Playing Indoors in the Snow

One of the instructional assistants in the high school class for students with autism was so excited to show me a great activity this morning, based on this post:

Playing Indoors in the Snow

3 cups of baking soda + 1/2 cup of hair conditioner = great indoor snow

Here we go:

Have a whole cup and a half cup measuring set out on the table.  Ask the students to choose the needed size, based on the recipe.

Just stir.  Take turns.  Observe grasps...

I think stirring by hand would work, too.

Dump it all on the clean table and start squeezing.

It really does clump together, like real snow.

It really does hold together long enough to make a snowman.

Gather up the remnants and squeeze again.

There's the snowman.  Just needs a little decoration.

 

 

Your snowman won't melt, but he won't firm up like bread dough, either.  I say, take him apart and make something new.  Maybe...a polar bear?

 

 

Measuring, firmly grasping the mixing spoon and keeping the bowl from flying all over the table, touching the cool, silky mix and thinking of an object to create, asking a neighbor to share materials--many skills to practice.


Thanks to Kerry J. for her Pinterest sleuthing and sharing this idea with me!


Update--used this activity with two middle schoolers yesterday during a combined Speech-OT session and it was very interesting...the students were a little hesitant to touch the "snow" but they also loved the cool feel of it.  Even the student who had difficulty holding the snow in her palm was willing to pinch little bits of it so she could "make it snow" on the adults' hands!

The SLP got loads of concepts snuck into the activity.  Gave the leftovers to the students' teacher for more fun this week.

 

"Concussion" and Brain Injury Assocation of Virginia

Very glad to read this article in our local paper, on the topic of brain injury:

Brain Injury article

Think about how many families will be helped by Ms. McDonnell's words.  If you have a passion to share information about your area of knowledge--go for it!

Yes, It Really Does Snow in Virginia

For all the non-believers out there who think we never get snow in the south:

Well, it snowed a little.  Yes, for about 30 minutes, total, and it all melted immediately upon hitting the warm ground.  However, I think there will be more to come!

Seeing the pretty snowfall was exciting and made the first day back to work after two weeks of vacation seem a little more do-able.

A Joyful Christmas to All

My "50% off after Christmas" metal tree decorated with homemade, white Sculpey ornaments
and very old, tatted (not tattered!) snowflakes.

A little story for Christmas:

All is bright

Gifts That Matter

This beautiful photo my friend took of her daughter speaks to the importance of giving children the gifts of your time and attention:

See more by this talented mom, photographer and writer at:  http://www.thekriegers.org/

And, to read my latest rant about giving priceless gifts to your children:

My Latest Rant

Indoor Snowball Fun Alert

At my first school this morning one of the instructional assistants showed me the indoor snowballs she had recently purchased at a local CVS drugstore--they feel wonderfully squishy, in a resistive/crunchy sort of way.

So, I looked for them on the way to my next stop and--Voila!  The snowballs are now happily settled in my trunk.

Here's a link to a photo of them:

Indoor Snowball Photo & info

No, they don't need to be kept in the freezer and, no, they aren't icy in the center--no worries! 

I did see a warning that they are a choking hazard for young children.

Speaking of no worries, Christmas break starts at 4 PM today--two weeks off--all you hospital/clinic/home health OTs out there...you need to come work in public schools!

Cutting Up the Christmas Tree

Erica, one of our abundantly-creative OTs on staff, sent along this activity for scissor practice and assembling a little holiday tree:

I saw this idea online and decided to do it as a session with one of my students IN his K class with his classmates. A substitute and L.D. teacher were present to assist with the other children. My student was max A for most of the tasks, but a lot of his classmates required assistance, too. To complete, they had to cut a paper plate into thirds, thread ribbons through hole-punched holes, and squeeze glitter glue. Quite the fine-motor challenge! 

Here are some of the finished products: 

 

 

Here are more of Erica's recent activities:

 

http://otinpublicschools.blogspot.com/2015/10/sneaky-snacks-fm-and-self-help-activity.html

 

http://otinpublicschools.blogspot.com/2015/09/improving-prehension-with-everyday.html