The weather is pretty nice outside right now and perfect for picnicking—-in your back yard, porch, or on your living room floor 🙂

Enjoy the activities our OT, PT, and SLP have come up with for you this week!

 

 

 

 

SENSORY

This week our focus is on tactile (TOUCH) input. For this activity you need sunscreen (if you are going outside) or plain lotion (if staying inside). If you are using scented lotion, be sure you let your child SMELL the lotion.

Rather than a quick slather, gently massage the lotion on to your child’s arms, legs, etc. concentrating on each body part as you go.  Go slowly and talk about the body part you are applying the lotion to—perhaps even make up a little song to go with it!

 

 

GROSS MOTOR

Whether you have your picnic inside or outside include some games.  There are many kinds of games you can play.  I looked online and found lots.  There are games for inside and outside.  There are games that include water (for a hot day) and items that you have around the house.

Play some sort of a game where you have to throw an object to a target.  Games like horseshoes, washers, corn hole, ring toss, or bowling.  Use what you have from home to play your game.  You could use bean bags, foam balls, swim rings, laundry baskets, boxes, cones, recycled plastic bottles, etc.  If you want to challenge your child’s balance have them stand on a pillow while throwing objects to the target.  If you are outside, you could use water balloons and buckets.  These could all be played while sitting or standing.  You could also play by having your child reach to place an object in a container while they are seated in their wheelchair or chair.  Move the target up high, down low, to the side, forward, etc. to place the object in/on the target (bucket, box, cone, etc.).  Have them cross midline and use both hands.

Also, include a game that requires running.   Games such as relay races (there are many online that include water balloons and sponges if it is a hot day), freeze tag, red light green light, hide and seek, or kick ball.  If your child is in a wheelchair and they can self propel their chair, have them push their chair to play the game.  If they are unable to push their chair, have a sibling be their partner and move them as the game requires.

Try a game that involves gross motor movements such as sack races, hopscotch, and obstacle courses.  Make your own hopscotch path using sidewalk chalk or hula hoops.  You can also use sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, pool noodles, cones, etc. to make an obstacle course for your child to move through.

Maybe, end the day with a scavenger hunt to find a hidden sweet treat.  Have fun and enjoy!

 

 

 

 

FINE MOTOR

Have fun blowing bubbles! If you are doing this inside, you probably want to have a towel handy to wipe up spills. As the bubbles drift into the air, encourage your child to follow them with their eyes. Ask them to catch them by waving their arms, clapping the bubbles between their hands, poking them with a finger, or even isolating the index finger and thumb to “pinch” the bubbles.

Hold the bubble container and ask your child to dip the wand in to work on eye hand coordination. If you are really brave, let your child hold the container——make sure to have that towel handy 🙂

Blowing bubbles is a simple but oh so much fun activity—-enjoy!

 

 

 

 

LANGUAGE

The weather is so beautiful right now and PERFECT for a picnic!  Here’s an activity you can do inside or outside: What Should We Bring To The Picnic

Talk with your child about the different things that they might want to eat at a picnic.  There are picture supports in the link above.  You can use the picture symbols of food that are in the link or you can cut food out from magazines.

Since you won’t be too far from home while on your picnic, here’s a little recipe that doesn’t require many ingredients and will be yummy to have when it’s hot outside.  Take a look at the recipe to see our students putting this treat together from 2018 🙂  Here’s a link to the recipe: Lets Make Strawberry Sorbet

 

 

 

 

 

LITERACY

We suggest this book from January 2015: The Little Brown Owl Makes a Healthy Snack

And this book from this book from October 2013: Who Did Alice See

 

 

Join us next time for more fun and home learning—-Group by Group!

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