Plastic bottle creations

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Barbara Smith

I had no idea how smart Micky is! He is blind, developmentally disabled, on the autistic spectrum and only uses a handful of words. When he first entered the day program, at age 22 years Micky refused to touch any objects. His tactile defensiveness is so severe that he receives nutrition via a G-tube because he does not tolerate food inside his mouth. I designed activities that were simple to perform and tolerable to touch. Objects are plastic, wooden or rubber because he dislikes soft textures. Stacking Activities, Sensory Defensiveness, Tactile Defensiveness, Commercial Stairs, Therapy Books, Round Things, Wooden Creations, Balloon Creations, Oral Motor

Stacking Activities

Sensory Defensiveness

Tactile Defensiveness

Blind Individual with Developmental Disabilities Learns to use a Hole Puncher

I had no idea how smart Micky is! He is blind, developmentally disabled, on the autistic spectrum and only uses a handful of words. When he first entered the day program, at age 22 years Micky refused to touch any objects. His tactile defensiveness is so severe that he receives nutrition via a G-tube because he does not tolerate food inside his mouth. I designed activities that were simple to perform and tolerable to touch. Objects are plastic, wooden or rubber because he dislikes soft textures.

a paper plate with an image of a fish in red, white and blue on it

Homemade Stencils

Etch A Sketch

Creating Pictures with Magnets and Stencils

Here is a simple to make and use fine-motor activity for children or individuals with disabilities of any age. All you need is1) A magnetic surface2) Small magnetic pieces3) A stencilI happened to have flat magnetic puzzle boards that were too difficult for many of my clients to use so I cut them up into the small yellow, red and blue pieces that are shown in the video. You may purchase pretty magnets or plain ones that you pretty up with tape. Individualize according to your child or client’s f

This client is nonverbal but wants to communicate. He frequently pulls on the staff’s sleeves and places their hand on top of his head to indicate wanting it rubbed. He also likes cookies and music. The speech therapist taped the 3 pictures onto the table so that they are always available to use to communicate his desires. He is still learning to point to a picture rather than pull on someone’s sleeves but with consistency and practice, he is learning how to use a communication board. Over time, Communication Board

Communication Board

Picture Communication Board and Developmental Disabilities

This client is nonverbal but wants to communicate. He frequently pulls on the staff’s sleeves and places their hand on top of his head to indicate wanting it rubbed. He also likes cookies and music. The speech therapist taped the 3 pictures onto the table so that they are always available to use to communicate his desires. He is still learning to point to a picture rather than pull on someone’s sleeves but with consistency and practice, he is learning how to use a communication board. Over time,

a man is holding something in his hand while standing next to a sink with the handles down

Flat Rings

Ring Stacks

Stringing Ring Stack Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

I came across a small patio-type table minus the top. It has 4 curved legs that I immediately thought would make awesome ring stacks. I have a lot of experience cutting up plastic containers to make flat rings. I like these better than 3-dimensional rings because they don’t roll away and they take up less space when stacking or storing materials. I cut simple shapes in blue, white, purple and yellow to resemble familiar objects such as bananas, boats, berries, fish, ghosts and snowmen. Place the

A parent gave me a large amount of extra medical tubing and I have found lots of uses! This activity works on eye-hand coordination, reaching above eye level and lots of great sensory movement. The individual in the video likes to move both high and low and across the room. He really does not like to sit. He has very good eye-hand coordination to insert small objects into the open end of the tubing and the cognitive skills not to eat them.Materials required:1) 2 small clear plastic bottles with Sensory Motor, Sensory Stimulation

Sensory Motor

Sensory Stimulation

Sensory-Motor Bead Insertion Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

A parent gave me a large amount of extra medical tubing and I have found lots of uses! This activity works on eye-hand coordination, reaching above eye level and lots of great sensory movement. The individual in the video likes to move both high and low and across the room. He really does not like to sit. He has very good eye-hand coordination to insert small objects into the open end of the tubing and the cognitive skills not to eat them.Materials required:1) 2 small clear plastic bottles with

I designed the following sensory activity with a specific individual in mind. This is an individual who enjoys shaking, tossing or squeezing sensory-based objects such as squeeze balls. He has been very on edge due to the Christmas holiday and upcoming 10-day break. Many of my adult clients with developmental disabilities love the structure and predictability of a day program- Monday through Friday. They find routine changes a bit scary and discombobulating. I expect BIG smiles when they come ma Ripping Sensory Activities, Tubular Fabric Occupational Therapy, Tactile Stimulation

Ripping Sensory Activities

Tubular Fabric Occupational Therapy

Tactile Stimulation

Rocking Chair/Weighted Fine-Motor Activity for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

I designed the following sensory activity with a specific individual in mind. This is an individual who enjoys shaking, tossing or squeezing sensory-based objects such as squeeze balls. He has been very on edge due to the Christmas holiday and upcoming 10-day break. Many of my adult clients with developmental disabilities love the structure and predictability of a day program- Monday through Friday. They find routine changes a bit scary and discombobulating. I expect BIG smiles when they come ma

a black cat sitting on top of a green christmas tree next to a red can

Eye Hand Coordination Activities

Coordination Activities

Desk At Work

Christmas Tree Eye-Hand Coordination Activity using Tie Wraps

I started playing around with tie wraps when I found a large container of them anonymously donated and placed on my desk at work. Pushing tie wraps through holes works on many skills.1) They need to be inserted with the narrow end entering the hole since the fatter end prevents the tie wrap from going all the way through. If that happens simple attach a little duct tape to make one end larger. I love watching children or my clients problem solving.....2) Attaching the tie wraps works on bilatera

My client, a young lady with developmental disabilities hates to get her hands wet, especially when assisted to wash her hands. My goal is to increase her exposure to having wet hands so that she increases her tolerance to washing them. I have had some success placing a preferred object in a sink filled with water so that she wets her hands while retrieving it. However, she hates to be in the bathroom in general and is happier in the program room. Therefore, I also like the activity shown in the Wet Hands

Wet Hands

How to Decrease Tactile Defensiveness to Water

My client, a young lady with developmental disabilities hates to get her hands wet, especially when assisted to wash her hands. My goal is to increase her exposure to having wet hands so that she increases her tolerance to washing them. I have had some success placing a preferred object in a sink filled with water so that she wets her hands while retrieving it. However, she hates to be in the bathroom in general and is happier in the program room. Therefore, I also like the activity shown in the

Many people including myself enjoy the feeling of rubbing a brush against the arms and hands. I received training decades ago on how to administer the Wilbarger Protocol that involves rubbing with a surgical brush every 2 hours to decrease tactile defensiveness. I find the hair brush purchased from the Dollar Store much more calming. The hair brush provides a greater amount of stimulation. I can barely feel the surgical brush when I rub it on my arms. I tied one of these hairbrushes to a client’ Sensory Brushing Technique, Sensory Brushing, Toys For Visual Impairment, Tactile Games For Blind, Stimulus Control Transfer Aba

Sensory Brushing Technique

Sensory Brushing

Toys For Visual Impairment

Tactile Games For Blind

Stimulus Control Transfer Aba

Brush Stringing for Sensory Processing Disorders

Many people including myself enjoy the feeling of rubbing a brush against the arms and hands. I received training decades ago on how to administer the Wilbarger Protocol that involves rubbing with a surgical brush every 2 hours to decrease tactile defensiveness. I find the hair brush purchased from the Dollar Store much more calming. The hair brush provides a greater amount of stimulation. I can barely feel the surgical brush when I rub it on my arms. I tied one of these hairbrushes to a client’

Baby Development Activities

Crazy Straws

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Crazy Straw Ring Stack to Develop Fine-Motor Skills

A blind client with very good dexterity enjoys attaching the small rings to the crazy straws. She is a pro! This is a great activity for developing motor planning skills and refining dexterity. Some individuals will enjoy color matching. I purchased the straws in a set of 6 different colors. Your child or client may enjoy matching all six colors. Cut the rings out of the vibrant plastic bottles that remain after using detergent or dishwasher soap. These rings can also be used for stringing. I lo

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Reuse plastic bottles

Recycled crafts

Motor planning

Plastic bottle art

Recycle plastic bottles

Ahhhh (or should I say moooooo)- it's always sweet to watch the baby-mother bond! I loved breast-feeding my baby 31 years ago. He was a very sensitive, fussy baby who was difficult to soothe. Even though I am an occupational therapist and worked for 2 years in an early intervention program (I went into labor on my last day of employment there) I had no idea that not all babies cried so frequently, wanted to nursed all the time and took hours of settling down to sleep and then woke up 3 hours lat Mother's Milk

Mother's Milk

Calf Loves Mother's Milk!

Ahhhh (or should I say moooooo)- it's always sweet to watch the baby-mother bond! I loved breast-feeding my baby 31 years ago. He was a very sensitive, fussy baby who was difficult to soothe. Even though I am an occupational therapist and worked for 2 years in an early intervention program (I went into labor on my last day of employment there) I had no idea that not all babies cried so frequently, wanted to nursed all the time and took hours of settling down to sleep and then woke up 3 hours lat

I made this video almost 10 years ago when I was providing low vision services in home care settings. I hope that this information continues to help other therapists and patients. The best part is that Medicare pays for these services! If you or someone you care about has low vision, please share this video packed with information about home care services that may help them to be more independent and enjoy life. I found that many eye doctors (ophthalmologists and optometrists) did not know that Low Vision Occupational Therapy, Be More Independent, Home Care Services

Low Vision Occupational Therapy

Be More Independent

Home Care Services

Low Vision Occupational Therapy

I made this video almost 10 years ago when I was providing low vision services in home care settings. I hope that this information continues to help other therapists and patients. The best part is that Medicare pays for these services! If you or someone you care about has low vision, please share this video packed with information about home care services that may help them to be more independent and enjoy life. I found that many eye doctors (ophthalmologists and optometrists) did not know that

Some children and individuals with disabilities are easily overwhelmed when there are a large number of materials around. The task seems endless! I find that it helps to set up materials so that it’s obvious that the activity won’t last too long and the end is in sight….. Filling up sections in a pill box or other sectioned container is a great for individuals with short attention spans.The pill box shown in the video has 17 sections, but you can find one with less to makes success easier. You m Short Attention Span

Short Attention Span

Color Matching Pill Box Activity for Developmentally Disabled

Some children and individuals with disabilities are easily overwhelmed when there are a large number of materials around. The task seems endless! I find that it helps to set up materials so that it’s obvious that the activity won’t last too long and the end is in sight….. Filling up sections in a pill box or other sectioned container is a great for individuals with short attention spans.The pill box shown in the video has 17 sections, but you can find one with less to makes success easier. You m

These “lollipop” rings are versatile while working on many different motor, cognitive, language and other skills. I have previously shared videos of activities that involve weaving in and out on various boards/shapes or long strands of plastic or fabric textures with slits or holes cut out of them for inserting, stringing or lacing. I share videos below that demonstrate how to make and use these types of activities.This video demonstrates how I simplified the task so that success would be easier Body Awareness

Body Awareness

Lollipop Lacing Rings Develop Fine-Motor Skills

These “lollipop” rings are versatile while working on many different motor, cognitive, language and other skills. I have previously shared videos of activities that involve weaving in and out on various boards/shapes or long strands of plastic or fabric textures with slits or holes cut out of them for inserting, stringing or lacing. I share videos below that demonstrate how to make and use these types of activities.This video demonstrates how I simplified the task so that success would be easier

This activity provides a new "twist" to lacing. To begin, cut a spiral shape as demonstrated in this video: https://rumble.com/v60wky-how-to-make-spring-rings-for-fine-motor-activities.htmlUse a heavy-duty hole puncher to make holes. Tie a string to one end, suspend and voila you are ready for developing dexterity!This activity can be adapted by:1)Use tie wraps instead of string to increase challenge2)Use firmer cord instead of string to make easier3) Enlarge the holes by cutting around the hole Hole Puncher, Developmental Disabilities

Hole Puncher

Developmental Disabilities

Spiral Lacing for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

This activity provides a new "twist" to lacing. To begin, cut a spiral shape as demonstrated in this video: https://rumble.com/v60wky-how-to-make-spring-rings-for-fine-motor-activities.htmlUse a heavy-duty hole puncher to make holes. Tie a string to one end, suspend and voila you are ready for developing dexterity!This activity can be adapted by:1)Use tie wraps instead of string to increase challenge2)Use firmer cord instead of string to make easier3) Enlarge the holes by cutting around the hole