3-D Collage

Well it's been nearly a month since I've posted something new.....for any of you who work in schools, you know that life gets crazy by this time of year with new referrals, re-evaluations, and IEP's.  Some how, it all gets finished, right?!

In the mean time, I wanted to share another fun fine motor task that preschool teacher Miss Angela set up for her little darlin's.  She calls it "3-D Collages" and the kiddos LOVED it!   Each child had a paper plate and were offered a variety of "things" to decorate the plate for an original 3-D collage. 

You could use just about anything you want to recycle or re-use for this project. Here we have some toilet paper rolls cut up into smaller pieces, strips of sand paper, mini-muffin cups in bright colors, small styrofoam balls, colorful streamers, and some coated wire. Let me tell you, it is not easy to poke a small wire through a paper plate but when you're a little person who really wants that wire in there, you find a way!   Some great skills are required to tape, glue, poke wire through stryrofoam, tearing paper streamers, and getting everything to STICK!  

Some designers had a theme (can you tell we had a dusting of snow that day?)

Some opted for a simple design....

and others couldn't walk away from adding more "beauty" to the design!

This was a very simple and inexpensive project that encouraged creativity and worked lots of fine motor skills.  There is no "right or wrong" and everyone walked away with an original piece of art!

Give it a try today!

Jen Dermody, OTR/L

Sensory Friendly Films at AMC Theatres

AMC Theatres across the country have expanded a Sensory Friendly Films program in partnership with the Autism Society.  It's such a great idea!  The program started in one theatre when a parent of a child with autism requested a special screening in Columbia, MD and the theatre agreed to give it a try.  More than 300 children and parents showed up to the first screening and AMC decided to expand the program to many other theatres across the US!  "The auditoriums dedicated to the program have their lights up, the sound turned down and audience members are invited to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing!" 
I LOVE IT!  There is a sensory friendly film once per month on a Saturday at 10AM.  "Journey 2: the Mysterious Island" will show at 10AM on Saturday, February 25th, and "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" will be on Saturday, March 10th.  You can find other scheduled films at the AMC Theatre website page http://www.amctheatres.com/sff/

Don't forget the POPCORN!                           

Jen Dermody, OTR/L

Thank you to Pedia Staff!

I am excited to tell you that Pedia Staff contacted me recently with an invitation to be a part of their guest blog team!  "Ice Cube Painting" was posted as the "Therapy Idea of the Week"! You can check it out at http://www.pediastaff.com/blog/therapy-idea-of-the-week-winter-fun-ice-cube-painting-7102
Pedia Staff is a fantastic site with lots and lots of resources, a blog, newsletter, and staffing opportunities for OT's, PT's, SLP's, and school psychologists.  Take some time to browse the Pedia Staff site at http://www.pediastaff.com/pedia-homeand you're sure to learn something new!

Yet Another FREE Webinar



Handwriting Without Tears is offering another FREE webinar on March 6th! Now that the school year is more than half over, it's time to really zero in on making sure our preschool friends are ready for kindergarten.  SO....you can register for "Top Ten Ways to Prepare for Kindergarten" at http://www.hwtears.com/sites/default/lpform/webinargss10kind2012form.php?pc=emailinvite&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Register+Today%21&utm_content=GSS+Top+Ten+Ways+Webinar+Invite+March+6&utm_campaign=02%2F08%2F2012Who doesn't love a class that you can attend in your slippers and PJ's...and for free?!  Hope you find this helpful :)

Jen Dermody, OTR/L

Ice Cube Painting

It was "Winter Week" in preschool this week with all sorts of super-duper winter activities!  There was the "ice skating rink", pretend snow in the sensory table, snowman games, "Break the Ice", and painting with ICE CUBES!!  Oh yes, painting with ice cubes just happened to be the Special Activity of the day and it was a real hit.  Food coloring was added to the water and frozen in regular ice cube trays.  The kiddos wore gloves (always tricky getting those little fingers where they belong!) and then created their designs by "coloring" with the different colored cubes.

 








You could modify this activity by using various ice cube trays with different shapes and sizes or colors.  One little hint to share is to have some extra gloves because they do get wet as the kiddos color.  Very simple and very FUN!

Jen Dermody, OTR/L

We Celebrated Our Great Handwriting!

Just as I had suspected, my students were excited to hear that today was a special "holiday" to celebrate their great handwriting!  I brought copies of the special paper from the Handwriting Without Tears website with the "National Handwriting Day" seal at the top.  Each of the kiddos chose one special adult at school and wrote them a note using "very best writing".  They were so darn cute about wanting to pick somebody special who would be happy to receive their handwritten notes.  Among the lucky recipients were some classroom teachers, the school nurse, and of course the principal!  The children carefully followed all of the rules of writing to "finger space", keep letters on the line, start sentences with a capital letter, and always end with punctuation.  They were very sweet to remind each other of the rules and complement each other on their efforts.  Naturally, the notes needed lots of stickers to brighten up the paper.  Who doesn't love a celebration?!  They did a great job!   As my kiddos liked to say today......

Happy Handwriting Day to YOU!

Here's a few pics of my little friends~~

Jen Dermody, OTR/L