Funny Faces Freebie

This Funny Faces Freebie is great fun to download, print and create for the kids.  To start, download the freebie (see below).  Once you print the Funny Faces Freebie page, cut apart the rectangles.  You can either have the children cut apart the cards to practice scissor skills or an adult can cut apart the cards.  Another option, is to have the adult cut the rectangles into 3 strips and the child can cut apart each card.  Grab a recycled container to hold all the cards.  I used a lemonade container but you could use a peanut butter jar as well or any old container.

Here are 5 ways to play with the Funny Faces Freebie:

1.  Match up the cards – mix up all the funny faces cards and then match them up with the correct color.
2. Create different faces – put velcro dots on the back of each picture and the front of your recycled container.  The children can mix and match the eyes, noses and mouths to create different silly faces.
3. Try and draw the faces – place the cards into three piles face down – one pile of eyes, one nose pile and one mouth pile.  Turn over one of each.  Draw a circle on a piece of paper and draw the features on the cards that you turned over.
4. Make a busy bag – put all the cards into a zippered bag for an on the go activity.
5. Hidden Faces – hide the faces around the room.  How quickly can the child find the faces and match them all up?

This activity encourages:

• fine motor skills
• scissor skills
• visual perceptual skills
• visual motor skills

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE FUNNY FACES

Magnified Monsters: This download includes a super cute, fun, monster themed game to challenge visual form constancy, visual closure and visual scanning. The object of the game is to match the magnified picture of the monster with the full size picture of the monster. Play it as a game or print is in puzzle format to write in the answers. FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION.

 

The post Funny Faces Freebie appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Neck and Trunk Exercises Help with Hand Function and Visual Perceptual Skills

The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published research examining the effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercises on hand function and visual perceptual skills in 11 school aged children with cerebral palsy (GMFCS I-III). Each participant was evaluated using the Jebson-Taylor hand function test and the Korean Developmental Test of Visual Perception-2 (K-DTVP-2) test.  Kinesitherapy was implemented in individual sessions for eight weeks, twice a week, for 45 minutes at a time.  The neck and trunk stabilization exercises were implemented according to the functioning and level of each child.  Some of the exercises included: raising the head up in a modified bridge exercise posture, pushing the neck backward in order to activate the erector muscle of the cervical and upper thoracic vertebra and activating the deep abdominal muscles in the bridge exercise posture.  Following the 8 week intervention, a post evaluation was performed.  Data analysis revealed the following results:

1. a significant effect in five subcategories of the Jebson-Taylor hand function test: short sentence writing, card turning, placing small objects into something, large & lightweight can lifting, large & heavyweight can lifting.
2. there was a significant effect in visual motor speed on the K-DTVP-2 test.

The neck and trunk exercises used in this study helped improve short sentence writing, card turning, placing small objects into something, large & lightweight can lifting, large & heavyweight can lifting and visual motor speed.

Reference:  Shin J-W, Song G-B. The effects of neck and trunk stabilization exercises on upper limb and visuoperceptual function in children with cerebral palsy. Journal of Physical Therapy Science. 2016;28(11):3232-3235. doi:10.1589/jpts.28.3232.

Yoga Cards and Games:  This digital download is a collection of 30 full sized yoga cards (8.5″ x 11″) with directions, Sun Salutation sequence and over 20 game ideas with small size yoga cards (4″ x 5″). They are reproducible for the clients on your caseload or students in your classroom. Send them home for carry over activities.  Yoga Cards help to improve muscle strength, increase flexibility, relieve stress and calm the mind.  You will receive a link to download the document immedietely following payment for $6.99. ADD TO CART.

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Block Play and Spatial Awareness

Developing the skills to express and understand spatial skills are the first step in understanding spatial ability and awareness such as math skills, visual perceptual skills and body awareness.

Child Development published research on the importance of block play in over one hundred preschoolers. The children in the study who were better at copying block patterns were also better at early math skills. Copying block patterns consisted of knowing whether a block went above or below with the blocks properly aligned. The results also indicated that children from lower income families were already falling behind in visual spatial skills due to limited experiences with blocks or other toys that encourage visual spatial development. Parents of lower income children also reported using the words “above” or “below” less often.

A study in Mind, Brain and Education indicated that playing with blocks helps children to understand spatial concepts such as over, around and through. The researchers found that parents who participated in guided block play with their children had significantly higher proportions of spatial talk. Guided block play consisted of playing with the blocks along with guided instructions for how to build different structures.

Maybe next time you see a child struggling with spatial awareness take a quick moment to determine do they understand spatial language the first building block to spatial awareness.

References:

Fisher, K. Interactive play develops kids’ spatial skills. Temple University. Retrieved from the web on 11/3/11 at http://ift.tt/2fyhe6z

Society for Research in Child Development. “A child’s spatial and math thinking likely improved simply by playing with blocks.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 27 Sep. 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013.

“Brick” Activities for School and Home – “Brick” Activities for Home and School is a collection of activities to use with LEGO® type building blocks. These two dimensional, vertical patterns are easier to complete that your typical 3D LEGO® patterns. Create numbers, alphabet and seasonal objects. You will only need LEGO® style 2×2 and 2×4 size blocks to use the patterns. Also includes tips for data collection and step by step tutorial on how to make your own brick patterns using Word. Find out more information.

Visual Spatial Mazes – This is a HUGE collection of 50 different visual spatial mazes. There are 25 mazes in 11 x 8.5″ size and 25 mazes in 8.5 x 11″. The whole collection is in black and white. They are an intermediate level of difficulty. These mazes are an excellent challenge for fast finishers and visual perceptual skill practice.  Find out more information.

The post Block Play and Spatial Awareness appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Handwriting Speed Associated with Manipulation and Visual Perceptual Skills

The British Journal of Occupational Therapy examined 39 typically developing 6-8 year old children to determine whether visual perceptual, visual-motor integration and in-hand manipulation skills were associated with manuscript handwriting speed.  Each participant completed Beery–Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration – 6th edition (DTVMI), the Developmental Test of Visual Perception – 3rd edition (DTVP-3), the Test of In-Hand Manipulation – Revised (TIHM-R), and the Handwriting Speed Test (HST).  Results indicated the following:

• significant correlations were found between visual perception, visual-motor integration, and in-hand manipulation skills and total letters written and total letters per minute.
• the DTVP-3 eye–hand coordination and visual closure subscales and the TIHM-R were significant predictors of total letters written.
• the DTVP-3 copying and visual closure subscales and the TIHM-R were predictive of total letters written per minute.

The researchers concluded that visual perceptual abilities, specifically visual closure skills, plus in-hand manipulation skills appear to be significant predictors of children’s printing speed.

Reference:  Ted Brown and Julia Link. The association between measures of visual perception, visual-motor integration, and in-hand manipulation skills of school-age children and their manuscript handwriting speed. British Journal of Occupational Therapy March 2016 79: 163-171, first published on September 24, 2015 doi:10.1177/0308022615600179

Visual Perceptual and Handwriting Practice Pages are activities to practice letter formation, visual motor, visual discrimination and visual spatial skills. Each letter page includes double line (Handwriting without Tears® style) and dotted line (Zaner-Bloser® style) format plus a visual perceptual activity related to the letter.  Find out more information and download a sample page.

The post Handwriting Speed Associated with Manipulation and Visual Perceptual Skills appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Find and Color Freebie at the Amusement Park

Here is a freebie from the latest download Find and Color.  You can download the Amusement Park Find and Color here  – http://yourtherapysource.com/findcolorfreebie.html  to challenge visual discrimination and visual motor skills.

Visual Perceptual Skills and ADLs for Children with Cerebral Palsy

The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published research on the effects of a visual perceptual intervention on visual-motor integration and activities of daily living performance of 56 children with cerebral palsy.  Each children with cerebral palsy participated in a visual perceptual intervention for 8 weeks, 3 times a week, for 30 minutes per session.  The intervention program consisted of 48 items such as visual-motor coordination, figure-ground perception, perceptual constancy and position in space and spatial relationship.  All children were assessed before the intervention and after using the VMI and WeeFIM to evaluate visual motor integration and activities of daily living skills.

The results indicated the following:

1.  all children significantly improved their scores on the VMI and WeeFIM.

2.  there were progressive increases in WeeFIM subscores of self-care, mobility, communication and social cognition.

The authors concluded that the visual perceptual intervention had a positive influence on the visual-motor integration and activities of daily living performance of children with cerebral palsy.

Reference: Cho, M., Kim, D., & Yang, Y. (2015). Effects of visual perceptual intervention on visual-motor integration and activities of daily living performance of children with cerebral palsy. Journal of physical therapy science, 27(2), 411.

 

 Patterns, Patterns, Patterns is a collection of over 50 visual perceptual activities involving patterns.   Children will be challenged to draw the patterns and find shapes, numbers or objects in a pattern.  Find out more at http://yourtherapysource.com/patterns.html

Physical Activity, Executive Function and ADHD

Research in Developmental Disabilities published research on 43 children with ADHD between 7-12 years old to determine if there are effects of different types of physical activity on executive functioning.  A 12 week training program included two different groups: experimental group 1 (EG1) included 13 children who participated in ball handling, balance and manual dexterity and experimental group 2 (EG2) included 14 children who participated in sports without a specific focus.  There was also a control group (CG) who received no intervention.  Each participant was evaluated for working memory and motor performance before, immediately after the first training week and one week after the last session.

The results indicated the following:

1.  after the 12-week intervention period, several measures of the EG1 and EG2s significantly improved over time.

2.  between group comparisons demonstrated significant improvements in both EG1 and EG2 compared to the CG in variables assessing working memory performance and motor performance.

The researchers concluded that long-term physical activity has a positive effect on executive functions of children with ADHD, regardless of the specificity of the activity.   The researchers recommended that regular physical activity can be used as a complementary or alternative non-pharmacologic treatment for ADHD.

Reference:  Susanne Ziereis and Petra Jansen.  Effects of physical activity on executive function and motor performance in children with ADHD.  Research in Developmental Disabilities
Volume 38, March 2015, Pages 181–191.

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Photographic Memory Card Game

Study a picture cards of 10 photos for 30 seconds. Turn each card over and write down as many of the 10 items that you can remember.   Find out more at http://yourtherapysource.com/growingplaycards.html

 



Brain Breaks Card Game

Get active, refreshed and ready to work with 50 mini movement breaks that
require no equipment. Most of the movement breaks can be done with one child or a group. It
does not get any easier than this to encourage sensory motor activities in the classroom or home.

Find out more at http://yourtherapysource.com/growingplaycards.html

 

Executive Function in Adolescents Born Extremely Premature and Extremely Low Birth Weight

Pediatrics published research on 228 adolescents who were extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks) birth and extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g).   Each participant was assessed with multiple executive function (EF) tasks, and parent- and self-ratings of behavioral EF. The Rey Complex Figure and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function parent report were also administered at age 8 years, to determine if there was a change in scores between childhood and adolescence.

The results indicated the following:

1.  EP/ELBW adolescents performed more poorly than controls in the following areas - verbal processing speed, attentional control, cognitive flexibility, and goal-setting but not psychomotor reaction time.

2.  group differences were similar across tasks.

3.  during childhood to late adolescence, EP/ELBW children improved their accuracy of the Rey Complex Figure copy more than controls.

4.  parent report indicated that executive behaviors were largely stable over time in both groups.

The researchers concluded that adolescents born EP/ELBW have poorer EF skills across multiple domains than controls and recommend multidomain, longitudinal assessments in this high-risk population.

Reference:  Executive Function in Adolescents Born <1000 g or <28 Weeks: A Prospective Cohort Study.  Alice C. Burnett, Shannon E. Scratch, Katherine J. Lee, Jeanie Cheong, Karissa Searle, Esther Hutchinson, Cinzia De Luca, Mary-Ann Davey, Gehan Roberts, Lex W. Doyle, and Peter J. Anderson , on behalf of the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study Group
Pediatrics 2015; 135:4 e826-e834; published ahead of print March 23, 2015, doi:10.1542/peds.2014-3188

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Need help with goal setting?  Try My Goal Tracker by Your Therapy Source Inc.

Summary: Download of materials to create a binder for student
generated data collection on his/her goals. Two versions -
Handwriting with Tears® and Zaner-Bloser® Style

Find out more at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/goaltracker.html

Wax String Activities

Here is a sample of some pages from the Wax String Activity book.  These activities encourage visual perceptual skills, eye hand coordination and kinesthetic learning.  Head on over to YourTherapySource at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/waxsample.html

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Springtime Visual Perceptual Freebie

Download this visual discrimination freebie from Spring Visual Perceptual Puzzles at http://yourtherapysource.com/vpspringfree

You can view the entire Spring Visual Perceptual Puzzle packet at http://yourtherapysource.com/vpspring.html



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6 Free Printables for Valentine's Day

Need some quick activities for Valentines Day?  Check out these 6 freebies.



1.  Follow that Monster:  Visual discrimination and visual motor activity from http://yourtherapysource.com/vpvalentinefree.html

2.  Multisensory Handwriting Activity for Valentine's Day from http://yourtherapysource.com/msvalentinefreebie.html



 

3.  Sample Pages from Valentine's Day Handwriting Activities at  http://yourtherapysource.com/valentinefree.html



 

4.  Conversation Heart Clothes Pins at  http://yourtherapysource.com/freeconversation.html

5.  Love Bug Pencil Critters from http://yourtherapysource.com/fmvalentinefree.html

6.  Valentine's Day Exercises from http://yourtherapysource.com/freevalentinebrainbreak.html

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After all those Valentine's Day treats get the kids moving with Brain Breaks for Valentine's Day.  Find out more at http://yourtherapysource.com/brainbreaksvalentine.html

 

 

 

Pediatric Occupational an Physical Therapy Digital Magazine February 2015

If you can not view magazine below go to http://yourtherapysource.com/magazine.html



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Follow that Monster Visual Perceptual Activity

Challenge visual discrimination, visual spatial relationships and visual motor skills with this free printable.  Download just in time for Valentine's Day at http://yourtherapysource.com/vpvalentinefree.html

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10 Way to Make Your Own Puzzles

Here are some simple ways to make all different types of puzzles using objects from around your house or classroom:

1.  Big Shape and Letter Puzzles at http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2014/05/05/big-shape-and-letter-puzzles/

2.  Vertical Puzzles at http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2014/03/19/vertical-puzzles/

3.  Ping-Pong Puzzles at http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2013/11/22/ping-pong-puzzles/



4.  Complete the Name Puzzle at http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2013/10/17/complete-the-name-puzzles/  You could use the child's name or any spelling or vocabulary word.



 

5.  Puzzles on Paper to print and complete at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/puzzlepaperfree.html 



 

6.  Twisted Puzzle at  http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2012/02/06/twist-literally-on-puzzles-part-2/



7.  Complete the Picture puzzle at http://yourtherapysource.com/videocompletethepicture.html



 

8.  Kitchen Puzzle at  http://growingplay.blogspot.com/2012/06/kitchen-puzzle.html

9.  Outdoor Complete the Puzzle at http://growingplay.blogspot.com/2012/06/outdoor-puzzle-race.html



 

10.  Match the Shape Puzzle at http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2013/08/07/diy-fine-motor-and-visual-perceptual-toy/



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Patterns, Patterns, Patterns

Here are 6 FREE sample pages from Patterns, Patterns, Patterns  which is a collection of over 50 visual perceptual activities involving patterns. Children will be challenged to draw the patterns and find shapes, numbers or objects in a pattern. The activity pages are in black and
white.

Patterns, Patterns, Patterns stimulates:
visual motor skills
visual perceptual skills
visual closure skills
visual discrimination
spatial relationships
visual memory

Download your free sample pages at http://www.yourtherapysource.com/patternsfree.html

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Holiday Shape Tree Visual Perceptual Activity

Here is a fun, holiday freebie in color or black and white.  You can download the freebie at http://yourtherapysource.com/freeholidayshapetree.html

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Holiday Puzzle on Paper

Here is a holiday puzzle to challenge visual spatial, visual closure and visual motor skills.  You can download it at http://yourtherapysource.com/christmaspuzzle.html

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Thanksgiving Visual Discrimination Freebie - Whooooo Do You See?

Download this freebie to challenge visual discrimination skills at http://yourtherapysource.com/freethanksgivingowls.html

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Eye Movements During Reading and Cerebral Palsy

Recent research investigated the extent to which the motor impairments in adults with cerebral palsy affected their ability to read. Using an eye-tracking system, eye movements were recorded during a reading task (read out loud 1-5 excerpts from children's books) in 31 adults diagnosed with cerebral palsy and in 10 healthy controls.

The results indicated the following:
1. In comparison to the control group readers, the adults with cerebral palsy took longer to read the excerpts; made more saccades, fixations, and regressions; and made shorter saccades.
2. Average fixation times were similar between the 2 groups, but the average saccade duration was significantly longer for the cerebral palsy group, as a function of the degree of severity of motor impairment.
3. The fixation times were not a determinant of the level of text comprehension achieved by the adults with cerebral palsy.

The researchers suggest that individuals with cerebral palsy may experience difficulties in searching for words during reading.

Reference: Lampe R, Turova V, Blumenstein T, Alves-Pinto A. Eye movement during reading in young adults with cerebral palsy measured with eye tracking. Postgrad Med. 2014 Sep;126(5):146-58. do I: 10.3810/pgm.2014.09.2809

Check out Category Word Finds to practice searching for words. Go to http://www.yourtherapysource.com/categorywords.html

 

July 4th Hunt and Find Freebie

Download this free puzzle to challenge figure ground, visual motor and visual discrimination skills.  You can download it from Your Therapy Source at http://yourtherapysource.com/july4huntfind.html

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