Re: Floor or activity suggestions wanted

[Guest guest]

Hi Kim,

We did a lot of art therapy as that is where her interests lie and where a number of her problems were, fine motor control. Paint, as first as she could not put enough pressure on the crayons to make a visible line. Play doh was also a big one for us, good for fine and gross motor control and sensory integration. She moved from painting to markers to crayons to pencils and her fine motor control is age appropriate now.

Making books was a big one for us also. I would just take several pages of copy paper and fold them in half and staple in the center. This helped with verbal skills and story telling and she would show and retell her story to her Dad when he got home.

Also, baking bread was a huge succes, for us. Nutritious and she got right on top of the table and kneaded it (great for gross motor control and sensory integration). We baked bread everyday and she liked checking off the ingredients at first, then, she learned to read the ingredients and would love to call them out to me. Very little is more satisfying than seeing the bread rise in the oven, except eating it. And this works if you are gf as there are many good gf grains, we were not gf, but used spelt flour as well as whole wheat. Very messy process, I might add, with the flour frequently all over both of us and most of the kitchen, but she never failed to remind me we had to make bread.

Blowing bubbles (fine motor control and good for articulation issues) is good and fun. We got a good yoga tape, a mat and leotards and tried that, it was fun, relaxing and successful.

Since balance was a big problem, we got a trampoline at first and later moved to roller skates, but you could start with roller skates depending on your child's skill levels. We just roller skate on our hardwood floors, although I learned early on to get her a helmet :-). Also, in the winter we played hockey (with a child's hockey set), another good one for balance and it is said that things that are good for balance are good for the brain supposedly due to having to use both sides of the brain for balance activities. There is some evidence to suggest that ASD kids have trouble moving things back and forth across the corpus collosum between the left and right side of their brain.

I could go on an on, but I am sure other people have just as many good ideas. Good luck, and we always did things we liked, and were interested in and we had lots of fun!

----- Original Message -----

From: ziahsmomma

Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 10:38 AM

Subject: [ ] Floor or activity suggestions wanted

I've been working a homebased program with my son for a very long time. We incorporate all kinds of activities. Floor and table work, physical therapy and occupational therapy activities, Sensory integration activities. You all know the kinds of things I'm referring to. I need a lift, a fresh perspective, I know my son gets bored even though I try to vary what we do.I know all our children are different, but I'd love to hear some of your favorite or more creative suggestions on what your children enjoy. Were talking younger children, my son is 6 and profoundly autistic but there are many things he enjoys and participates in so I never rule our any possibilities. Thanks for responding. Kim

[Guest guest]

Kim, There is a great book that has alot of different activities for all sensory input. Here are some my kids like. (great for all kids) -Squirt guns with water color paint. Get an old sheet take out side hang it them be artists. -Sand table, driving cars etc thru it -Hop Scotch with chalk outside -nuts and bolts from walmart have them take apart and put together. Act like Bob The Builder. screw together and unscrew. -whip cream on the table and let them write in it. -obtacle courses, put a 4by4 on the ground let them walk it like a balance beam around the garbage can, crawl under a board that you have balanced between something, etc. -wheelbarrel walking -chewy necklace. could use licorice,friut snacks, cheerios,apples etc -blow pens sell at walmart -pull wagon toothpick contruction. take toothpicks and marshmellowsor other

foods to makes things -stop and go games, (really help my son) freeze then go, walk to lines in your driveway and try to stay on the lines and catch each other. say stop, then go. Loves it! I hope I have given you some good ideas. -ziahsmomma <ziahsmomma@...> wrote: I've been working a homebased program with my son for a very long time. We incorporate all kinds of activities. Floor and table work, physical therapy and occupational therapy activities, Sensory integration activities. You all know the kinds of things I'm referring to. I need a lift, a fresh perspective, I know my son gets bored even though I try to vary what we do.I know all our children are different, but I'd love to hear some of your favorite or more creative suggestions on what

your children enjoy. Were talking younger children, my son is 6 and profoundly autistic but there are many things he enjoys and participates in so I never rule our any possibilities. Thanks for responding. Kim

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[Guest guest]

Kim the name of that book is the Out of Sync Child Has Fun. Cochran <Ladyshrink111@...> wrote: Hi Kim, We did a lot of art therapy as that is where her interests lie and where a number of her problems were, fine motor control. Paint, as first as she could not put enough pressure on the crayons to make a visible line. Play doh was also a big one for us, good for fine and gross motor control and sensory integration. She moved from painting to markers to crayons to pencils and her fine motor control is age appropriate now. Making books was a big one for us also. I would just take several pages of copy paper and fold them in half and staple in the center. This helped with verbal skills and story telling and she would show and retell her story to her Dad when he got home. Also, baking bread was a huge succes, for us. Nutritious and she got right on top of the table and kneaded it (great for gross motor control and sensory integration). We baked bread everyday and she liked checking off the ingredients at first, then, she learned to read the ingredients and would love to call them out to me. Very little is more satisfying than seeing the bread rise in the oven, except eating it. And this works if you are gf as there are many good gf grains, we were not gf, but used spelt flour as well as whole wheat. Very messy process, I might add, with the flour frequently all over both

of us and most of the kitchen, but she never failed to remind me we had to make bread. Blowing bubbles (fine motor control and good for articulation issues) is good and fun. We got a good yoga tape, a mat and leotards and tried that, it was fun, relaxing and successful. Since balance was a big problem, we got a trampoline at first and later moved to roller skates, but you could start with roller skates depending on your child's skill levels. We just roller skate on our hardwood floors, although I learned early on to get her a helmet :-). Also, in the winter we played hockey (with a child's hockey set), another good one for balance and it is said that things that are good for balance are good for the brain supposedly due to having to use both sides of

the brain for balance activities. There is some evidence to suggest that ASD kids have trouble moving things back and forth across the corpus collosum between the left and right side of their brain. I could go on an on, but I am sure other people have just as many good ideas. Good luck, and we always did things we liked, and were interested in and we had lots of fun! ----- Original Message ----- From: ziahsmomma Sent: Friday, May 26, 2006 10:38 AM Subject: [ ] Floor or activity suggestions wanted I've been working a homebased program with my son for a very long time. We incorporate all kinds of activities. Floor and table work, physical therapy and occupational therapy activities, Sensory integration activities. You all know the kinds of things I'm referring to. I need a lift, a fresh perspective, I know my son gets bored even though I try to vary what we do.I know all our children are different, but I'd love to hear some of your favorite or more creative suggestions on what your children enjoy. Were talking younger children, my son is 6 and profoundly autistic but there are many

things he enjoys and participates in so I never rule our any possibilities. Thanks for responding. Kim

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