Play Dough for practicing hand skills

Children love playdough - so let's use it!

Play dough. Homemade, purchased, scented, unscented, fluffy, sparkly, dry… it doesn't matter. It's a fact: Children LOVE play dough (parents and teachers not so much)! For children, it may be the creative nature of it or the sensory input it provides, or just the fun of making a mess. Whatever the reason, it can also be a motivating method to address hand skills. After the initial squeezing and squashing, many children actually do not know what to do or make with dough and are happy to take some direction.   Listed below is a recipe to make your own play dough. It does require some stovetop cooking but is worth the extra effort. You know what is in it. No chemicals that you can not pronounce and allergy friendly (so no worries if a piece "just happens" to get tasted!). This specific recipe usually does not encourage tasting because it is salty and has no added aroma. Cara's Favorite Play Dough Recipe (Makes enough for a small group of players) 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 4 Tbsp oil 4 Tbsp cream of tartar (can usually be found in baking aisle at stores) 2 cups water with food coloring added (experiment with amount of coloring added - remember it is being incorporated into white flour and salt, so it has a tendency to come out a pastel color). Mix all ingredients in a pot. Stir and cook over medium heat until the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. Knead. Play. Store in airtight container. * Thank you Pinterest friends. Play ideas: (Sequence several together to create a play routine) Use a 3" size ball to create a "smasher stamper cleaner tool". Form the dough into a wide, short roll. Then stand it up and flatten just the bottom. You hold the tool by the upright (arm is in neutral or thumbs up position) lift and push the flattened bottom down over a smaller piece of dough. It should smush and stick to the smaller piece. A fun clean up tool. Create smaller balls by rolling with two hands, then with tabletop and 1 hand. Can they do a circular motion without flattening the ball? Create 2 balls at once using both hands. After at least 10 balls are made, squish using opposition with each finger. Now place these doughnut-like balls between two extended fingers and squeeze sideways/adduction. Then use the stamper tool to clean up. Who can make the longest or thinnest snake? Use a peg or other tool to gently press in and create the appearance of snakeskin. Add little pieces for eyes, tongue and other features. Make a coil pot. Use cookie cutters and other tools to create shapes and impressions. Pinch, squeeze and manipulate dough after using cutters to create interest and texture. Create an octopus with a round body. Add 8 legs each with a different texture or pattern. Let's make "cookies". Form into a large cookie shapes. Then decorate with pegs, bingo chips or smaller pieces. Make other familiar "foods" preferably with toppings. Pizza, hot dog and roll, banana splits, cracker jacks… Practice cutting with a knife, scissors or teach to cut with side of fork. Draw letters, numbers or simple pictures (house, kite, etc.) on paper then place under a firm plastic file folder or similar object. Outline using a long snake. Practice braiding or twisting like a candy cane. Explore YouTube videos for "bread dough sculpting". This ancient art form has enjoyed a resurgence of late. Older objects can be seen at the Smithsonian Museum. Time Saving Products: - Don't have time to make putty? Try our scented playclay. - Need more classroom integration? Try our Alphabet stampers. - Want more resistance? Try our 3 levels of therapy putty kit. - Prefer quick, easy, no mess? Try our Putty Buddy friend. - Just for fun and hand strength? Try our clay press. Copyright © 2023 Pocket Full of Therapy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Pocket Full of Therapy 337 State Route 36 Port Monmouth, NJ 07758-1367 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Ideas for handwriting practice

Here are some story starters and ideas to "spice up" handwriting practice.

View this email in your browser OMG- It's that time of year... Not talking about new year, but rather how both you and your clients are tired of the same old handwriting practice exercises. Need some inspirational ideas?   We got you! Write a caption or story for each picture. What are they saying? Doing? Why? What happens next? Other inspirations: The ABC Game:  You may recall as a child playing the ABC game usually with a ball. ( "A" my name is Alice.  I am from Alabama and I like apples.) Let's make a twist on this game and make it into handwriting practice. Each sentence must start with the letter. Children can create and write each sentence or you can take turns. "A" bear was walking in the forest. "Be" careful when crossing the street. "Can" you do the twist? "Dear" Santa I want a puppy. "Exercise" is good for your heart.... The Number Game: same game can be done with numbers. It maybe easier if the number can be anywhere in the sentence.  One day a boy was shopping in the store with his mother. There were two squirrels playing in the tree. The Interview: Create a list of questions to interview someone to learn more about them.  Sample questions to ask someone:  What is your favorite color  if you have a pet: what kind? What is its name What is your favorite TV show? What sport do you like to play or watch on TV What did you have for dinner last night? What is your favorite donut? What color is your mothers hair? What is/was your best and your worst subjects at school? What do you like to have on your pizza? If you had three wishes what would they be? Product highlight: Perfect for remote users Ultimate Magnetic Writing board These are amazing! Write on the 8x7" surface with the stylus pen or any magnet, then erase your creation by simply rubbing gently with "eraser end" of pencil-stylus or use finger and light touch. All marks disappear, with no mess! Write, then erase letters using the same motor pattern! Sneaky! Try using the pen under the board. For vision occluded fun. Use a wide refrigerator magnet and make a curvy path. Then use the stylus under the board to follow along the path creating a white line within the path. Pencil grips can be added to the stylus. Add masking tape around the stylus if hole in grip is too wide. Another way to erase: hold both of the narrow ends of the board, slightly bring hands together to make the board arch. (Do not bend in half!) Use alternating slightly up and down movements to move the filings around and clear the board. Especially useful with the writing phobic and those afraid of making a mistake. Available individually or set of 3 (3 boards and 3 styluses) Copyright © 2020 Pocket Full of Therapy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Pocket Full of Therapy 337 State Route 36 Port Monmouth, NJ 07758-1367 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.