1
Casey Botelho
HHS-401 Activity Notebook
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: What’s
inside the paper bag?
Age group: 2 years old
Supplies needed:
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paper bags
house hold items
toys
tape
Description: Start by collecting a number of familiar items your child uses and enjoys. To
develop sensory and tactile touch skills it’s best to use a hairbrush, shoe, drinking cup or set of
keys. Place each item in the paper bag and tape it closed. Have your child feel the bag and the
detailed characteristics of each item. When your child guesses the correct answer, let them open
the bag to visually see the item they guessed correctly.
Function: According to Thomas (2012), this activity integrates a number of different functions.
Multisensory processing is used to implement the 7 senses to interpret what is in the bags.
Visuospatial processing is the ability to use and understand the position of the items in relation to
your child and their memory of the objects and others surrounding it. Recognition is also used to
recognize the object with what they feel and hear as they examine the bag through touch.
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
Schoen, L. (2014, April 10). 10 sensory ideas for two year olds. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/76350156157602303/
2
: Dough
Art
Age Group: 2 Years old
Supplies Needed:
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Large bowl
two cups flour
one cup salt
one-half cup water
spoon
Description: First start by making the dough. In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, and water.
Mix well with a spoon until consistency is thick and pliable. Roll out a small amount for your
child to play with and let them make their own creation. Let their mind wander freely to make
whatever they envision. Monitor your child during this activity as the dough cannot be eaten.
After your child has finished their creation, let the dough dry for several days or dry in oven at
150 degrees for the first hour, 175 degrees for the second hour or 200 degrees for the third hour.
Function: According to research done by Johnson, Lobdell, Nesbitt and Clare (1996) this
activity will help with fine motor abilities of the hand, tactile awareness of the hands, eye-hand
coordination, concentration, hand dominance and more.
Johnson, C., Lobdell, K., Nesbitt, J., & Clare, M. (1996). 49-51. In Therapeutic crafts: A
practical approach. Thorofare, NJ: Slack.
3
: Cheerios
Age Group: 1 year old
Supplies Needed:
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Cheerios
Jar
Description: Teach your child the importance of fine motor skills by making them help you put
cheerios in a jar. First show them the process of putting the cheerios in the jar, and then make
them do it independently.
Function: Thomas (2012) explains that concept formation is used in this activity. When the child
understands the information and process of putting the cheerios in the jar they then can do it on
their own while gaining fine motor skills every time they pick up a cheerio!
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
4
: Shiny
Paper
Age Group: 1-2 years old
Supplies Needed:
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Various colors of shiny paper
Description: Let your child sit on the ground while they play and manipulate the different
colored shiny paper. As they play introduce them to each individual color and texture of each
paper. Continue to cut the paper into smaller pieces and watch as they manipulate it differently.
Monitor your child though this activity so they don’t eat or ingest the paper.
Function: Stewart (2010) implemented skills such as fine motor control as they manipulate the
paper with their hands. The will also learn the skills of color recognition as they explore the
different colored shiny paper. Lastly they will learn the language of colors and textures as you
introduce them to the shiny colored paper. Regarding tactile discrimination, Thomas (2012)
explains how this skill is used as your child distinguishes the texture of the shiny paper by touch.
Visual discrimination is also used as your child will interpret between the different shapes,
objects, and colors.
Stewart, D. J. (2010, December 20). At play with baby: Shiny paper. Retrieved from
http://www.teachpreschool.org/2010/12/at-play-with-baby-shiny-paper/
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
5
:
Collect the socks
Age Group: 1 ½ years old
Supplies Needed:
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Child’s socks
Description: Let your child help you with organizing and pairing socks. First show them the
steps on how to pair socks and put them together. Let them do the rest independently then and
after they have finished show them where the sock drawer is and let them put them away.
Function: Bronsil (2014) integrates skills such as eye hand coordination, social development and
matching to help the child understand the correct way of pairing their socks. Thomas (2012)
shows how the ability of generalization skills can help the child learn by interpreting the learned
strategy of pairing the socks and implementing and transferring it into putting them together on
their own. They are also learning the sequencing pattern of complex movement. This is the
learning method of how the socks should be correctly organized. This skill also helps with fine
motor as each sock must be precisely paired and folded into one another.
Bronsil, B. (2014, July 10). 27 Daily living skills for one year olds. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/543457880007624127/
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
6
: Pillow
B
Course
Age Group: 1 year old
Supplies Needed:
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Pillows
Cushions
Description: Set up a path of pillows and cushions on the floor that creates a zig zag pattern for
your child to comprehend the movements of different directions. You can also implement
different types of textured pillows; this will introduce your child to different types of tactile
sensations. Challenge your child to walk or crawl through the path with or without your help. Let
them play independently and gain muscles in the upper and lower extremities.
Function: This activity strengthens various different skills. According to Bronsil (2014) this
activity can improve the eye-foot coordination, balance, body awareness, and gross motor skills
of your child. Thomas (2012) reveals that this activity closely articulates with the skills of
proprioception or the perception of ones positioning in a body of space. If you are using a
variation of different textured pillows the child is learning tactile discrimination which is
distinguishing from the different types of textures through the sensation of touch.
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
Bronsil, B. (2014, June 10). Balance challenges for one year olds. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/348958671100446119/
7
: Echo
Clapping
Age Group: 2 years old
Supplies Needed:
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No Supplies Needed
Description: This activity will help your child listen and learn through memory. Make your
child imitate the sounds of each clap they hear. Start at first with 3 rhythmic claps and ask them
to repeat and imitate the claps. As they continue to learn the rhythms, add more claps as they
grasp the skill of learning the correct beat.
Function: Bronsil (2014) introduces this activity to will help with your child’s ability to listen
and imitate. It will focus on strengthening the sensory memory of your child. This is done by
storing the sensory input of the claps and holding the sensation in our memory for a brief
moment so it can then be processed. Establishing skills for sustained attention is also an
improvement of this activity Thomas (2012) explains. The sustained attention of your child is
important to maintain concentration in order to process the sustained stimulus and respond back
correctly.
Bronsil, B. (2014, May 20). 20 listening skills for two year olds. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/464433780296313679/
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
8
: Pattern
Blocks
Age Group: 2 years old
Supplies Needed:
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Patterned Blocks
Pre-made shaped objects
Description: Pattern blocks are a great way to teach your child about colors and shapes. In this
activity show your child a pre-made patterned block object, and have them try to imitate it on
their own. If they cannot get it within reasonable time, let them use the pre-made stencil to match
the shapes and colors.
Function: Pruett (2013) believes the significance of this activity is the fundamental skill of
pattern recognition to learn about math. This activity will also strengthen the brain and improve
cognitive flexibility skills. (Thomas 2012) These skills are used when confronting a problem or
changing a set of thoughts. Cognitive flexibility is needed when presented with new information
or ideas.
Pruett, M. (2013, July 16). Building cognitive skills. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/159385274286442863/
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print
9
: Edible
Safe Scented Finger Paint (Non-toxic)
Age Group: 1 Year old
Supplies Needed:
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Plain Yogurt
Variety of different kool Aid packets (sugar free)
Small cups
Spoon
Tape
Paper canvas
Old bed sheet
Description: Start by making the paint, first pour two spoonful’s of plain yogurt in small cups.
Separately add each Kool Aid packet into yogurt filled bowl and mix to create color scented
yogurt “paint”. Lay out the sheet and proceed with taping the canvas down so it doesn’t move.
Let your child play with the safe paint and create a masterpiece on the paper canvas.
Function: This project integrates senses such as seeing, touching, tasting, hearing and smelling.
At a young age establishing the sense of smell is important. The use of olfactory discrimination
is used to differentiate smells. (Thomas 2012) This activity will quickly adhere your child’s
attention on playing with the paint and making a creation of their own. They will develop the use
of fine motor skills and visual discrimination while they play and have fun.
Citro, A. (2013, April 29). Explore your sense of smell. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/192177109075159323/
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012. Print.
10
: Bath
Time!
Age Group: 1-2 years old
Supplies Needed:
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Plastic doll
Soap
Description: Start off your child young by learning the importance of ADL’s (activity of daily
living). A fun way to get your child to bathe is by letting them bring their favorite toy or doll into
the bath. Teach your child how to wash themselves using the doll and then let them wash
themselves after they have learned how to correctly wash up. Another thing you can do is teach
them the body parts as they clean each one at a time. For example ask your child to clean their
feet, hands and nose as they point and clean to each body part.
Function: This ADL will help with the functions of generalization and hygiene. (Thomas 2012).
Bringing the baby doll to tub time is important because the use of generalization will help with
your child’s the ability to take a strategy learned in one situation and transfer it to another.
Another functional sensation that they will be more familiar with is thermal awareness. This is
the ability to feel the temperature between hot and cold. Before your gets into the tub, have them
step in before they become fully immersed in the water.
Thomas, Heather. Occupation-based Activity Analysis. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK, 2012.
Print.Kavanaugh, N. (2013, January 30). Baby doll baths. Retrieved from
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/362610207470306380/