Simple-Easy Gifts Kids Make; Group Holiday Songs, Gift Ideas

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy Ozobot Amazing mini robot you learn to program with markers; progressing from simply following a path to preforming tricks and solving puzzles. Any line, made with any marker on any paper! It all starts with a line... - Jack: The Code and Go Mouse Meet Jack, the fully programmable robot mouse, this cute little fellow is ready to follow commands to teach sequencing through hands-on coding concepts! Plan a step-by-step path using the 30 double-sided coding cards for Jack to follow. Coding is EVERYTHING right now and motivating to all ages. This little guy makes it easy. Plan your route to get to a specific designated spot, (maybe it is 2 steps forward, turn left, forward three steps) now press the arrow buttons on Jack's back. Laying out the cards will help you plan and remember the steps. Spooner Board A truly amazing, "one of a kind" piece of equipment! Improve balance, weight shifting, coordination, motor planning, and gross motor skills while strengthening ankles, legs and core musculature. the "spoon shape" lets you replicate most board sports in any location and on any surface, inside or out. virtually indestructible, the balance boards safely hold 250+ pounds. Gifts for the "Hard to Buy For" We all have them and can't avoid them; the "hard-to-shop for" people on the list. They seem to have everything and need nothing! Well, before you order them another fruitcake, take a look at the items below. We've compiled some of our favorite, unusual items that most people won't have already. Thanks Pinterest Friends for Some Great Ideas Easy To Make Gifts For Anyone Puzzle Piece Art:  You will need an old puzzle and something to glue the puzzle pieces on to.  Paint the pieces or leave them plain then form them in a heart.  "We Love You To Pieces" can be added to your project.   - Form the pieces in to a design or shape.  - Use a pair of tweezers or wood tongs to pick up the pieces.  - Cut puzzle piece shapes out of cardboard.  - Use your old holiday cards or blank ones to cut a puzzle piece from. Handprint Menorah: All you need is paper, paint and little hands.  Any relative will love those little menorahs!        Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer Hands!    Snowman Family Hand Holiday Sing-a-longs The Rudolph Hokey Pokey and Santa is His Name-O are two fun variations of favorite children's songs.  Click on the pictures below to bring you to some fun You Tube videos we've found.   Click on Rudolph for a fun Rudolph Hokey Pokey!! And put your right hoof in and shake it all about!  Santa is his Name-O- Click on Santa for this fun sing along song!  Never the Wrong Size or Color Gift certificates available in any denomination!  Good for any age and always appreciated.   Compiled by Lisa Walker OTR  You're receiving this because you subscribed or placed an order with Pocket Full of Therapy. We will NEVER share or sell your info. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe Contact Us: (800) PFOT-124 (732) 462-4474 *An OT is always available to answer questions or assist in selecting the right item!

How to make stencil use more successful

Kids love stencils. They're drawn to them. Stencils offer the promise of creating a picture that really looks like something (something that they could not draw on their own)! But tracing around the edges of a stencil is difficult and often frustrating. So here's a neat trick - place the paper on the wall. Tape it in place for those that need it. Then place the stencil on top and ask the child to color in the stencil. Use crayons or pencils with back and forth movements. For more success, peel the crayon and hold the barrel lengthwise and rub it across the paper.The result is a shaded-in drawing that is easier to do and looks pretty good! You can also tape the stencil in place, if needed, but holding it in place is a great upper extremity workout!  Have fun with this!

Still missing one winner for a Sili Round Sensory Scrub give-away! The duck and fish have been caught, but not the Round brush yet... feel free to enter again if you didn't get the duck or fish. Remember to "like" our page and guess a number between 1-100. Good luck! (PS- lots of "shares" will get 3 more winners...)

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Cyber Week Special Continues: Free shipping & $10 Gift Certificate! New online orders only please. pfot.com

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New Silie Sensory Scrub Give-away! Like us, pick a number 1-100 & tell us which design you hope to win.

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Make butter for Thanksgiving! - Pour about 1/8 cup heavy cream into a glass jar with a lid. Now all you have to do is shake! Shake and shake some more. The heavy cream will turn to whipped cream then butter. You will have to pour some excess liquid out of the jar before using the butter. Great activity for you kids to do while you are cooking!

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pocket full of therapy for sensory, writing and rewards!

Identify Your Sensory Speed With a Self-Odometer

For a lot of kids, verbally communicating how they're feeling, especially when they feel out of control is very difficult. It can be frustrating for both the child and adult and can escalate behaviors even more. So improve communication  with this activity on identifying sensory speed with a self-odometer! 

Visual aides are very helpful for assisting a child and adult when trying to communicate feelings and “energy levels”.  Based on “How Does Your Engine Run”, children compare themselves to cars. Keeping things very simplistic for the child, use 3 “engine speeds” which the child selects as most closely resembling their own current “speed: Too slow, Just Right, or Too Fast.  Make this special internal odometer with your child when he is calm and discuss what each of the speeds feels and means to him. Incorporate pictures like these faces into a drawing of a speed odometer to help illustrate the various speed levels to help reinforce the concepts.

Then work on constructing the odometer with the child so that the child feels a sense of ownership of it once its completed.  (Every child, no matter what the skill level can help construct the odometer in some way, even if its just picking out the colors they want to use).. Here is the directions and pictures to make one for your child...

Thanks: Amy Smith, OT at KidsPlaysmarter.com

Add Coding-Sequencing & Planning

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Coding is all the "Thing" right now - for ALL ages. But what is it and why do you want to include it in sessions? The very basics are Sequencing, Planning, Logic, Cause & Effect and Memory. All good stuff that you already address -  Now just make it Hi-Tec & Cool! Meet Jack, the Programmable mouse, this cute little fellow is ready to follow commands given in a sequence.  Use the double-sided directional/coding cards to plan a step-by-step path for Jack to follow. This little guy makes it easy. Plan your route to get to a designated spot, maybe around an obstacle to touch a yellow block of pretend cheese.  (i.e. - 3 steps forward, turn left, forward two steps, left...) now press the arrow buttons on Jack's back in that order. Laying out the cards will help you plan and remember the steps. Then hit go. Did he make it or do you need to make changes to the route? CONGRATULATIONS - You just did code-programming! Jack measures 4"L and requires 3 AAA batteries (not included). Coding is motivating for all ages! OZOBOT  An amazing robot in a teeny-tiny body. Clients , young and not so young, will be fascinated by his ability to read and follow a simple drawn line. ANY LINE, ANY PAPER, ANY MARKER - REALLY! Use red, he turns red, blue, green the same. Suddenly drawing broad, firm lines and smooth curves that he can follow becomes the goal.  For more of a challenge... Add the add small spots of color - in the correct order, and now you have given Ozobot a command. Turn Around; Go faster; Turn left... Design a path with dead ends or road blocks and code him to turn around or avoid that turn all together. But Ozo can not read scribble, so lines and color codes need to be drawn with some care with attention to detail.  Use any paper. Extra large sheets on the floor, can encourage upper extremity weight bearing while working. Use codes to correctly follow a word or name written in cursive.  You can also use him on an ipad or go online to design patterns that you then print out.  And this is just the beginning - The website has activities and so much many more things that Ozobot can do. Here's a link to a short video with little more info. Dizzy Disc Jr - Now smoother spin. Up to 200 lbs. Still can adjust angle of platform. In stock - Ready to Ship - On Sale - While Supplies Last - Order Today - Give as A Gift Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

Have your child use this story starter to complete a sentence or whole story. "When we opened the barn doors, we saw a big purple......"

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Site Word & Exercising: Take your child's site words and write them on index cards. On a sheet of paper label each letter of the alphabet with a different exercise. Have your child pick an index card- now they have to spell their word with the exercises. For example A= 10 jumping jacks B= 10 sit ups C= 10 touch and jumps D= 10 frog jumps Pick the word DAD- you have to do 10 frog jumps, 10 jumping jacks, and 10 frog jumps.

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Dizzy Disc Jr- New Improved Version in stock at PFOT.com

Dizzy Disc Jr- New Improved Version!

Now with metal ball bearings for a smoother, easier spin. Holds up to 200 lbs. Supplies limited - Sale price: $179.95. See more details at Pocket Full of Therapy

Reverse Dot Marker Art! Take a dark colored piece of construction paper and tape a large shape in the middle. Now dot marker around the border of the large object. Remove the taped shape and you have a work of art! Use a pumpkin or bat this week!

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Cooperative Fun: This is a guessing/deductive game in which the first person establishes a word pattern for everyone else to figure out. He or she says, “I’m going to the moon and I’m going to take (name an object).” Everyone else follows by repeating the same phrase but naming a different object with the same pattern. Patterns could include words that start with the same letter as the speaking person’s name, words with double con- sonants, or words that begin with the last letter of the previous word.

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Pumpkin Play Dough:

Take 1 can of pureed pumpkin and add some corn starch. Mix together until you have the consistency you want! Add some pumpkin spice for that yummy pumpkin smell. Great for olfactory and tactile play.

Strange Animal Facts: Did You Know? A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out. A shrimp's heart is in its head. It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

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Find The Letter Hole Punch Activity: Cut thicker paper, a file folder or poster board into a pumpkin shape. Around the edges of the pumpkin write letters, write letter P every two or three letters. Now have your child hole punch all the letter P's. You also have a stringing activity now!

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The Marshmallow Construction Challenge: All you need is 1 marshmallow, 20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, a yard of string and a yard tape. You have 15 minutes to try and make the tallest structure! This is a great cooperative game- have your students work as a team to create a structure Teamwork, fine motor skills, and planning all in one great activity.

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Practice forming letters! But instead of writing them- erase! Write letters, upper or lower case on a write and wipe board. Now have your child use a q-tip or cotton ball and trace the letters! you can also use

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Amazing Police Officer knows the Power of Proprioception

Cop Drops To The Ground For Push-Ups To Calm Agitated Boy With Autism! Deputy Loftis of the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office in TN was called to Bubba’s home because the young man was agitated and his mom knew “Bubba loved officers.”  “When Dep. Loftis showed up, he was able to calm ‘Bubba’ down and showed him how to channel his frustration by doing ‘PUSH-UPS!’

Mom says:  ‘Bubba was laughing before Dep. Loftis left, which at the time I thought was impossible!’”

Another example of proprioception at work!

 Click: Here's the full story if you'd like to read more

What To Do When You Only Have a Ball! Specials, Product Highlights

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy Product Highlights Gertie Ball: Very unique soft tacky texture makes these safe and easy catch for young children. 9” ball comes with straw for easy inflate and deflate. Nobbie Gertie Ball: Two-color Gertie with little green nobbies covering the surface. Adds visual and tactile interest. Soft and nonthreatening, but very visually alerting!" Massage Ball: The therapy ball with the great bumpy surface! Whether the kids roll on it or it rolls on them, the highly textured surface provides continuous tactile input. This helps to increase attending, body awareness and alerting behaviors while facilitating motor responses. Weekly Special $5.00 shipping on any order over $45.00  Place your order today!  *Valid on ground shipping only, online orders placed within the contiguous U.S.   Use code "5flat" when ordering. Expires Tuesday 8/30/16 at midnight.   All You Need is a Ball! Well here are some fun games to play when that is all you have!   Maybe you don't want to run a motor group but all you have is ball, find a marker and write some letters on the ball.  Sitting in a circle, toss the ball to each other.  When each student catches it, they have to pick a letter on on the ball, the letter will correspond to a question from your paper.   This can be a great ice breaker! Some questions to use: "What is your favorite color?" "Where is your favorite vacation spot?" "How many siblings do you have?" "What sports do you play?" "What is your favorite video game?"   Or if you would like a motor game- have the letters correspond to a motor activity the srudent has to complete before tossing the ball to a friend.     Kickball- easy to play and all you need is a ball and some kids! You may want to mark 4 bases also.  Split into teams- one plays the field and the other team kicks the ball.  Played just like baseball but kicking instead of hitting, kick the ball run the bases, if you are tagged- you're out!  Three outs and the teams switch.  Play keeping score or just for fun!      Change it up! Maybe everyone already knows how to play kickball or you just want to make the game a little bit harder.  Have your fielders only using their body to stop the ball and their feet to pass- No hands!   Or instead of running the bases, you have to march or hop.  If you need to make the game a little easier, have the kicker kick a stationary ball instead of rolled by the pitcher or just work on kicking and running, no one gets "out"  Body Jam Relay: You can play as a team or individually.  Mark a start and finish line.  You are going to call out a body part and your student needs to race to the finish holding the ball on that body part.  "Hold the ball on your head" or "Hold the ball between your knees" Playing as teams- now you have two students who need to hold the ball with a body part while racing to the finish.  For example, if you say "Hold the ball with your shoulder" The ball will be between one students left shoulder and the other student's rigtht shoulder.  Can they hold it with shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, just fingers, or their heads?  Teamwork really comes into play here as they have to move at the same pace and remember no cheating! Some Other Fun Ball Games Cooperative Ball Games: Hit the Clip: Standing in a circle, place a paper clip chain or other lightweight object in the middle of your students.  When it is your turn, say who you are going to bounce the ball to then aim for the chain as you bounce the ball.  As a group you must total twenty five hits.  Use different sized balls, smaller ball will be a lot harder, or use a large ball to increase upper body strength.  Or for a really good workout, use a weighted ball.   To make the game more challenging add a memory component. Each player states his/her favorite fruit/food/sport or name a US state.  Player must say their answer and those before them before throwing at the clip.   Pass Along: How many different ways can you relay race the ball down the line?  Sitting side by side, twisting from one person to the next to get the ball from one end to another.  Or laying foot to head and you have to use your core to sit up and reach for the ball, then sit back and pass to the next student.  Or you can sit against the wall with youur legs straight up in the air, and pass the ball along the wall with only your feet.     Anyone Remember playing "SPUD"? Everyone gets a number 1 through however many students are playing.  One student throws the ball up in the air and calls a number while everyone runs.   Once the ball is caught everyone stops.  The student with the ball is allowed four steps S-P-U-D to the closest person then bounces the ball at their legs, if they tag them with the ball that person become the ball thrower and the original thrower gets letter S.  You play until someone has the full word.   Or forget spelling the word and practice running and catching.  There is one person throwing the ball as high as they can in the air and everyone else runs away.      Compiled by Lisa Walker OTR  You're receiving this because you subscribed or placed an order with Pocket Full of Therapy. We will NEVER share or sell your info. Edit your subscription | Unsubscribe Contact Us: (800) PFOT-124 (732) 462-4474 *An OT is always available to answer questions or assist in selecting the right item!