Top Ten Activities with a Therapy Ball

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy Threrapy Balls It is hard to outfit a therapy room or clinic without a couple of therapy balls, so for our customers convenience we are now stocking the original yellow, orange and green therapy balls, to which we have all become accustomed. Additionally, we are introducing the pink ball, which is the smallest therapy ball available. Balls are perfect tools for working on balance, strengthening, proximal stability, as well as for providing controlled vestibular and proprioceptive input. Contains no latex. Approximate sizes. Balls With Feet Same high quality latex free vinyl as the regular therapy balls, but these come with 3 little feet. The feet are a real asset when balls are used in the classroom or at home for homework. Point the "feet" down, under the ball to help keep the ball where it is placed when not being used. When ready to sit on, point the feet toward the back. They should not touch the ground. No more balls rolling around the classroom, so less chance they will be thrown. Balls with feet are really neat! 4 Sizes. Top Ten Therapy Ball Activities Whether you don't have a lot of space to work or you have a gym, a therapy ball is a perfect piece of equipment.  Here are some activities that will have your children working their muscles as well as having fun!  1. Wheelbarrow Walking Over the Ball:  Have your child lie on their belly on the ball, as you push the ball forward, they can reach out and place their hands on the floor.  In this position you can have your child complete a puzzle or pegboard.  How many pieces can they get in before needing a break?  2. Bounce Catch: Use those upper extremity muscles and lift the therapy ball overhead, bounce and catch.  Throw the ball against the wall and be ready to catch on the return.  3. Steamroll: While your child is lying on the rug or therapy mat roll the therapy ball over them.  Make them a pancake and then roll on some butter and syrup.  4. Sit up Bean Bag Toss: Have your child sit on the therapy ball and place bean bags behind them.  While you support them at the knees, have them lie backward over the ball, pick up a bean bag and sit up.  Once they are sitting ask them to throw it at a target.   5.  Wall Kick:  Have your child lie flat on their backs, bottom against the wall.  Now place the therapy ball at their feet, can they push the ball up the wall and catch it on the way down?  If you have more then one student, have them lie next to each other and pass the ball using their feet.   6.  Ball Seat: Of course this isn't a new idea but make sure when using the therapy ball as a seat your child is safe!!!  Their feet should be on the floor!  If possible use a ball seat base, so the ball doesn't roll.   7.  Ball Drum: Banging on the therapy ball can make some great sounds!  Can your child imitate the sound you make, when you hit the ball?  See how many they can copy in the pattern.  8.  Wall Squats:  Place the ball against the wall at waist level.  Have your child put their back to the ball.  Now stregthen those legs with some squats.   9. Can You Hit the Paperclip?: Play catch but aim at paperclip. When you hit the clip it will move so you have to adjust where you stand.  Also be sure symmetrical and not over 1 shoulder. 10. Steady Dribble:  Dribble using steady pressure for steady height. More difficult than you think. How many bounces using 1 hand, alternating hands.  You can also play games such as  "a my name is..." for some cognitive distraction.   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!

Back To Basics with Over-sized Dressing Bingo

Web Version  |  Update preferences  |  Unsubscribe Like Tweet Forward Pocket Full of Therapy Work on Fastening - Not on Boards! PFOT Cut-A-Ways: The best training aid around. More functional than dressing toys, "cut-aways" allow you to actually practice buttoning, zipping,and snapping anytime anywhere. With velcro bands at the collar and waistband and no back panel, cut-aways are one size fits all and easy to stuff in a therapy bag. Neutral print cotton is machine washable. Easily fits preschoolers through larger elementary or mid-school students. Large buttons, multi-size buttons, separating zipper and snap vests. Alone or in combination sets. Back To Basics The parties are done, gifts are opened, and holidays behind us.  Hope everyone had a great one! Now moving on to a happy, healthy and independent New Year!!! Many students continue to have difficulty with basic self care tasks such as putting on their socks and shoes, putting on and zipping their jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, opening/closing book bags and shoe tying. Have you looked at these skills lately? For a quick, peek at student functional abilities, observe dismissal or playground time. Need some practice? Let's make these tasks into some fun games for your students to learn to be more independent!  Self Help Fun Dressing Relay: in a group setting, have all students place their shoes in the middle of the room, then line up at a starting line.  (* You may want to put each students initials on the shoe/clothing with a small piece of masking tape) - Split your students into teams, ready, set, go- the first student in line slides (skates in socks) to the pile and finds one of their shoes, then skate back to the end of the line.  While the next student is running to find their shoe, the first student puts his/her shoe on.  Continue until each team member has one shoe on.  Students must have that shoe securely on before moving onto round two. - Now for their second turn- hop on one foot to the pile and have them find their second shoe, hop back and put the shoe on.  Race is over when everyone has both shoes on!!  ** Instead of sliding to the pile of shoes, have your students crab walk or bear walk.   OR: ** For your younger students, have them find both shoes at the same time- Can they find their own shoes? Can they find a match?  **  Scavenger hunt: Instead of leaving their shoes in a pile in the middle of the room, place shoes throughout the room, now they have to scan, locate and retrieve their shoe instead of just looking in one spot.   **Instead of shoes, have your students place their gloves and mittens or jackets in the middle of the room.  Don't want to work on dressing?  Set up a relay where your students have to run to the table, pierce food with a fork or scoop with a spoon to fill a container then run back.   Or when you get the table, they have to pour a cup of water from a pitcher or open a container or bag of snacks.   Dressing Bingo: You will need clothing, larger sizes then what your students would wear.   You won't need a board for this bingo- your students are the board!! Place the clothing in the middle of your group.  You will also need word cards or pictures of the type of clothing you have.  When it is your turn- you pick a card then have to find the article of clothing.   - After your student finds the article of clothing, they have to put it on over their clothing.  The Bingo Winner must have each article of clothing on! So when they have a shirt, pants, socks or shoes on they can yell BINGO!   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!

New Games - Now Ready to Ship

You'll feel like Bill Nye, the science guy as you play "The Beaker Game"! 

The Beaker challenges players to move the 6 colorful molecules at the bottom of their beakers around so they match the arrangement seen on the formula cards. The tricky part is players can only use their stirring rod to interact with the molecules and the special rotating platform. Navigating the molecules, one at a time, into the correct positions strengthens motor planning, problem solving, visual perception, and logic skills. Comes with one beaker and 30 formula challenges. For a greater challenge, try timing players, counting moves or buy 2 for head to head play and see who really is going to be the next "Science Guy"!

Amazon Holiday List- We Got You Covered!

Amazon Holiday Toy List - We have them in stock & Ready to Ship to You! No Images? Click here Items from the Amazon Holiday Toy List We have them,  In Stock & Ready to Ship to You ! So Skip the RUSH, Order Today! (Free shipping too!) Code & Go Mouse Pancake Pile Up Take Apart Vehicles Suspend Jr. Sneaky Snacky Squirriel Table Top Design & Drill Kanoodle Robot Face Race Favorite Toys that SHOULD be on the list! Silicone Sensory Scrubs Ozobot Indoor Swingball Jr. Dizzy Disc Jr. Pocket Full of Therapy          www.pfot.com   follow us on "Pinterest"   "Like Us" on Facebook for activity ideas Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

Quick & Easy Halloween Group Games; New Visual Fidget; FREE SHIPPING

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Quick & Easy Halloween Games; Free Shipping; New Pencil Grips; Sandtimer Pen Quick Halloween Games These activities are easy to do and require little prep. They can be done with groups, pairs or individually. They can take as short a time or as long as you need it to be. Great fun for children while adults are busy with party prep.  Mummy wrap: Ask for a volunteer from each team to be the Mummy. Give teams a roll or 2 of toilet tissue. On "go" teams need to wrap their volunteer into a mummy within a set time period. Details such as fingers and toes should be encouraged. Ghost cup stack or bowling: draw ghost faces on white or clear plastic cups. Teams can race to stack or use a bean bag or ball to knock them over. Spiderweb hop: use painters tape or masking tape to create a spiderweb on the floor. Scatter bean bags or plastic spiders throughout the space. Players race to collect as many "spiders" as they can and get them back to their home base before time runs out. Change the rules as needed. Perhaps they must stay on one foot at all times or 1 hand must always touch the floor or crab walk; can only collect one spider at a time, can not touch any lines of the web, etc NEW PRODUCTS: 2 NEW PENCIL GRIPS: mixed colors-not all pink! 1. The Soft, Fluffy Grip: that is more like a fidget than a grip. Fun to feel & tickle palms with. 2. The Bumpy Pillow: another squishy, molded grip from the folks at The Pencil Grip Co. Sand Timer Pens: They really work & are a great visual fidget! This Week's Newsletter Special: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! FREE SHIPPING! Any online order over $49 shipped within contiguous US. No Coupon code needed! Mini marshmallows straw race: players race to transport mini marshmallows from start to a bucket placed a set distance away. Players can not use their hands to touch the marshmallows once they begin the race. They can only use suction on a straw to lift and carry the mini marshmallows. Pumpkin ring toss: there are several ways to play based upon how much space you have to play in. Decide how many points a ring on each pumpkin will get, with higher points for pumpkins further away. In smaller spaces, rings may be made by cutting the outer edge of paper or plastic plates. They need to get the ring around the pumpkin stem. In larger spaces, hula hoops or play rings can be tossed to go around the whole pumpkin. Another variation would be to just hit the pumpkins with bean bags for points. Preferences  |  Unsubscribe

Zebra Spacing Paper - For Writing & Evaluation

What is Zebra Paper?  A simple method to teach children to evenly space letters and words when writing. It can assist in decreasing writing size as they mature and become more fluent in forming letters and words. For the struggling student, it can be used as a guide to help develop even spacing and decrease or increase letter formation to a more appropriate size.

Zebra paper also gives you concrete, measurable evidence of the student’s writing. FINALLY, you can easily measure and document what size their writing is at the beginning of intervention or the school year and then what size it is after a course of time or intervention.

Zebra paper can be used when first learning to write letters and words as a teaching guide. Teaching letter sizing and word spacing right from the start helps to avoid problems and bad habits.

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