Finger Lakes Therapy Works, PLLC

Absolutely LOVE this idea! We will definitely be bundling up when the sun comes out and doing this! Fun for the kiddos and adults

Let’s walk!! Today was one of those days that doing a fun activity or craft just didn’t happen (and that’s ok)! Simple,every day things, such as going for a walk, can be just as fun and enriching! Some suggestions:... 1. Make a scavenger hunt!! Find leaves, acorns, spot cars of different colors! Lots of things to search for outside. 2. Encourage your child to do different gross motor skills- hop, skip, jump, run, walk, walk backwards etc. 3. Talk about all the different things you see- trees, leaves, animals 4. Practice following directions! You could even play Simon Says. Simon says stop Simon says touch your toes Simon says hop 3 times 5. Sing songs while you walk! Wheels on the bus and If You’re Happy and you Know it are our favorites! Encourage your child to imitate motor movements such as clapping or stomping feet while singing. 6. Encourage the use of pointing by modeling pointing to things along your walk look, I see a dog (point). We hope there will be many more opportunities for walking soon!

Therapy Space! Check out how we turned this DIY Easter activity into a great strengthening exercise - Shoulder stability and upper body strength which improves fine motor skills... - midline crossing which improves bilateral coordination (using both hands together) - color identification/ color matching, following directions, language - having a target activity helps to improve a child's attention and follow-through - using the tongs helps to develop important muscles of the hand and wrist that we use when writing and cutting How can you do this at home? Grab a cookie tray, different bowls for sorting, themed objects like easter eggs or just different types of toys (blocks, cars, animals etc).... grab a playground ball big enough for your child to lay over , have them sort the objects by type, color etc. Make sure they are using their arms and core muscles to balance themselves and give rest breaks as they need it. Try cleanup using the tong idea for some added challenge and muscle strengthening.

Edible play dough!! We used 1 can of vanilla frosting and about 3 cups of powdered sugar to make this homemade play dough! William had a great time helping me make the play dough (he snuck a few tastes which is the beauty of this play dough because that’s totally fine!) Some ideas to make this an even better learning experience: ... 1. Use food coloring to make different colored play dough! Label the different colors for your kiddo! 2. We used a mixer to make the play dough, but you could let your kiddo mix by hand for an even messier and more fun sensory experience! Kiddos are washable 3. Make different shapes, animals etc with cookie cutters 4. Have your kiddo use words, signs, gestures or a combo of all of those things to request the different cookie cutters or more play dough. You can hold on to the play dough and cookie cutters in a baggie or box in order to facilitate this interaction and need for them to communicate with you to request more. 5. Put beads or marbles in the play dough and have your kiddo get them out to practice fine motor skills 6. Talk about how the play dough feels- sticky, cold, mushy etc. 7. Let your child taste the play dough and talk about how it is sweet! 8. Use the play dough to encourage pretend play. You could make pretend food and play restaurant or make animals and pretend they are eating the foods. Have fun!!!