DIGITAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT FINE MOTOR, VISUAL MOTOR, SENSORY AND INCREASED INDEPENDENCE

Here are some digital resources that I have either used before or have recently reviewed. I will continue to add to this list as I come across useful information. Let me know if you need help accessing these resources or if you would like suggestions on what your child should focus on related to his/her goals. We can discuss this through email or by phone at our check ins.

HANDWRITING:

Learning Without Tears (formally Handwriting Without Tears). LIMITED FREE ACCESS (until July). This is a curriculum that many teachers and OTs are using to teach letter and number formation as well as the rules of handwriting. Depending on age and abilities, they offer lessons for print writing, cursive writing, and typing. https://www.lwtears.com/

Learn how to sound out, and write, your name in hieroglyphs, just like a scribe in Ancient Egypt! https://www.rom.on.ca/en/learn/activities/classroom/hieroglyphs

APPS: Whether you shop Google store, Microsoft store, or iTunes, you can search for a FREE writing app that your child can use for digital letter and number formation. While I’m not sure if it is free or not because it was already loaded on my district iPAD, my favorite writing app is Touch and Write by FizzBrain. The kids really love this app!!! It allows you to trace letters/numbers with your finger and provides optional “writing tools” such as chocolate pudding, green slime, and pumpkin pie, etc. What I love about this app is that the child must form the letters correctly before they can move on; Error free learning 😊 The kids love changing the writing tools. I encourage one tool per letter so they get the motor memory of the letter formation, but don’t get in a power struggle over that, just playing with letters and numbers will be beneficial too.

TYPING:

Create an account for an ONGOING FREE kid-friendly typing tutor program that encourages correct finger placement and offers intermittent lessons about posture, typing tips, etc between lessons. It is convenient to see progress as it records data throughout the many lessons. https://www.typing.com/. Many of our students already have accounts using their goscotties accounts. If you do not know login or password info, I may be able to help with that.

Learning without tears has a typing program as well, but I am not sure if this is included in their free offer https://www.lwtears.com/

VISUAL DEVELOPMENT: We don’t talk about visual development often, but OTs look for this in our students. Here is a website I have visited often with good information.

This website provides ONGOING FREE information on the many aspects of visual development with some interactive activities for children to play and craft-type activities that support visual development. So much to learn about what/how your child sees on this website! http://eyecanlearn.com/

MULTIPLE ACADEMIC SKILLS

ABC Mouse is offering their learning resources free for 30 days for AGES 2-8. Sign up is easy and you can have up to 3 kids on one account https://www.abcmouse.com/

Commonsense.org is a website that is offering a variety of resources for students and families. From academic games, apps and websites to family-based activities for everyone to enjoy. Definitely one to check out. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/resources-for-families-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic

SENSORY

I LOVE SCIENCE!!! Goopy Science: How to Make Slime with Glue

If you have the time, make some slime! 😉 If you have time for your child to help you cook or make slime, playdough, kinetic sand, it not only helps them learn and use kitchen tools, but could also be a mini math lesson as well as self-help skills of measuring, scooping, stirring, pouring etc.

https://www.livescience.com/59941-how-to-make-slime-with-glue.html

If you want more recipes like this, just email me and I will add them to this collection of resources.

My ALL TIME FAVORITE Playdough Recipe is HERE! Playdough is a great way to strengthen hands and fingers and practice letter formation. If you have a kid-friendly knives, garlic press, tongs. Etc, kids can keep entertained with playdough while learning cooking skills. I have also used measuring cups with playdough to introduce fractions

https://www.iheartnaptime.net/play-dough-recipe/

For our kiddos who love music, there are also many FREE apps that allow children to touch a screen to activate music while coloring. These are highly motivating and can also be used for letter formation.