Strengthen your mind, body, and soul with arts and crafts.
At CORA, we focus on simplification training, fine motor and dexterity, gross motor and coordination, sensory stimulation and training in the use of neuromuscular stimulators. Arts and crafts is just one of the methods used by our occupational therapists to help patients regain strength and function after injury or illness or develop fine motor skills as needed to help enrich the lives of our patients.
“Every art lesson is created keeping the development of the whole child in mind … social, cognitive, emotional, and teacher.” – Teacher Diane, Philly Art Center
It’s the perfect activity to develop and strengthen a person’s ability to control the small movements of hands and fingers — and it’s FUN! That’s why, in the spirit of OT Month at CORA, some of our amazing OTs have shared three of their favorite springtime crafts sure to please the mind, body, and soul, all while boosting your fine motor skills! Keep reading for:
- Paper Plate Flower Craft for Kids
- Up-cycled T-Shirt Bag
- Clothespin Painting
Springtime Craft #1: Paper Plate Flower Craft for Kids
No green thumb, here? That’s okay. Some Popsicle sticks, paper plates and paint will help you create your own garden of flowers that require no ongoing watering or maintenance. Bring your flowers to life with different shapes, colors and personal creativity! (Credit: The Resourceful Mama)
Occupational Skill Addressed:
This craft is a great way to work on cutting skills. You can make this craft more difficult by having your child copy designs onto the flower or cut different shaped petals. Turn this into a sensory craft and have your child finger paint. Enjoy!
Directions:
Step 1: Paint the Popsicle stick green and let it dry.
Step 2: To make cutting the petals easier, you can draw some lines for your child to cut on.
Step 3: Cut slits into the paper plate.
Step 4: Cut another small slit so that the slits connect and you cut out a small piece. Now you will have flower petals!
Step 5: Paint your flower however you please!
Step 6: Draw and cut out two leaves to put on your flower stem.
Step 7: Glue leaves onto the back of Popsicle stick.
Step 8: Glue the Popsicle stick to the back of the paper plate.
All done! Congrats, you now have a beautiful spring flower.
Springtime Craft #2: Up-cycled T-Shirt Bag
Up-cycled T-shirt Bag is the perfect craft, in the spirit of Earth Day, to demonstrate your support for environmental protection across our planet!
Occupational Skill Addressed:
Fine motor, specifically promotion of functional grasp for writing and scissor operation, visual tracking, sequencing, bilateral coordination (i.e. holding an item in each hand), visual motor, sensory exploration through different tactile (such as feeling) and proprioceptive inputs (or cutting through thick material) to name a few!
Materials:
- T-shirt (larger than infant/toddler sizes)
- Washable Marker
- Ruler
- Scissors (regular or adapted)
- Plate
Directions:
Step 1: Lay shirt flat with bottom edges aligned. Measure three inches from bottom and make a dot on each end and in the middle. Connect the dots. Cut along line.
Step 2: Trace line on top of each sleeve with marker. Cut along lines.
Step 3: Use ruler to draw 3” long line from bottom with 1” between lines. Be sure to draw one on each edge of shirt! Cut along lines.
Step 4: Place plate along collar of shirt, trace. Be sure you have at least 1” between edge of collar and trace line. Cut along line.
Step 5: Tie double knot in each slit at bottom of shirt. Wash shirt to make marker lines disappear.
Bonus: Don’t throw away those scraps! Make cleaning cloths by cutting the sleeves open in one area. And make a headband by cutting the bottom of the shirt open in one area.
Springtime Craft #3: Clothespin Painting
Grass, leaves, straw, and similar Springtime materials are readily available and make this the ideal art project as the weather warms this time of year!
Occupational Skill Addressed:
Fine motor, specifically promotion of pincer grasp, strength, precision, and control, visual tracking for reading preparation (from left to right), sequencing, bilateral coordination (such as holding and item in each hand), visual motor (or using ones hand to place tools in specific areas), sensory exploration through different tactile (feeling) and auditory (sound) inputs, short term memory recall and matching, adhering to borders (this helps with handwriting on lined paper) to name a few!
Materials:
- Newspaper
- Thick paper (construction, card stock)
- Washable paint – various colors
- Clothespins(wooden if numbering)
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Springtime Materials – grass, leaves, straw, cotton ball, stick, bubble wrap, tulle, paper scraps…
Directions:
Step 1: Evenly space out lines on the paper and draw lines with a pencil and ruler. Then, number each section.
Step 2: Number your clothespins to correspond with quantity of numbers on paper.
Step 3: Dab each tool in paint and begin painting from left to right in specified numbered area of paper to match the number on the clothespin.
Step 4: Allow to dry and see if you can recall the tool used for each print!
The impact of OT for upper extremities and fine motor skills.
Fine motor skills can be a fun, colorful, creative adventure. Not to mention its a great way to spend time together and bond as a family! For patients, home art projects are a fantastic means to continue rehabilitation for a faster, more effective result that truly changes their lives.
If you want to learn more about occupational therapy, or feel that it’s time to seek the help of a professional, please visit one of our 200+ physical therapy clinics throughout Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri or Illinois to schedule an appointment at the clinic nearest you.
