This year we are working on independent work behaviors. Centers is a perfect time to work on skills such as visual and joint attention, focus, and appropriate self-regulation for successful completion of activities.
We had a spook-tacular time on Halloween! We engaged in arts and crafts to paint a wooden witch and Frankenstein, working on fine motor skills (isolated finger movements and grasp pattern). We love healthy snacks! Halloween was a great opportunity to make a pumpkin out of a clementine and small piece of celery; and a ghost out of banana and chocolate chips. Our little Groot and astronaut Gummels brought cookies and a card to say goodbye to our favorite librarian, Mr. Jeffrey. We are so proud of his promotion, but he will be greatly missed!
Since Halloween was this week, we wanted to find out who liked Halloween in our community. We went to the Fire Station and Milton Library. Wyatt and AC had a chart that had the question “Do you like Halloween?”
Using a clipboard and pencil, they approached firefighters and patrons at the library and asked them “Do you like Halloween?” using a nice loud voice so the people could hear them. This activity allowed us to work on manners (saying ‘excuse me’ while walking up to someone), using an appropriate voice while asking the question and learning how to tally the answers. This was a great social experience and math activity all in one! When we got back to school we discussed the results.
We love using the Lycra swing during therapy time, and incorporating it into activities in our school day. We completed this activity during OT. Skills addressed during this task include visual scanning, fine motor skills and proximal stability (strengthen the shoulder for more precise movements in the hand), visual motor skills to look at the shaper sorter and then grade movement to place accurately, and strengthening of the upper extremities. So many therapeutic skills targeted in one activity! (OT (prone in swing, motor control and accuracy, visual motor))
