How to Make Kiddie Chopsticks

Posted on October 14, 2012 by christiekiley

Kiddie chopsticks are really easy to make. And did you know that when kids play with tongs and chopsticks, they are actually practicing fine motor skills that will help them with cutting and writing?

The ability to use tongs and kiddie chopsticks is a pre-scissor skill, and the ability to use scissors is a pre-writing skill.

Pretty cool, huh? Tong play is especially great for older toddlers and preschool-aged kids. Be sure to encourage them to use their “pincher fingers” (thumb and index finger, and younger ones can add in the middle finger) when operating their tongs so they can exercise the right muscles for learning to use scissors, crayons, and pencils. If they have difficulty figuring out which fingers to use, tell them to make an “L” shape with their thumb and index finger before placing them on the tongs…learned this trick from a parent, and it’s brilliant!

You only need three things to make kiddie chopsticks:
• A set of cheap chopsticks
• The paper that comes with the chopsticks
• A rubberband

Step 1. Break apart the chopsticks.

Step 2. Roll up the paper all the way to the end.

Step 3. Place the rolled up paper in between the two broken ends.

Step 4. Place the rubberband over the chopsticks, on the side of the paper that’s closest to the middle.

Step 5. Pull the rubberband down, twist to form an “X”, and bring it up over the outer end of the chopsticks.

Step 6. Wrap remaining rubberband around the end until tight and secure.

Ta-da! Easy peasy.

A few tips: (1) The thicker you roll the paper, the wider your chopsticks will be (great for beginners). (2) Cheap, square-ish chopsticks are easier for kids to use than fancy round ones. Just grab a pair the next time you order take-out and you’ll be good to go.

If you feel like you need a little more visual guidance check out this great, easy-to-follow video: How to Make Kid-Friendly Chopsticks (this is actually how I learned to make them).

Kids can use these chopsticks to practice picking up and placing various items (such as balls of play dough) into containers. Have them pinch off the dough and roll the balls themselves for added fine motor practice.

Kids can also use tongs to increase challenge while stacking small blocks. (I’m thinking chopstick Jenga might be a fun challenge, too!)

Be sure to check back later this week for a big list of ideas with lots of different ways to play with tongs/chopsticks to promote your child’s fine motor and pre-writing development.

Have fun!

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eBook Review: 75 Ways to Have More Fun at Home

Posted on October 3, 2012 by christiekiley

I recently had the privilege of reading a great eBook called “75 Ways to Have More Fun at Home”. The author, Anna Luther, was a working woman who had three kids in three years (woah!). She quit her job and, though she never thought she would be a stay-at-home mom, she has realized it was the best decision her family ever made.

Anna blogs about all of this stuff – the good, the messy, and the funny – at My Life and Kids: Finding the Fun in Life and Motherhood. I’m a big fan of her down-to-earth, anti-supermom vibe. She keeps it real and isn’t afraid to admit that her house is a mess and, yes, there are days where she and the kids don’t make it out of their pajamas. Love it!

Anna is celebrating the release of her new eBook and she’s asked me to share some of my thoughts on it. After having read through it, I am totally game. This is great stuff.

As an OT, I want to share three of Anna’s ideas I loved (it was hard to pick just three…seriously, so much great stuff).

#45: Sticker Scavenger Hunt. This is a great one for fine motor, visual scanning, and understanding of positions in space when you give them clues about where the stickers are hiding (up/down, left/right, over/under, “hot”/”cold”, etc.).

#55: Obstacle Course. Obstacle courses can be set up inside or outside and you can use anything and everything in the environment to make them great. They are great for challenging kids’ gross motor skills and teaching them an understanding of sequence (1st this, 2nd this, 3rd this). Encourage them to incorporate animal crawls or wheelbarrow walks to help strengthen their upper body and trunk, both of which are necessary for strong fine motor skills.

#67: DIY Puzzles. Don’t throw out that cereal box until your kids have cut it apart and turned it into a puzzle! Great for fine motor and problem solving skills.

And as a mom of a boy who will someday love things that are disgusting, I absolutely MUST mention this one:

#3: Make Farting Noises. With a straw. Into your armpit. Say what?! Wait, it gets better. This one comes with video tutorial by Miss Anna herself. Now this you’ve gotta see.

Interested in finding out all 75 ways to have more fun at home? Well, you’re in luck. This eBook is hot off the (virtual) press and you can read more about it or instantly download it for $3.99 by clicking here.

I hope Anna’s eBook can serve as a great resource that will equip and inspire you to make the most of your time with your kids, whether you work full-time inside or outside the home. Check it out, and be sure to stop by her blog to leave her a note of encouragement or gratitude for a job well done!

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How to play with your baby on an exercise ball

Posted on September 30, 2012 by christiekiley

Playing with babies on an exercise ball is a fun way to help them strengthen postural muscles necessary for the development of motor skills. It’s also an easy way to provide them with more opportunities for movement and sensory input (especially if they seek movement of their head a lot or you have limited space).

Depending on how old they are, you can play with them by laying them on their tummy or sitting them on their bottom while you roll, rock, and gently bounce them on the ball. Make sure you’re safe with them by having a good hold on their midsection (between hips to armpits), stabilizing the ball as necessary, only moving them as much as their neck and back muscles can handle, and following their lead for how comfortable they are with the different types of movements. (Don’t let them fall off the ball!) Take advantage of this opportunity to play with them, make eye contact, sing songs, and have fun!

Check out this video for a demo of different positions and movements you can do while baby is on the exercise ball (baby in video is 13 months old, is just beginning to walk independently, and is a major sensory seeker who LOVES to be upside down, FYI):

Looking for ways to play with your younger baby (say, 2-6 months) on an exercise ball during tummy time? No problem. Check out this post for ideas on how to use an exercise ball (or a beach ball, or your shins) to help your little baby actually ENJOY tummy time…now that’s a concept!

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One Trick to Help Babies Learn to Roll {One Thing Thursday}

Posted on September 27, 2012 by christiekiley

Welcome to One Thing Thursday, where we share one thing you can do to boost your child’s development.

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Looking for a suggestion to help your baby learn to roll?

Try this one thing:

Set down and pick up baby while shifting his weight to the side in a rolling motion. You can start this one as soon as baby is born and — guess what? — it’s super easy to incorporate into your daily routine. You can do this with every diaper change and sleep session which means, for a newborn, it can add up to 20 or more times a day. That’s a lot of practice!

Here’s how you do it: Sit baby on his bottom and roll him over to the side while setting him down. Be sure to support his head so it doesn’t flop back, but check out how he automatically tries to keep his head from falling sideways so it stays in line with his body (a reflex with which babies are born). Cool, huh? This strengthens the muscles on the sides of his neck. This move also allows him to practice pushing against the floor with his arm on the way down. Simply reverse this motion when it’s time to pick baby up, and baby will get practice pushing up from the floor as well. Be sure to practice rolling baby to both left and right sides throughout the day…we don’t want a baby who only moves to one side! Check out the photos below and watch a short video demonstrating this maneuver by clicking here.

Looking for more ideas to help baby learn to roll? Check out this post with 10 tips for helping babies learn to roll.

Hope you enjoyed MamaOT’s first edition of One Thing Thursday. Come back next Thursday for another quick tip to boost your child’s development. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss out!

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40 Fun Sensory Bags

Posted on September 25, 2012 by christiekiley

Sensory Bags are a great way for kids to expand their sense of touch, creativity, and adventure, and they are so easy to make! Earlier this week I featured four different sensory bags that I’ve introduced to my one-year-old (filled with beads, shells, squishy sparkles, or glow sticks).

Now it’s time to take a look at all the other great ideas out there! I am seriously impressed with all of the incredible ideas people have come up with for how to play with (and learn from) sensory bags — from tummy time to giant waterbeds to practicing pre-writing skills, and everything in between!

Check out the categories and titles below to find something that suits your fancy. Or pin this post so you can come back later…too much fun stuff!

The Basics:

1. Sensory Bag for Tummy Time from Plain Vanilla Mom

2. Sensory Water Bag for Babies from The Activity Mom

3. Sensory Nibble Bag for Babies from Quaint Oaks

4. Bright and Colorful Sensory Bags for Preschool from Teach Preschool

5. Soapy Sparkle Squish Bag from Growing a Jeweled Rose

6. Shaving Cream Sensory Bag from Growing a Jeweled Rose

7. Paint Mixing in Bag from The Chocolate Muffin Tree

8. Baby Oil Sensory Bag from Play Based Learning

9. Sand and Water Sensory Bag from Play Based Learning

Group Fun:

10. DIY Sensory Bag Creation Stations from Fit Kids Club

11. Super Sensory Bag Table from Baby Centre UK

Larger Than Life:

12. Giant Squishy Sensory Bag from Go Kid Yourself

13. I-Spy Redneck Waterbed from Play at Home Mom

14. Outdoor Water Sensory Bag from Growing Our Family (with video!)

Ocean Themed:

15. Ocean Squish Bag from Growing a Jeweled Rose

16. Ocean in a Bag Sensory Craft from Crafts and Art for Children

17. Beach Themed Squish Bag from Growing a Jeweled Rose

18. Squishy Fishy Aquarium Bag from Teach Preschool

19. Baby Oil Aquarium Sensory Bag from Playing House in Maryland

20. Ocean Window Sensory Bag from Activities for Preschoolers

Other Themed:

21. Butterfly Sensory Bags for Preschoolers from Teach Preschool

22. Outer Space Sensory Bag from Familylicious

23. Slimy Eyes Halloween Sensory Bag/Suncatcher from hands on : as we grow

24. Simple Watermelon Suncatchers from Teach Preschool

25. Aloe Vera Googly Eyes Sensory Bag from Familylicious

26. Molasses Cinco de Mayo Sensory Bag from Carrots are Orange

27. Sugar Scrub Foam Fruit Sensory Bag from Familylicious

28. Color in a Bag from Family Fun

29. Touch of Fall Sensory Guess Bags from Pleasantest Thing

Glowing:

30. Glowing Water Sensory Bags from Growing a Jeweled Rose

31. Glowing Paint Sensory Bags from Growing a Jeweled Rose

32. Glowing Soapy Sparkle Squish Bags from Growing a Jeweled Rose

Pre-Academics:

33. Sensory Bag Maze with Finger from Activities for Preschoolers

34. Sensory Bag Maze with Ball from Baby Centre UK

35. Sensory Bag Fish Matching from Baby Centre UK

36. Sensory Bag Number Matching from Activities for Preschoolers

37. Eye Spy Alphabet Squish Bag from Growing a Jeweled Rose

38. Sensory Glitter Bag for Pre-Writing from Play at Home Mom

39. Sensory Writing Mats from Familylicious

40. Paint Bags for Writing with Q-Tips from Bright Starts of CNY

Which ones are your favorites, and what else can you put in a sensory bag?

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Click the buttons below to find more great kids’ play ideas:

This post was featured at:

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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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Can Video Games Really Improve Your Kids’ Health? {Guest Post}

Posted on September 14, 2012 by christiekiley

Photo by Nick Burns

At first glance, a statement identifying video games as a means toward achieving better health may sound like an oxymoron. However, the technology renowned for contributing to the stationary lifestyle of many Americans and ultimately contributing to both childhood and adulthood obesity now provides an option where it may contradict its former liabilities.

Video games found in the Wii operating system, for example, have contributed to physical interactiveness by players utilizing this system to participate in simulated sports such as bowling and baseball. The games found in this operating system have also been proven to increase hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and reaction time, especially in the elderly. There are other games that are specifically geared toward children as they encourage healthy lifestyles through selecting nutritious meals laden with fruit and vegetables, consuming adequate amounts of water and other health-conscientious fluids as well encouraging a physically active lifestyle. Children are impressionable and this type of interactive video game impacts them in a positive manner.

As reported by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in January 2011, there are two video games, “Escape from Diab” (Diab) and “Nanoswarm: Invasion from Inner Space” (Nanoswarm) that have been created with the intent of lowering the risks of type 2 diabetes and obesity in children. With the ever-increasing sedentary lifestyle of Americans beginning at earlier ages, children are now more susceptible to obesity and its side effects from a very early age more than ever. These games are engaging and complex with captivating storylines intended to entertain while educating children on embracing good nutritional habits and integrating physical activity as a regular component of their daily regimen.

Adult health may also benefit from videogaming options. According to Bill Ferguson, the Editor-in-Chief of the Games for Health Journal: Research, Development and Clinical Applications, “Videogaming (It’s) is clearly a growing market. Typically the market share dedicated to health-related games is about four or five percent; one out of every twenty games has something to do with health care.”

Active-play video games are designed to encourage physical activity. The American Heart Association and Nintendo of America have surveyed video game users and obtained results indicating that active-play video games encourage individuals to participate in real-life physical activities. This is referred to as the “gateway effect” as the interactive nature of the video games encourage users to become more physically active and conscientious of their nutritional choices. As supported by findings like those above, there is a growing opportunity for active-play video games to contribute to healthy lifestyles. In May 2010, the American Heart Association and Nintendo of America joined together in a strategic partnership in order to support people in establishing healthy lifestyles through physically active play.

Within the collaborative AHA and Nintendo survey, 58 percent of people who play active-play video games have begun a new real-life fitness activity like walking, tennis, or jogging since they started playing the games, and 68 percent of the respondents indicated that they are more physically active on a regular basis since the time that they begun to play interactive video games.

Positive role models are a key player in both adults’ and children’s lives in providing them examples of healthful lifestyles. For children who may not have positive reinforcement or role models that they may emulate, video games may assist with teaching children about healthy lifestyles and sound nutritional habits. These games encompass entertainment and a goal of changing youth diet and physical activity behaviors. Diab and Nanoswarm both incorporate social cognitive, self-determination, and persuasion theories into the context of their respective content as they simultaneously entertain and educate children about healthy lifestyle choices.

The outlook for videogaming is optimistic in that playing interactive video games will ultimately help persuade people to increase their physical activity and make lifestyle selections that are healthy and nutritionally sound.

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This guest post was submitted by Big Fish Games. Big Fish provides online games for your PC, Mac, mobile phone, or tablet computer. Games are available in ten languages and new games are launched daily. Visit Big Fish to find a great online game that’s sure to entertain.

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Get up and dance with your baby!

Posted on September 11, 2012 by christiekiley

Have you ever found yourself wondering what the heck to do with a baby who can’t roll, can’t scoot, can’t sit up, or can’t crawl? Um, yeah, pretty sure we all have. Well, you’re in luck, because here’s an idea…

DANCE WITH YOUR BABY!

I don’t care if you feel silly or not, your baby will more than likely LOVE it and I bet it will put you in a pretty good mood, too. Find your favorite groove – be it Funky Town or Wheels on the Bus – and get to work as your baby’s favorite dance partner. My favorite place for baby-bopping tunes is Pandora…try stations such as “Raffi” or “Veggie Tales”.

Dancing with your baby is great because it:

gets baby off the floor and into your arms
allows baby to experience lots of fun movement and stimulation (such as bouncing up and down or rolling and flying in your arms) before being able to move independently
prepares baby for the big task of learning how to roll
exposes baby (and you!) to different kinds of music and rhythm

To dance with your baby, all you have to do is turn on that music, find a position that suits baby’s age and comfort, and start bopping around. Dance and sway and sing for 30 seconds or so and then…FREEZE!…for a few seconds to give baby’s body (actually the inner ear) a chance to process all that movement and sort of “reset” for the next round. Dancing with too consistent a rhythm and no freeze breaks can cause your little one to sort of “tune out” the movement and lull them into lala land. Since that’s not the goal of this activity, we want to break things up to keep baby alert and engaged!

Be sure to switch up positions when you dance with your baby so they can experience all different kinds of movement.

You can hold baby facing out.

You can hold baby sideways.

Or you can roll baby down and make him fly!

Make things really fun and dance with baby in front of a mirror or even during a play date with other dancing babies!

I hope you get a chance to dance with your baby every day and as you bounce and laugh and cuddle, just remember that this stage won’t last forever, so do your best to make the most of these sweet and silly times!

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Fun sensory play with J-E-L-L-O!

Posted on September 5, 2012 by christiekiley

Getting messy is a hallmark of childhood, but did you know it’s also really good for kids? Exposing kids to lots of different sensory experiences and textures early in their lives helps develop their tactile system, which is important for the development of body awareness, hand skills, and even healthy eating habits. This means sensory play is both fun and educational!

We recently had fun during our first wet sensory play experience with some good ol’ fashioned Jello! After several hours of waiting for that gelatinous goodness to solidify, I sat my little one down in the bath tub with a bowl of black cherry Jello and a few spoons and let him go to town.

Here are a few tips for facilitating your own Jello sensory play experience:

1. Because Jello must be refrigerated for several hours before it’s ready, it is REALLY cold when it’s time to play. Give it some time on the counter after it’s hardened so your little one won’t feel like they’re plunging their hand into a bucket of ice water when they’re supposed to be having fun.

2. If your child is hesitant about touching the slimy stuff once it’s available, try giving them a “tool” such as a spoon or other utensil. This will provide some distance between them and the messy medium and will give them time to get comfortable with it.

3. If your child doesn’t warm up to it, that’s fine. Don’t force it. Put the bowl back in the fridge and try again another day.

4. If your child is all about sensory play, then try hiding things or playing with toys in the Jello. It could be bath toys, plastic letters, or other small toys that can be easily washed. Follow your child’s lead and encourage their imagination.

5. DO NOT allow kids to stand up in the tub after they’ve been playing with the Jello. It is super slippery and the last thing you need is a fun-time-turned-accident. Closely supervise during this experience.

6. Maybe try to avoid using Jello that is also the same color as blood. Like I said, I used black cherry flavor, and I didn’t realize how bad the color was until my baby started smearing it all over himself. Yeah. Looked like he was on the set of some sort of slasher movie. Not cool.

7. Wash all surfaces that have been covered in Jello so they aren’t sticky or slimy anymore…including baby!

What are some other fun ways you can play with Jello? Please share in the comment box below!

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Fine Motor Fun for Babies and Toddlers

Posted on September 4, 2012 by christiekiley

Fine motor play is one of the most important parts of early childhood, and now that my baby boy is old enough to be interested in it, we are having fun experimenting with all sorts of fun hands-on play. He is currently obsessed (yes, obsessed!) with using his pinchy little fingers to pick up puffy poms and place them in an empty water bottle. At first he’d try and miss, and then try again and miss again, but after a minute or so of practicing his new skill, he was hooked! He seriously attended to this task for at least ten minutes straight…and the child is 12 months old! I’ve never seen a baby so focused on what seems like such a simple task – he LOVED it! And after every few poms, he’d look up at me with a huge pride-filled smile and let out a satisfied sigh. It was so cute.

The great thing about this task is that there are lots of ways to “grade” it to make it easier or more difficult, depending on your child’s age and skill level.

Here are some ways to make it easier for beginners:

Use a container with a wider opening, such as a large juice bottle, cup, or bowl
Use larger poms (most packs include a variety of sizes)
Hold the container steady for baby and tilt it forward for easy access

And here are some ways to increase the challenge for older babies and toddlers:

Use a container with a smaller opening
Use smaller or thinner items such as shells, beads, coins, or smaller poms
Spread the items out around the child so they must visually scan the floor in order to find them
Have the child hold the container with one hand while placing items in with the other (gotta learn how to make two hands work together!)
Have the child place items with their eyes closed (no peeking!)
Place the items on the side that’s opposite their favorite hand so they will either have to cross over midline with their favorite hand in order to get it, or so they will use their less-preferred hand to pick it up and develop some skill (in this example, my child’s favorite hand is his left, so he has to reach to his right side)
Have the child place items while laying on their tummy (it challenges strength in their trunk and shoulders, which is important for furthering fine motor skills)
Encourage the child to try using kitchen tongs to place poms in container (great for pre-scissor and pre-writing hand skills)
Challenge the child to see if they can hold a few items in their palm at once and then “slide” one at a time to their fingertips as they place them in the container (these in-hand manipulation skills are also great for developing handwriting muscles)

If your little one is anything like mine, he requires very close supervision because he is still all about putting stuff in his mouth (and he’s lightning fast, too!) so PLEASE be sure to supervise your child during this activity and watch them light up as they discover new ways to use their ever-developing fine motor skills!

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Mama OT

Tips and tricks for those who care for children

Tag Archives: play

How to Make Kiddie Chopsticks

eBook Review: 75 Ways to Have More Fun at Home

How to play with your baby on an exercise ball

One Trick to Help Babies Learn to Roll {One Thing Thursday}

40 Fun Sensory Bags

Easy Sensory Bags for Babies and Toddlers

Can Video Games Really Improve Your Kids’ Health? {Guest Post}

Get up and dance with your baby!

Fun sensory play with J-E-L-L-O!

Fine Motor Fun for Babies and Toddlers