Summer Time Word Search

Summer Time
G Y A Z N C H O B C X V E H O K K G G A
T E B Z S T A N J B R M V B C X K S V B
A W D E Y Y A A R K R A L P J A U Z D V
V L R W C P S E Q K H X B J P R E P N F
F N T Q Q J D C H T B Z B B F H Q B A N
S D N E I R F O M O Y V G I I H O E L A
N Y T O W H A B O W P R N Y F N E T J Y
E L S A I L B O A T A G U S D R G A P X
F V X Z F N H Q U G V E G D T Y K K X X
P A A D O I L T A G G C Z I E D W K H X
F I Q S K Z D C A N W D P Y K H X U F S
F E F V T S F K Q P D V U A O E M G I C
Y I Q V M Q A U I G E S V F V Z H D S N
B A I D W V Q H N T G K N A X K W E H E
O P P G N P G Q Q P M M O K J Y C N I E
Q G T W T N I H C N E I O W J F O S N D
A J E F B I D A U Y H E E T D C A U G S
W U G M R G D G J O P E A N N D M N P R
H L T J B S B C Y W N I A U B E E G B C
P J F U N R R Y J A Y S J R N I W K S Q

Find: BEACH CRABBING FISHING
FRIENDS FUN HOT OCEAN
SAILBOAT SAND SUN SURFING

What is Sensory Integration??

Sensory integration theory proposes that sensory integration is a neurobiological process that organizes sensation from one’s own body and from the environment and makes it possible to use the body effectively within the environment. The spatial and temporal aspects of inputs from different sensory modalities are interpreted, associated, and unified. Sensory integration is information processing…Praxis and perception are both end products of sensory integration… Practic ability includes knowing what to do as well as how to do it. Practic skill is fundamental to purposeful activity”(Ayres, 1986 p. 9). The effectiveness of organism-environment transaction in promoting human development is partially dependent up on the inherent plasticity of the central nervous system. The brain, especially the young brain, is naturally malleable; structure and function become more firm and set with age. The formative capacity allows person-environment interaction to promote and enhance neurointegrative efficiency. A deficiency in the individual’s ability to engage effectively in this transaction at critical periods interferes with optimal brain development and consequent overall ability. Identifying the deficient areas at a young age and addressing them therapeutically can enhance the individual’s opportunity for normal development (Ayres, 1986 p.10). Definition taken from www.siglobalnetwork.org

Zoo Sticks, Rookie Sticks, Tongs

Zoo Sticks, Rookie Sticks, Tweezers and Tongs!
Whether you have zoo sticks, rookie sticks, tweezers or tongs you can do all of these activities. First, what’s the difference between these tools??
Zoo Sticks have an animal on top with long legs to make the tongs. Rookie sticks are long and thin with an “M” shaped top. Each of these are actually children’s chopsticks. Tweezers are available in various types and are going to be smaller with a pointier tip. Some are resistive, some squeeze to open, others squeeze to close. Tongs tend to be larger and thicker with a flat surface, so easier than tweezers or zoo/rookie sticks.
You can use these tools to pick up almost any small object: spiny balls, critter balls, cotton balls, pieces of scrunched paper, pop beads, M&M’s, beads, etc. The child can hold a small container (film canister, or paper towel tube with one end closed up) in the other hand to put the small objects into. Now you’re also working on bilateral hand use and crossing midline!
Other Uses:
Pick up and place pegs in a pegboard, while copying a pattern or making a design.
Use to move pieces during traditional board games.
When playing with putty; roll out the putty into a snake and use tool to pinch into an inch worm, or pick up small pieces of putty.
Have a rice/bean bucket or sand table? Use tongs to pick out hidden buttons/cotton balls/small plastic toys/beads or anything you’d like!
Make your own tongs!! With two Popsicle sticks, a rubber band, and a small piece of paper rolled into a ball! Place the ball on one end of the Popsicle stick and the rubber band around this side. You have a pair of tongs that you can change the position and resistance of.

Play Ideas for Home

Let’s re-visit: Houshold Items!
We have decided to focus on activities for the summer that you can do at home. Most families do not have swings and trampolines at home but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a sensory gym in your house. Some fun ideas with items around the house are:
1. Couch Cushions or Pillows
Take the cushions off the couch, pile them up on the floor and have your child jump on them as if it were a trampoline or crash mat. You can sing the ABC’s, or count while they jump.
Turn the cushions into an obstacle course- lay two on the floor to jump over, then one to hop around, and three in a row to walk across.
Pretend the cushions are stepping stones- lay them on the floor making a path, walk across “the river”. You can place objects on the floor for them to squat down and pick up along the way. It is a great way to work on balance.
Use cushions to provide some deep pressure- sandwich your child between two cushions and give a little squeeze. Pretend they’re a hot dog and the pillows are the bun or use a blanket and roll them up inside to make “kids in a blanket”.
2. Laundry
Have your child push/ carry the full laundry basket to and from the machine/dryer
Once the laundry is finished they can help match and fold each item. This is a great visual perceptual task.
3. Old magazines and newspapers
Before you throw them in the recycle bin, let your kids cut them up. They can help you cut coupons, cut out items with a theme and make a collage (some example themes are “things they like”, “Summertime” “Things that smell good”) , or just cut away until you have confetti!
Use the paper to play a basketball game- crumple and shoot to a can or laundry basket; add in some writing and math practice and keep score.
4. Egg Cartons
An egg carton is a great sorting dish. Color each space a different color and ask your kids to find one of their toys that match and place it in.
Or you can label them with letters (you need 2 cartons for the whole alphabet. You can cut letters out of the newspaper or magazines and have your kids match them to the appropriate cup. Or if you have magnetic letters, they will fit also. Make it difficult and have them find something around the house or just the kitchen that starts with each letter.
It also makes a great paint palette, so pour some paint and make a masterpiece! You can also go on a hunt for large rocks in a park or shells at the beach. Wash them off, they can paint them! (Remember Pet Rocks!)

How to Find Us

Mailing Address:PFOT P.O. Box 174 Morganville, N.J. 07751
Telephone Number:(732) 441-0404 or Toll Free 800-pfot-124
Fax Number: (732) 441-1422 Email Addresses:
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orders@pfot.com
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customerservice@pfot.com
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Home Page: http://www.pfot.com
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Who Are We?

PFOT, while still a small company, continues to grow and work hard to meet your needs. It was conceived and established in 1989 by us, Michelle Tobias and Ilene Goldkopf, and yes we are Occupational Therapists. Our initial goal was, and still is, to assist Occupational Therapists and others, concerned with the development of children, find the unique materials needed to provide effective, appropriate, motivating and fun, pediatric therapy and learning. That's why the catalog is arranged into catagories pertinent to develpment. This makes classroom, home programs and gift giving recommendations easier for you.
As therapists, we have over 35 years of combined experience in pediatrics & developmental disabilities. We are both Board Certified Pediatric OT's and are certified to administer the SIPT. We are coauthors of the book "OT GOALS (Goals & Objectives Associated with Learning)" published by Therapy Skillbuilders, Inc. We are also contributing authors to the book "Hand Function in the child: Foundations for Re-mediation" published by Mosby, Inc. and continually have projects underway.
We both continue to work full time as Occupational Therapists, servicing public schools in Central New Jersey, as well as private clients in our clinic. We are also pleased to be included in the new AOTA Pediatric Resource Guide. If you have any therapy-related questions, we'll try to help answer them or lead you to a resource for the info.
Hope this helps in understanding us and our catalogue a little better - but please keep writing and calling, we enjoy hearing from you!
Ilene and Michelle