July’s Occupational Therapy Exercises!

4 Occupational Therapy Activities for Kids With Autism

Gross motor: Wheelbarrow walking: Wheelbarrow walking is a skill that encourages upper extremity coordination and strength. This helps to increase fine motor skills (cutting, manipulating fasteners on clothing, handwriting, etc.) by increasing stability at the shoulders.

Fine/Visual Motor Skills:  Mazes. Mazes are great for visual motor skills and fine motor coordination. Mazes involve planning ahead and controlling fine motor movements to stay within the lines.  They are also great for working on prewriting skills by creating intentional strokes with a pencil or marker.

Self Care Skill:  Washing hands.  Working on washing hands thoroughly and drying hands off.  Visuals can be used to help kids sequence through the steps (turn on water, get soap, rub the front and back of hands, rinse, turn water off, and dry hands). Counting or singing the abc’s can also help to encourage kids to wash hands for a longer period of time.

Sensory: Problem Solving. This month we will be working on increasing problem solving skills to help our kids complete multi-step activities, determining the next step to create a final product, determining when an object is needed, or knowing when to ask for help. These skill are very valuable in our everyday life and can help make kids be more independent.