Move & Grow
Fall Fun!
Activities and Ideas for Preschool Parents
OT/PT Newsletter, November 2016
Fine Motor Fun
The air is cool and crisp, the leaves are falling, and it’s time to put on cozy sweaters. Fall is here!
All of the pumpkins, apples, pinecones, and leaves are wonderful tools for working on fine motor
skills. Check out these ideas for incorporating fall fun into fine motor practice:
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Pinecone Weaving: After rinsing your pinecones and allowing them to dry, choose a
weaving material such as yarn or pipe cleaners. Allow your child to experiment wrapping
and weaving around the pine cone. It’s a great way to practice using both hands together,
grasp and using a pincer grip. Children can manipulate the materials in different ways to
build muscle strength and dexterity, and develop hand-eye coordination.
Leaf Rubbing: Gather fallen leaves and, if needed, flatten them over night between the
pages of a heavy book. Place the leaves between 2 sheets of white paper. Using a colored
pencil or crayon, color over the leaves. Remember not to press too hard or you won’t see
the details of the leaf well! This activity focuses on bilateral coordination, muscle grading
(ability to press harder or softer through the pencil while coloring), developing pencil
grasp, and hand strength and endurance.
Hiking
Fall is a great time for family hikes, after the heat of summer is gone, but before the bitter cold of
winter begins. While taking a hike children will be developing their gross motor, balance and
coordination naturally, but parents can encourage these skills through fun activities.
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Practice jumping down or forward, keeping both feet together.
Play a game running and jumping, taking off of one foot and landing on two.
Stepping over a log will help develop weight shifting. Practice stepping forwards,
sideways and backwards. Sing a song or recite the alphabet to encourage repeating this
activity.
Walk on a low curb, or a log that is stable. Practice putting one foot in front of the other.
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Practice galloping.
Talk about walking under, in front of, behind, and around obstacles.
Sensory Experiences
Scavenger hunts are always fun with preschoolers! It’s a great way for them to learn about
tactile (touch) discrimination with respect to size, texture, shape, color, etc. Take a walk around
your own yard or neighborhood to discover such items as pine cones, acorns, leaves, pine
branches, bird feathers and maybe even a nest! Together you can create a holiday centerpiece or
wreath! You might want to use pictures for your child to match while hunting!
Holiday baking can become a wonderful time for imagination and creativity as well as providing
an opportunity to develop fine motor skills. By rolling dough, using cookie cutters and
decorating cookies, your child is working on improving wrist/hand/finger strength, bilateral
coordination and grasp patterns.
Helpful Holiday Hints
The holidays are fast approaching and to many of us it is an exciting and inviting time of year.
But, to a sensory sensitive youngster, it can become incredibly stressful due to the variety of
sounds, smells, people, and unpredictable schedule. Here are some tips to consider during this
holiday season……
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Preview the holiday schedule with your child by discussing where you are going, who
will be there, what you will be eating, etc. Show pictures if possible.
Use a calendar to mark off the days until the celebration and/or holiday trip
If traveling by plane for the first time, watch a YouTube video so your child has a visual
idea of what to expect
Arrive early to your destination (relative’s house) so that your child can “ease” into the
new environment
Pack a few favorite comfort items such as toys, blanket and/or stuffed animal along with
familiar snacks
Ask the host if there could be a quiet, alternative room that your child could go to as a
“safety zone” with you if they experience sensory overload
Take a walk together outside after the holiday meal for a “movement break”
Bring headphones with favorite music on ipod to “calm”and regulate your child if needed
Holiday Toy Gift GuidePlease visit the district website to download our holiday toy guide. It is located under Special
Education department/parent resources.
The list includes toys that create opportunities for your child to use their imagination and move
as well as to develop gross and fine motor skills. With large motor equipment, imaginations take
over as well as opportunities to practice yoga positions, balance, bilateral skills and hide and
seek games. For tabletop games, look at the manipulative tools that are required to determine if
the toy may be extra worthwhile for your child. Play is the best way for children to practice their
emerging skills. Honey Bee Tree, Bed Bugs, Wok and Roll, and Sneaky Snacky Squirrel are
some of our favorites. Of course Play Doh Fun Factories or Drill and Fill that require pressure
and pinch are great to promote strengthening and small motor skill development.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!
Denise Glew, PT
Mary Ann Loreng, OT
Courtney Scardena, OT