Here are three outdoor summer activities that help develop fine motor skills. They require no paper, pencils, or electronic devices! Plan each activity for a different summer day.
1. Paintless Painting
You will need:
A beach pail and a small, clean paint brush (about 3 inches wide, the kind used for indoor trim.)
Directions:
• Fill the pail about ¾ full of clean water
• Let your child "paint" on the back side of your house, garage, or shed.
• The up-and-down and side-to-side motions will help your child strengthen muscles needed for drawing, printing, and other fine motor tasks. Children love to see the "paint" disappear as it dries. This activity keeps young children productively occupied for a long time!
2. Big Chalk, Big Pictures
You will need:
Thick sidewalk chalk (available at Wal-Mart, Dollar Stores, etc.)
Directions:
• Let your child draw and write on the driveway, sidewalk, or patio. Encourage big pictures, letters and/or words. (For example, a "Welcome Home" message to a returning family member.) Their art will last until the next rainstorm!
3. Shaving Cream Art
You will need:
• A can of shaving cream and an old tray or cookie sheet
Directions:
• Once outside, fill the tray or cookie sheet with shaving cream (add food coloring for more fun!)
• Let your child draw using their finger, or a small Popsicle stick. They can draw pictures, write their name, practice capital and lowercase letters, or write words in the shaving cream. Your child can erase by smoothing a hand slightly over the cream.
• Clean up is easy with the hose or a bucket of water.
Take advantage of the good summer weather and let your child learn while playing outside!Labels: kids, Occupational Therapy, Parents, Therapy
