Make your own marbled greeting cards with shaving cream and food coloring

Posted on May 23, 2013 by christiekiley

I recently saw this great idea on Pinterest (of course) from a blog called Mess For Less. The post was about how to make your own marbled greeting cards and wrapping paper using shaving cream and food coloring.

You may recall I’ve mentioned in a past post that shaving cream is a wonderful material for introducing kids to messy play, even those who are hesitant or avoidant of tactile sensory experiences. (Click here to read that post.)

I loved the Pinterest greeting card idea because it takes a sensory play experience and turns it into something even more practical and meaningful! For those who seek or are comfortable with messy play, you can have them swirl with their fingers. For kiddos who aren’t so sure about the whole thing, give them a paintbrush, Q-tip, toothpick, fork — really anything! — to hold so they can still participate in the activity without becoming too overwhelmed or anxious. Using tools like those I just listed is great for ALL kids as they develop their hand skills and are getting their finger muscles ready to properly hold a pencil.

This activity is super versatile and can be used to personalize gifts for pretty much any occasion…isn’t Father’s Day is coming up soon (hint, hint, wink, wink)?

Be sure to visit the original post on the Mess For Less blog for further instructions and cool pictures of how she used her kids’ various marbled creations.

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How to Make Homemade Instant Snow

Posted on March 24, 2013 by christiekiley

Someone recently told me you can make instant snow by cutting open a disposable diaper and pouring water on it til it turns into a gelatinous, moldable sensory play tool.

What?!

As an OT who is always looking for new sensory play ideas, I decided I HAD to try this for myself. Here’s how I did it:

1. Cut open the diaper so you can extract the absorbent pad in the middle. Be delicate with the pad. It’s super fragile and little particles will start to fall off when you move it around.

2. Place the absorbent pad in a container (such as a plastic toy bin, baking sheet, or large mixing bowl) and slowly add water, poking and prodding the pad as you go to help break it apart. I had to use approximately four cups of water to turn a Size 3 Huggies pad into the appropriate consistency. If you don’t have a long container you could always cut or tear the pad into smaller pieces.

3. That’s it! Ridiculously simple.

Check out that texture.

Encourage sensory exploration, motor planning, and fine motor skills by molding the snow into snowballs or creating sculptures such as snowmen or animals. Practice pre-writing skills by forming shapes, letters, and numbers in the snow. Kids can use their index fingers or can even use a tool such as the non-brush end of a thin paintbrush in order to practice pencil grasp as well.

And for those little ones who are either reluctant to touch the slushy stuff or who need to practice their scooping skills, give them a tool (learn more here).

Make sure your little explorer doesn’t try to eat the fake snow. Though the substance is non-toxic, it doesn’t mean it should be ingested. Your snow will be as cold as the water you make it with. If you want it colder, put it in the fridge or freezer. If you want it slushier, add more water. Throw in a little salt if you (or your child) accidentally made it too slushy; this will help “dry” it out a bit. Create different colors of snow by mixing in some food coloring or Kool-Aid powder.

If you don’t have diapers in your house and don’t want to go out and buy a whole pack, you can purchase name-brand instant snow in many stores or online (click here).

Happy snow play!

*This post contains an affiliate link.

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Use play dough as boundaries for cutting {Photo Friday}

Posted on November 16, 2012 by christiekiley

Welcome to Photo Friday, a place where I share photos of therapeutic tools and ideas that can help boost your child’s development. Please give me feedback on my ideas — I love hearing how they go over with other kids!

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For kids who have a hard time cutting anywhere near a line, try using play dough as a “road” for them to cut on. I used this on-the-fly earlier this week for a kiddo who has no concept of paying attention to lines when cutting, but he was able to follow directions to “keep your scissors on the road!”

Have them help you roll out the play dough and press it on the paper with their pointer finger…it sticks really well! (Wikki Stix work also, but not everyone has them just lying around and they don’t stick to paper quite as well.) You can adjust the width of the road to increase or decrease the challenge, and you can of course make any shape you want them to practice cutting. For more concrete guidance, try drawing the boundaries on the paper with marker so they have some guidance as to where to place the play dough in order to make their road. The more angles and curves, the trickier. You can also draw a thick line for them to keep their scissors on in the middle of the road. Try it out!

If you have more financial resources and prep time, you can also use glitter glue, puff paint, or craft foam to give kids physical boundaries for cutting. Find out how by clicking here.

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Pumpkin Pie Scented Play Dough

Posted on November 4, 2012 by christiekiley

November is here and there’s nothing like the smell of sweet pumpkin pie…in your child’s play dough!

Pumpkin pie scented play dough is wonderful because it brings a whole other sensory dimension into kid’s tactile play — smell.

Smell is unique because, unlike all the other senses, it is the only sense that goes directly to the brain. This means it travels faster and affects us more quickly than all the other senses. Smell is also strongly tied with memory, especially as it relates to emotions and circumstances. This is because the “smelling receptors” are closely tied to parts of the brain that are responsible for memory and emotion. Think about it: what happens when, for example, you smell cookies baking in the oven? You are immediately reminded of a person or time when you smelled them before (such as eating cookies at grandma’s house), and you will likely experience an emotion along with that memory. In theory, using smell as part of a learning experience could help kids better remember what they learn, especially if there is an emotion tied to the lesson (such as something that’s funny, sad, confusing, or scary).

In addition to triggering emotional memories, smell is also a useful sensory tool to help our kiddos who may have sensory issues. Sensory seekers may appreciate scented play dough because it provides greater intensity to the sensory experience. And the kids who always seems to be lethargic and slouching over will benefit from the scented experience because it provides more intense sensation which basically encourages the body to perk up and get with the program. So it’s a win-win. Just be sure all the kids know not to try and eat the play dough, no matter how good it smells (and it smells GOOD!).

Here are the ingredients for Pumpkin Pie Scented Play Dough:

• 1 cup water
• 20 drops of yellow food coloring
• 10 drops of red food coloring
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tablespoon oil (any kind)
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar (find in the spices aisle at the store)
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
(Makes the equivalent of two four-inch balls of play dough)

Directions:

In a large pot, mix 1 cup water, 20 drops yellow food coloring, and 10 drops red food coloring. Add 1 cup flour, 1/2 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/2 cup salt, and 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice. Mix well with a wooden spoon. Cook on the stove over medium-high heat and mix continuously with wooden spoon for 3-5 minutes. Keep an eye on the consistency of the play dough and remove from heat as soon as it starts to become firm and is still a little sticky (it will stay hot and continue to cook a little once you remove from heat). Once it’s cool enough to touch, knead it and smoosh it until you’re ready to use or store. Store in an airtight container such as a ziploc bag, tupperware, or small plastic baby food container when not in use. As long as you properly store your play dough, it can remain good for up to a year or more.

I dare you to play with this pumpkin pie scented play dough without immediately craving a big slice of pumpkin pie!

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Easy Pipe Cleaner Bracelet

Posted on October 7, 2012 by christiekiley

Bracelets are fun to make, but they can be really tough for kids who have poor fine motor skills. If a child wants to make a bracelet but is struggling with being able to use two hands together (bilateral coordination), has difficulty using their “pincher” fingers effectively (thumb and index finger), can’t seem to coordinate hands and eyes (visual motor), or is just downright clumsy, try having them use a pipe cleaner instead of a string.

All you need are some beads…

…and a pipe cleaner.

That’s it!

Pipe cleaners are a great string substitute because they stay in place and don’t flop around, thus reducing the amount of fine motor control needed to successfully complete the task. Their fuzzy texture and hard wire give more sensory input to the fingers, which is great for kiddos who have underdeveloped or newly emerging fine motor skills. And their thick, fuzzy nature encourages beads to stay in place so they don’t slip off if the bracelet-maker loses focus or accidentally fumbles with their fingers. What a great way to minimize frustration and maximize success!

Pipe cleaner bracelets can also serve as a great fidget toy for the child who must always be touching, spinning, or jiggling something. They can play with it — spin beads, bend bracelet, etc. — while it is either on or off their wrist. Just make sure you’ve looped the pipe cleaner around the end enough times to know that the beads won’t go flying with all that fidgeting.

I hope you’re able to grant a child the gift of bracelet-making with this simple pipe cleaner trick. What are some other ways you like to modify bracelet-making for kids?

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Easy Sensory Bags for Babies and Toddlers

Posted on September 23, 2012 by christiekiley

I have been experimenting with sensory bags lately for my one-year-old and have been pleasantly surprised at how ridiculously EASY they are to make!

For a basic sensory bag, all you have to do is 1) open a plastic bag, 2) squeeze in some cheap hair gel and 3) drop some small items in the bag. That’s it! You can reinforce the zipper seal with some packing tape for added security. The dollar store will be your best friend for this project!

Here are a few ideas for sprucing up your sensory bag and making it even more fun for your little one. Do it yourself or have your little helper give you a hand!

Add a handful of beads.

Put seashells in blue gel for a look that will make you long for the Caribbean.

Mix some body wash with hair gel and throw in a dash of sparkles for some sudsy, sparkly fun. The more you squeeze it, the more bubbly it becomes.

Or see how your little one responds when you give them a sensory bag that glows! (Five-pack of glow sticks also found at the dollar store.)

These are just four quick, easy ways to expand your child’s sense of sight and touch in a fun, non-messy way…do you have any idea how fun it is to squeeze those squishy bags?!

Not only can sensory bags be fun for teeny tiny ones, they can also be helpful for older kids who are always wanting to touch EVERYTHING. Help them make their very own sensory bag and offer it to them when they feel like they need something for their hands. Be sure it’s sealed and reinforced, and provide appropriate supervision for their own safety. I’m thinking about using these sensory bags with some of my very own therapy kiddos. We’ll see how it goes!

If you’re as excited about these sensory bags as I am (and I hope you are!), then come back on Wednesday morning…I will be featuring a round-up of LOTS of different kinds of sensory bags from amazing bloggers around the world. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss out on the fun!

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This post was shared on Tuesday Tots at Rainy Day Mum. Click the badge below for more fun kids’ activity ideas!

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Mother’s Day is coming…

Posted on May 7, 2012 by christiekiley

Seven days to Mother’s Day!

Not sure what to do for the mama in your life? Take a look at these unique mommy-oriented gift ideas. Some to purchase, some to make. Let me know what you think of them, and feel free to share ideas you have experienced or come across yourself!

Chewbeads: Mommy chic, baby safe.

Have you heard of these?! Apparently they’ve been around since 2009 and, basically, they’re fasionable mom-oriented necklaces (and bracelets) that double as practical, soft, non-toxic chewables for teething babies. Not only are they made of 100% silicone (like pacifiers and bottle nipples), they’re also free of BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Cadmium, and Lead…and they’re dishwasher safe! What??? I have not personally experienced these babies, but what a novel and creative concept. You can learn more about Chewbeads and place your order online by visiting store.chewbeads.com.

Mother’s Day Handprint Tree.

Kids of any age can contribute to this one, and you don’t have to wonder if it will ship in time for Mother’s Day. You could design it yourself if you’re into that, or you can download this printable from Etsy in an instant for $10. Print it on any paper you like and find a frame that suits mom’s taste (try a place like Michael’s to find both special paper and frame). You must provide your own variety of paints (or stamp pads) and set of itty bitty hands.

Handprint and Footprint Potholders.

I don’t know what it is about teeny tiny hands and feet, but they’re just so out-of-this-world-stinkin’-cute! And who wouldn’t want to preserve their little one’s (or several little ones’) mini prints before they suddenly grow out of them and head off to college? Okay, so maybe this one is a little stereotypical (you know, getting mom a kitchen gift and all), and maybe it’s a little messy because you’ve got goopy paint and wiggly feet involved, but if this is your sort of thing, I say go for it! Click here to learn how to customize these cute kitchen accessories, and learn from the author’s mistakes so you don’t end up with sideways prints or an ultra-chubby right foot.

Still not sure what to do for Mother’s Day? Maybe this will help.

Mom’s Ideal Mother’s Day Vortex.

My one tip for Mother’s Day.

Whatever you end up doing for Mother’s Day — whether you give something shiny, sponsor a mani/pedi, stamp miniature feet with black paint, or volunteer to change all diapers for one day — be sure to let that pretty mama know she is loved beyond all get out!

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Photo credit for images 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

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Recipe for Easy Homemade Play Dough

Posted on April 26, 2012 by christiekiley

Who doesn’t love play dough?

Play dough is great for so many reasons (like how it challenges fine motor, sensory processing, and pretend play skills), but it can get expensive, especially if kiddos decide to mix together several colors before putting them back into those tiny plastic pop-top containers.

So why not just make it yourself?

It’s so easy, uses regular ingredients you already have in your cupboard (with the exception of cream of tartar), and takes no more than 10 minutes. Plus, you know exactly what is in the play dough, so you don’t have to totally freak out when (not if) kids put it in their mouth. Here’s how you do it:

Ingredients for easy homemade play dough:

2 cups water
Several drops food coloring (I used 10 drops and wish I would have used more)
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon oil (vegetable, olive, canola…whatever you’ve got in your cupboard)
1 teaspoon cream of tartar (you can find it in the spices aisle at the store)
1 cup salt (don’t be fooled, this is A LOT of salt)

Directions:

In a large pot, mix water and food coloring. Then add the rest of the ingredients.

Cook over medium-high heat and stir with a wooden spoon (not a spatula, too flimsy) for about 5 minutes until the consistency is thick like…well…play dough. The longer you cook it, the harder it becomes, so keep an eye on it and take it out as soon as you like where it’s at.

That’s it. You’re done! CAREFULLY remove hot play dough from pot and allow to cool.

Once your play dough has cooled enough to touch, it’s time to play! What are you (ahem…I mean, the kids) going to make?

A birthday cake?

A happy face?

Once you’re ready to put the delightful batch of dough away, you can store it at room temperature in a simple, airtight container such as a gallon-size ziploc bag. This way it’s always soft and easy to take it along with you. Plus, as mentioned in a previous post, the zip seal will challenge the little rascals’ fine motor skills every time they open and close the bag.

You could also provide smaller portions for little hands by dividing your batch into plastic pop-top baby food containers (like with Gerber baby food) or small plastic containers from the dollar store. Also a great challenge for kids’ fine motor and bilateral hand skills.

Good luck with your play dough adventures, and don’t forget to have fun!

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Mama OT

Tips and tricks for those who care for children

Tag Archives: DIY

Make your own marbled greeting cards with shaving cream and food coloring

How to Make Homemade Instant Snow

Use play dough as boundaries for cutting {Photo Friday}

Pumpkin Pie Scented Play Dough

Easy Pipe Cleaner Bracelet

Easy Sensory Bags for Babies and Toddlers

Mother’s Day is coming…

Recipe for Easy Homemade Play Dough