OT/PTFuntastic Times May 2009 Vol. 1 • A Publication of Allegheny Intermediate Unit Occupational and Physical Therapy Services Program

SUMMER — FUN IN THE SUN Home program activities for your child from your child’s school-based occupational and physical therapists. Enclosed you will find creative ideas for home that will help your child retain skills learned in school. To enhance your child’s specific skills refer to the personalized home program for which your child’s occupational and physical therapist have prepared and reference them with the ideas in the Funtastic Times. Remember to schedule new activities ahead of time if structure and scheduling are especially important to your child. Have a wonderful fun filled and safe summer with family and friends.

REMEMBER TO SUPERVISE CHILDREN WHEN COOKING IN THE KITCHEN

Playdough Recipes Make several colors of playdough for eye appeal. Use small cookie cutters to make shapes, or roll small balls in fingertips. Hide small objects in clay and then try to find them.

Gluten/Caseine-Free Dough 2 cups gluten-free baking soda 1 cup cornstarch 1-¼ cups water

Mix all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. The mixture will looklike mashed potatoes. Form clay into shapes. Let dry 36 hours, then paint and seal, if desired.

Easy Morning Sundaes 1 cup fresh blueberries, grapes, fresh strawberries, and/or 2 small bananas, peeled 6 - 8 oz. carton vanilla low-fat yogurt 1 cup ready-to-eat unsweetened cereal such as bran cereal flakes, round toasted oat cereal, and/or oat square cereal

Cut the strawberries/bananas into bite-size pieces. Divide the yogurt in half and spooneach half into a serving bowl. Divide cereal and fruit in half and put into bowlswith yogurt. Serve right away. Makes 2 servings.

Apple Nachos1 small apple2 - 3 strawberries 1 tablespoon shredded or flaked coconut (if you like)1 tablespoon vanilla low-fat yogurt

Cut apple into slices and the strawberries into bite size pieces and arrange on the serving plate. If you like, sprinkle with coconut. Top with yogurt. Makes 1-2 servings.

475 East Waterfront Drive • Pittsburgh, PA 15120 • (412) 394-5700 • www.aiu3.net

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit is an equal opportunity education institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, handicap, or limited English proficiency in its educational programs, services, facilities, activities or employment practices, as required by Title IX of the1972 Educational Amendments, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended, Section 504 Regulations of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, Section 204 Regulations of the 1984 Carl D. Perkins Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, or any other applicable federal or state statute.

Shopping Tips for Purchasinga School BackpackLook for the following:

— Wide, padded shoulder straps – Narrow straps can dig into the shoulders and cause pain and restrict circulation.— Two shoulder straps – One strap that runs across the body cannot distribute the weight evenly.— Padded back – This protects against sharp edges on objects inside the pack and increases comfort.— Waist strap – This can distribute the weight of a heavy load more evenly.— Lightweight backpack - Should not add much weight to the load.— Rolling backpack – This may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs and may be difficult to roll in the snow.

To prevent injury when using your backpack, see the following advice:— Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one

shoulder may increase curvature of the spine.— Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body. The straps should hold the pack two inches above the waist.— Pack light; it should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student’s total body weight.— Organize the backpack to make use of all its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back.— Bend using both knees, when bending down. Do not bend over at the waist when wearing or lifting a heavy backpack.

Learn back-strengthening exercises to build up the muscles used to carry a backpack.

On-line Resources for Keyboarding Skillswww.fundbrain.com./kidscenter.html

www.goodtyping.comwww.customtyping.com

www.typingtest.com/testwww.typingtest.com/games

On-line Resources for Handwritingwww.hwtears.com

On-line Resources for Activities for Daily Living Skillswww.Hot-Ideas.org

On-line Resources for Fun Filled Cooking Recipeswww.familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids

SAVE THE DATEUpcoming Events

2009 – 2010

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit will be hosting Summer Camps.

More information to follow throughout the

school year.

Writing on a vertical surface like the back of a door on large paper helps develop visual tracking skills and strengthens the muscles of the upper body, arms, wrists and hands. This builds a strong foundation for handwriting skills.

Coloring, drawing, painting

— Use a vertical surface such as an easel or wall-mounted paper to help strengthen the whole arm. This is an important foundation skill for writing. — Try using soap foam or shaving cream on the shower wall. — Use a short-pile carpet square as a chalk board. It erases with a brush of the hand. — Use a foam packaging noodle as a paintbrush.

mOTivational oPTionsTreasure Hunt Fill container with dry rice, beans, flour, sugar, sand, etc Hide small objects in the media and have your child search for the buried treasure. Try this with eyes closed for a greater challenge and have them reach into the container to feel for the item.

Zoomball Players pass the zoomball to each other along cords by moving handles apart, then together. It develops coordination, motor planning, bilateral coordination, team work, timing and strength. This toy comes in several sizes and there is even one to use in the pool. The smallest is a keychain model that promotes finger extension.

The following activities promote strengthening of the small muscles of the hands, coordination of the two sides of the body and brain, and developmental hand skills.

Tweezers — Play the games Operation and Bed Bugs

— Tissue paper pictures: tear small pieces of tissue paper, roll/squeeze into pellets and glue to a picture. Use tweezers and tongs to pick up and place the pellets. — Stain glass projects (available at Michael’s Craft Store, Jo Ann Fabrics). Use tweezers to pick up and place the small plastic pellets.

Writing — Have your child write out shopping lists, keep a journal, write notes to family

and friends, copy recipes. — Have child trace shapes or use templates.

Bead Stringing, Sewing, and Lacing — Make sure beads are large enough for your child to handle easily so as to limit frustration. — Use a hole puncher to punch holes around a picture, then lace — Use decorative hole punchers to make pictures — Macrame jewelry is challenging for older children

Games for hand skills and eye-hand coordination — Jacks, pickup sticks, spinning tops, cards, pegs, and marbles, Don’t Break the Ice game

Puzzles — Start with simple puzzles and move to more complex ones, based on the child’s ability.

Building — Constructing things is a great activity for fine motor skills and sequencing. — Magnetix, Lego building sets and craft construction kits. — Use toothpicks and non toxic glue to construct shapes and make three-D designs.

Outdoor activities promote overall development, strengthening, coordination and endurance.Swimming — Practice strokes and play water games

Playground — Encourage climbing, swinging, pull-up and push-up activities

Cross crawl — Have your child alternately move one arm and it’s opposite leg, reaching in various directions. Touch one hand to the opposing knee or foot. This exercise accesses both sides of the brain and improves left/right coordination. It also improves visual motor skills. Put on some catchy music for dance beat.

Jump rope, hopscotch

Hand stands, crab and animal walking — Strengthens upper body

Bike riding, roller skating

Sidewalk chalk — Turn your driveway or sidewalk into a drawing surface. Practice letter/number formation, drawing of shapes.

Spray bottle games — Squirt each other on a hot day. Use food coloring in the water to spray designs onto large sheets of paper or on the cement. The gripping action develops the small muscles of the hand.

Figure 8’s — Drawing a figure 8 activates and integrates both eyes. This is great for improving the eye mechanics needed for reading. A fun activity is to attach a crepe paper streamer to a dowel rod and use it to draw large figure 8’s in the air. You can do this with the rhythm of the music. Draw figure 8’s, using chalk on large paper, driveway, sidewalk, or in the sand.

The Elephant — Once your child has mastered drawing a Figure 8 design, try this exercise. Have your child stand with knees comfortable bent. Bend head to the side “gluing” it to the shoulder. Point arm out to side, and have your child move his hand, arm, body, and head as one. As they move in one unit, have them move around in a figure 8, with their eyes focusing on their hand. This exercise is good for integrating vision, depth perception, relaxing the neck, and it activates the inner ear for improving balance.

Ball games — Baseball, miniature golf, bowling, playing catch, tennis. Use a lightweight ball such as a wiffle ball.

Wheelbarrow walking — Promotes endurance and attention; weight bearing on hands and arms is great for fine motor development. — hold your child at the ankles or knees or thighs, depending on how much work the child can do (holding at the ankles is the hardest) and what is comfortable for you and your child. — have your child pick up objects from different points of interest and place them in a bucket or target of choice.

All activities should be noncompetitive and follow rulesfor safety such as wearing helmets, knee and elbow

pads as required for biking and roller skating.