Teaching Independence now!

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy Dress Ups These are almost too good to be true! Adorable dress up outfits designed with realistic details to foster pretend play and language skills while also developing dressing and fastening skills. Three different types of fasteners in each set (buttons, snap & zipper). Assorted careers represented such as doctor, construction, vet, artist. Have You Taught Your Child How To .... As school and activities increase, time decreases.  Spend time learning and practicing new tasks now so your children can be more independent and ultimately help you out around the house. Can your child do these activities? Spend some time practicing together around the house:  Hanging up a jacket or shirt on a hanger Folding a shirt to put in a drawer  Matching and folding socks  Tie shoelaces  Make a sandwich Mix a drink like iced tea or lemonade Cook an egg Help Around the house Make your bed  Vaccuum  Empty the dishwasher Put away the groceries  Move outside and practice:  Digging a hole with a real shovel  Planting flowers  Shovel the snow in the winter  Bagging leaves  Picking up grass clippings and twigs  Taking out the recycling or trash Increasing Independence Some tasks may be harder to teach then others and what you think is simple may feel like impossible to your child.  When teaching a task start out simple and break it down into steps.  Or modify it then work up to the actual task.   Use picture direction cards.  For example if you are making a sandwich you need pictures of bread, the inside of your sandwich and a knife.  Collect your items then place them in order on the counter.  Or use your phone- take pictures as you complete the task so your child can use them next time!  Write a story:  Your child may understand when listening to a story more so then looking at pictures.  For example when folding towels.  Johnny takes the towels out of the dryer and places in a laundry basic.  Then he finds a open space to fold on.  He takes one towel out of the laundry basket and lays it flat on the bed.  He takes one side and matches it to the opposite corners.  Then he takes another side and matches it to the opposite corners, making a square.  Then he moves on to the next one.   Watch a video: Search a video on You Tube.  Have your child watch the video, seeing the task in action may help your child complete the task.   Modeling the task: Complete the task alongside your child so they can copy or model what you are doing in each step.   Remember to "Ask Rather Then Tell"for example "What will you use to spread the jelly?" Instead of "Now you need to get the knife to spread the jelly."  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!

Painters tape activities that you'll want to do & Free Shipping

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Free shipping & Painter Tape Projects This week we were so inspired by what other's have done with just a simple roll of painters tape!  It really deserves a place in every classroom and therapy bag! Here are some ideas that we just had to share with you!  Thank you creative folks that share! Use control- navigate a ball through a maze. A speedway for matchbox cars or blow cotton blows to the end. Great for young or very involved clients. Little skills can still produce a dramatic product! Paint with a bright color or use bright paper. Tape, cover with black. Dry & reveal! Beautiful! 3D Block Challenge! (This is one of our favorites!) Challenge balance: Create a path only wide enough for 1 foot. Too easy: keep a balloon up while walking Seems like a simple task?Try it. What if the blocks are different shapes? A great landing pad for paper airplanes or bean bags. Tape brown paper to a table or wall, then tape off. Each student can paint/color/draw/write in the spaces. You control the size space. Obstacle course in a roll of tape! Balance beams, jump over, hop through, place markers, targets... Sticky Spider Web: Make newspaper balls to throw & try to stick. Different areas = different points. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

Introducing: ZEBRA SPACING PAPER

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A simple method to help children learn to evenly space letters and words when writing & document progress. ZEBRA PAPER: "The Spacing Paper with Stripes" What is Zebra Paper?  A simple method to teach children to evenly space letters and words when writing. It can be used when first learning to write as a guide. Learning sizing and spacing right from the start avoids problems and bad habits from developing. For some it can be used to assist and reinforce even spacing and decrease or increase letter formation to a more appropriate size. RTI IEP GOAL Evidence Base intervention Whatever you call it:  Zebra paper provides concrete, measurable evidence of the student’s writing.  FINALLY, you can easily measure and document what size student writing is at the beginning of intervention or the school year and then what size it is after a course of time or intervention. Easy to use  Any age (even teens or adult rehab) Any lined paper size (wide/narrow/dashed) Any orientation (portrait/landscape) Implement anywhere (home/school/therapy/tutoring/camps) <![if !mso]>Here's More Info:<![endif]> AND... it's Economical You get an easy-to-use digital file that you print out yourself. So you can print only the pages you need, (as you need them) or print them all out and photocopy the pages you need. Several user-versions are available: Single/Self, multi-user (1-10), Building & Site licences available. Prefer a hard copy? We understand and that's available also. Includes a printed copy of all pages that may be re-produced. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

Cinderella Sale Starts NOW...

Cinderella Sale Starts NOW! No Images? Click here What is a Cinderella Sale?     Enter online coupon code: cindy30 for 30% off already discounted prices on clearance items. Must be entered at time of order. It includes: * Enchanted Products * Fairy-dusted Prices * Magically ends at the stroke of midnight (Thurs June 22) * Delivered by Golden Carriage (ok, maybe not...)   Make a Note to shop today!   Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

"SPINNERS - FIDGETS... Aren't they SYNONYMOUS. Like saying Kleenex for tissue?"

Last week a friend asked:

"How do you feel about fidgets now being banned in classrooms?"
- "They have been banning Spinners - which can be dangerous and distracting if the student doesn't really need a fidget"
"SPINNERS - FIDGETS... Aren't they SYNONYMOUS. Like saying Kleenex for tissue?"

We CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN - Fidgets are a "real" tool and can be a functional life saver when matched to needs and are the "JUST RIGHT" FIT. Please be pro-active and apart of the conversation when decisions and policies are being discussed about fidgets and spinners!
Thanks-
pocket full of therapy

Motor Planning in Action!

5 Quick & Easy Sensory Breaks for Any Classroom

We have all heard that "Sensory Breaks" are needed to help to keep everyone alert, attentive and ready to learn. But the challenge is how to incorporate these into the day without losing a great deal of time to do the task and then to re-focus again. Here are 5 Sensory Diet Tasks that are quick and easy to implement without students leaving their desks. .





 1. Chair Push-Ups: Use deep muscle work of the arms to try and lift your "tush" off the chair by pushing down on the chair seat. Do 10 or more until muscle fatigue.

  

2. Desk Push-Ups: Place hands flat on the desk and try to lift feet off the ground. Do 10 or more until muscle  fatigue.








3. Hand/Arm Pushes: Place palms together and push "like your squishing a bug". Do 10 or more.

4. Desk Hokey Pokey: "Put your right arm up; left arm down and shake it all around"; "Put your left foot up and shake it all around"; etc








5. Puddle Jumping: Initially students may need a piece of paper on the floor as the puddle. Place both hands on the desk and both feet on the same side of the puddle. On the count of 3, jump to the other side of the puddle keeping both feet together and hands on the desk at all times. Repeat, getting faster and faster.



Other easy to implement sensory regulation activities for ANY classroom (not just special needs) can be found in "The Wiggle Whomper Kit". All activities include the research that prove they are successful with children. Activities and materials in one convenient kit.

March Madness Fun, Specials, and Products

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy K Basketball K-Ball, short for Kinesthetic Basketball, is a basketball game you play with your eyes closed! Impossible you say...read on! One side of the 11" x 17" dry-erase surface depicts an entire basketball court, complete with men and a scoreboard. the other size shows only half court with men arranged in foul shot position. the men are actually preprinted circles and squares in 2 different colors scattered across the court. The object of the game is for the human players to score points. To do so, your game piece or tip of a dry erase marker is placed on your shape at center court. Decide which of your teammates you want to "pass" to and practice that move 2 or 3 times with your eyes open. when ready, make that same move but with your eyes closed. If your dot lands totally inside your shape, then, it was a successful pass and you get to go again Come Visit Us at AOTA March Madness Basketball Fun It's March and the heght of basketball season.  Why not incorporate basketball into our treatment sessions?  Here are some fun adaptations to games and other activities you can do this month! Play Horse: You have to spell the word before you can move on.  To play-  pick a word and stand near the basketball net.  You have to shoot once and make a basket to get the first letter of that word.  Then move to a new location and now you have to toss two baskets for the second letter and so on until you have shot a basket for every letter in each word.  You can't move to the next spot until you shot for the letter.   Bounce Pass: Practice passing to peers using a marker on the floor. Can your child hit the marker on the floor before bouncing the ball to a friend. If you don't have a partner, you can always have your child use the wall, throw, bounce on floor, hit the wall and try to catch on the return.  Don't Need a Hoop: You don't have to have a hoop to play basketball, you can use hula hoops or pool noodles, these larger hoops will make scoring a basket a littel easier.  You can either tape it to the wall and have a hoop similiar to your basketball hoop.  Or hang a hula hoop from the basketball net, hook or you can use your swing hook to hold your hoop.   Mania Relay Game: Each child will have their own basketball at the start.  They have to remain within the designated area and dribble their ball with one hand, now have another student pass a ball to their other hand.  Now they're dribbling 2 basketballs, one in each hand.  How long can you keep it going?                                                               Can they dribble both back to start line?  Basketball Obstacle:  How far can your child dribble a ball while working their way through an obstacle course.  Can they walk on the balance beam, step over some bricks, and turn around all while dribbling?    Weekly Special This Week's Special: Be the first one to write a review Save $10 - $20 OR $30  on your order today!  How? Simply place a new Online Order and enter the coupon code based upon your subtotal: Spend $45  - Save $10   -  coupon code 10now Spend $85  -  Save $20  -  coupon code  20now Spend $150 - Save $30  -  coupon code  30now It's that EASY to SAVE! (But Tic-Toc:  Time run's out when the clock strike's 12 midnite 3/7/17 - So SHOP NOW - tell friends later!) Contiguous US only; can not be combined with any other discount or coupons; can not be redeemed for cash; must be used at the time order is placed; Can not be applied to drop ship orders)   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!