Dear Melissa,
Back to school time! The smell of new crayons and paper always makes me giddy! Along with the new notebooks and pencils,
there are additional items that can keep your young scholar more organized and
focused this school year! Here are a few of my favorites.
Broken Crayons
Broken Crayons
This is a secret of OT's. We all have art boxes full of
broken crayons. Shhh! Don’t tell anyone! A broken crayon is a fantastic little tool
which magically turns almost any funky, immature grasp into a proper, mature
tripod grasp. No therapy required! See for yourself in the pictures below taken just seconds from each other.
Now the magic effect of the crayon only lasts while the
child is using this shortened crayon; the child will likely go back to a more
immature grasp when using a longer pencil. However, the more a child gains practice with a proper grasp with the
broken crayon, the more likely the child will transfer this skill to other writing
instruments.
Looking for one more OT magic trick to teach a proper grasp? Tape the picture to a vertical surface, such
as the wall, or have the child write on a vertical chalk board. Again, no instruction required, just an
instantly better grasp!
Pencil Grippers
Chewing items
School days can be crazy and stressful. Chewing is
calming. If your child tends to chew on
his pencil, fingers, or shirt, these are the items for you! Consider chew pencil toppers, s chew necklace or a chew zipper
pull.
Learning to stay on task and to complete assignments on time sometimes requires a little extra support. These tools can help.
Picture Schedules
Parents and teachers can
work with a child to make a picture schedule binder for home and during the
school day. They can simply be made with wallet-sized pictures, clear contact paper and Velcro. With Velcro on the back of each picture, the schedule is rearrange-able. Additional photos of various activities can
be kept in a pencil case inside the binder.
Writing Paper
I can’t tell you how many times I have had a parent/teacher
complain about a young first or second grader's handwriting skills! Then, when I ask for a writing
sample, I am given a sheet of typing paper with the child’s letters written in
all different sizes all over the page. This example reminds us that kids need structure! I personally like dashed-line paper. It comes in all different letter heights and
line colors. There are versions where the
bottom half of the line is highlighted in yellow to help children discern the
difference between the “regular” letters and the “tall” letters; you can also purchase paper with raised lines to help keep letters from sinking below the lines. Again, check
out Amazon.com or your local school supply store.
Resource:
What’s in My Therapy Box?: 60+ Supplies for School-Based OT’s (accessed July 2015)
Do you have a question you would like me to address?
Please don't hesitate to share: www.share@childrenstherapyteam.com