Create your own desktop easel in order to support children who struggle with stabilizing their trunk while using their arms and hands. Try taping paper to a table or a small desktop easel for stability. The angle of the easel promotes hand and arm strengthening (holding the arm up against gravity).
What You Need:
- Medium size cardboard box
- Duct tape and scotch tape
- Scissors or box cutter
- Paint (*optional: flour or cornstarch to thicken the paint)
- Paper
What To Do:
- Open up the box and cut off one of the small sides of the box.
- Fold the two cut sides together to form a triangle shape and duct tape along the edge.
- Attach paper for your child to paint on using scotch tape.
- *Optional: mix a little flour or cornstarch into the paint to thicken it. This provides more resistance and feedback.
Modify books to make it easier for your child to turn the pages. This helps with the development of eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills,
What You Need:
Clothespins or popsicle sticks
What To Do:
- Choose a board book that your infant enjoys looking at.
- Secure clothespins or popsicle sticks to the corner of each page to make it easier for him to grasp and turn the page.
- Point out the pictures and allow him to turn the page when he is ready.
Providing access to activities that promote cooperative play and support interactions helps to build success and has a lasting impact later in life.
What You Need:
- Parachute or sheet
- Ball(s)
What To Do:
- Play this game with your child and at least two other players.
- Have everyone stand around the parachute or sheet and use both hands to hold it tightly at waist level.
- Lift the parachute up above their heads and down again.
- Next, add a ball to the middle of the sheet. Tell the players to work together to keep the ball from falling by shaking the sheet.
- If your child has difficulty grasping the side of the sheet, add a handle using a hair scrunchie by securing the corner of the sheet around the scrunchi
Have your child help make this healthy and delicious treat!
What You Need:
1 cup quick oats
1 large overripe banana mashed to a liquid-like consistency
1/2 cup chocolate chips
What To Do:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Have keiki mash the banana. (*If keiki struggles with grasping the fork, try a potato masher).
- In a large bowl, add oats and mashed bananas. Mix with a fork until it becomes an evenly mixed, thick batter.
- Mix in chocolate chips.
- Have keiki shape 8 round balls out of the cookie batter. (*If the texture is challenging for keiki, use a baggie to shape the balls).
- Place onto baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart. Gently press down on each ball so that it flattens into a round disc.
- Bake for about 15 minutes or until cookies are lightly brown and set.
