Silly Putty: by Crafts for Kids, PBS

We here use theraputty with different levels of putty strength to increase the muscles in our hands and fingers. Silly Putty is a wonderful tool used to support developing dexterity skills.

Ingredients:

• Elmer's Glue-All multipurpose glue
• Sta-Flo concentrated liquid starch
• Food coloring

Directions:

1. Mix entire glue bottle and food coloring
2. Pour the liquid starch into the mixture (the same amount as the glue)
3. Stir and let stand for 5 minutes
4. Pull the putty out of the mixing bowl and set it on a paper towel. Knead the putty in your hands for five to ten minutes.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/homemade-silly-putty/

DIY Playdough: by Artsy Farts Momma

Who doesn't like to create shapes and objects with soft playdough? This activity helps developing fine motor skills with pinching and smoothing the fingers to shape the dough.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 2 tbsp cream of tartar
• gel food coloring

Directions:

1. Pour the water and vegetable oil in a saucepan. Add in the flour, salt, cream of tartar and a teaspoon or two of gel food coloring. Lightly stir together to combine.
2. *The dough will end up being about the same color that it is now, so add more food coloring now if you want the color to be richer/brighter.
3. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly. It should be done in about 4-5 minutes. Because you might panic and think you've ruined it, here is a breakdown of what it looks like throughout the cooking process:
4. Minute 1: The mixture will combine, and look smooth and beautiful!
5. Minute 2: You'll start to get chunks. Make sure to keep scraping the bottom and edges of the pan to prevent any pieces from burning.
6. Minute 3: This is where you might begin to worry that you've messed it up. Looks like a clumpy mess. Don't panic! Just keep stirring!!
7. Minute 4: The dough will start to form into a ball. You'll know when it's ready when it's not sticky and pulls away from the pan. You can test by pressing the dough with your fingers. It will be hot!
8. Remove the dough from the pan and place on a plate to cool.
9. Once cool, knead the dough. This can be done by you or little helpers!
10. To store, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in a sealed container.

http://www.artsyfartsymama.com/2013/03/diy-playdough.html

Cloud Dough: by Play, Create, Explore

This craft is great texture wise. The dough is extremely mold-able and resembles Moon Dough (found in most stores). This is one of the simplest and most enjoyable projects.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups of flour
• 1 (to 1 1/3) cup of baby oil

Directions:

1. Mix ingredients together in a plastic container (we found that under the bed storage container works very well!)
2. Enjoy making cloud castles!

http://www.playcreateexplore.com/2012/01/cloud-dough-is-awesome.html

DIY Funky Gak

Ingredients:

    1 cup of Elmer’s glue
    1 cup of water (additionally 1/3 cup will be used later)
    Food coloring (add more drops for a more vivid coloring. Note-this may stain, so don’t leave it in the sun!)
    1 teaspoon of borax

Directions:

1. Mix borax and 1 cup water together.
2. Mix glue and 1/3 cup water
3. Combine both mixtures, and stir until gak forms

Sensory Olympics

This article was found online via Better Homes and Gardens. It’s a fun and neat way to incorporate new senses in a safe environment.

Check out the link: http://www.bhg.com/health-family/activities/games/host-a-sensory-olympics-to-sharpen-kids-senses/

Sensory Sand Box

Looking for a fun and easy sensory activity for summer? Try this do-it-yourself sensory sand box! You can use a small inflatable or plastic outdoor pool. If you’re looking to advance fine motor skills, fill the box with sand and a variety of uncooked beans. Hide small objects like toy trucks, lego pieces and marbles. Complete the search with a small bucket (for collecting treasures), and two “digging tools”. These tools should be a spoon (for exceptional fine motor tuning), and a can (for a medium to large grasp). 

If you’re looking for a texture based sensory box, fill the pool with bubble water and shaving cream. You should add the same objects as the dry sensory sand box. 

Considerations for the Motor Impaired Child

When sitting down to play with a child with a motor impairment, one of the first things to think about is the skill level of your child. Can he/she grasp independently and release the ball into a maze? How high can he/she reach? Can he/she use a switch or vocalize to request “help” or “more”? 

The next thing to consider is positioning. Ask yourself what position is the most functional for your child. Can he reach high enough to place the ball at the top? Does she have enough trunk support to vocalize?

·        You may need to adjust the height of the toy to make it easier for your child to reach.

·        A non-verbal child can use a point or eye gaze to request a ball or to choose the color of the ball. You may want to use photographs for increasing the level of representation or to begin early matching.

·        Try to position yourself so that you can easily make eye contact with your child and follow their gaze.

Searching the City

Summer time is coming up quick! Are you prepared for all the day camps, bike rides, and community events? This can be an overwhelming time for parents. Children have no school to attend, and tend to flock toward the neighbors. One of the most extensive resources that can help a parent plan a day in Portland is Savvy Parent. This website allows you to select the city, and type of activity you are interested in.  It’s extremely comprehensive and an easy tool to use. Check it out!

http://www.savvysource.com/events/or/portland