putting in.

Color!

With my classroom starting a unit on colors, it's a perfect opportunity to create "color" necklaces from beads. Depending on your child's age and skill level, different sized beads may work more effectively than others. My students, who are identified being at least one year behind with their fine motor skills, will be beading with pony beads. Skill level also determines what type of string or twine you use. The smaller and bender the string the more difficult the task.

Tissue Paper Fun

A fun way to use leftover peices of tissue paper is to rip it into small peices, roll into balls with the thumb and first fingers, and put the tissue paper balls on glue.

For example, I recently printed out a Blue's Clues pictures (coloring book blank) of Blue and used blue tissue paper to fill in Blue.

Controlling the glue as it comes outside the bottle is also good fine motor practice.

:)

Fall Leaves Fun

Now that leaves are falling to ground, here's some fun activities to promote fine motor development:
1. Rubbings with crayons over leaves
2. Peel off leaf stickers and put on tree picture
3. Use finger paints and create fall pictures
4. Crunch leaves in fingers

Shopping List

When developing your shopping list, give you child her/his own paper and crayon so that they can create a list, too! Allow them to write whatever they create with the crayon and ask them to interpret for you what they've written. To connect this activity with actual experiences, pick up some of the items that child has "written".

"Written" may include pictures, scribbles, made up letters, etc. Anything counts when the child is exploring writing experiences.

* Activities should be monitored by an adult to ensure safety.

Coupon Cutting

On Sunday, share coupon cutting time with your child and have them help you cut out the coupons. If they cannot yet cut on the line, allow them to pretend cutting out the coupons by cutting the paper in places where you don't need the coupons.

Remember, use child sized, safe scissors and keep the thumb up when cutting.

* Activities should be monitored by an adult to ensure safety.

Introduction

This is the first post on this blog designed to provide fun activities to promote fine motor skill development.