Shopping for a Heart Puzzle - Make it for nearly free with the Free Heart Template Pattern Set - Art

This is the easiest project (arts and craft) for nearly every person ..... even if you need to provide a little bit of extra assistance. 


Print the heart pattern - many sizes available in the template set .... did I mention that it is free ( check out the FAQ page at www.Tools4PreschoolandKindergarten.com )


Print it out on Card Stock and cut out the heart (Valentine).  Decorate the heart (make sure it can be cut easily into the desired pieces).  Once the heart has been decorated .... cut it into squiggly and zig zag shaped pieces.  Puzzle has been finished and on the cheap!

Valentine's Day art projects - February Preschool Curriculum can be used for other classes too

Do you need some art patterns .... get going now and grab the Sampler download membership at www.Tools4PreschoolandKindergarten.com.  


It contains a bunch of new currriculum / resources.  Just added the heart template - many sizes of hearts.  


Use the hearts for Valentine's Day decorations, coloring pages, make up calendar pieces - Great for  making texture / tactile items (use sand and glue).  So many ideas for the heart / Valentine set.  


Your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  Join my blog and add your suggestions.


I am also open to suggestions for new pieces of curriculum.


Here's the video of the Valentine Heart Resource Set:

Practice Functional tasks while building Fine Motor Skills

Incorporating everyday tasks into your therapeutic setting is an important part of growing the fine motor skills of any individual with delays or difficulties.

If your child or client has the ability to even attempt the tasks below – go for it! Every effort made is not one wasted!

* Zipping a Jacket and unzipping

* tie shoes and untie

* buckle and unbuckle a belt or bag strap

* do puzzles (any level)

* working with Legos or other snap together blocks – be sure to take apart too

* buttoning and snapping

* using scissors (with appropriate monitoring – of course

)

*painting (be sure to utilize several different angles – use a 90 degree then the next time use the 180 degree – just an example)

More suggestions coming – here are some sample pages from the Fine Motor Fun for Everyone Download Membership – I hope these help to get you started.

http://www.Tools4PreschoolandKindergarten.com

Fine Motor Skills and the Four to Five Year Old

Preschoolers have an incredible adaptive ability. The 4 to 5 year old has typically achieved numerous skills by this age. They can dress themselves, even if a few items 'look' backwards. They feed themselves. They use the toilet. They use their imaginations. So many accomplishments in such a short period of time, yet they still have a world to conquer.

Fine motor development for a typical preschooler, up to this age, has included many obstacles to overcome. Including putting together a 6 to 8 piece puzzle, cutting thru paper and play dough, putting tiny toys into tiny containers, screwing and unscrewing a container and winding up toys. This is only to name a few of the accomplishments of the already four year old child.

By the time these skills have been somewhat mastered, the preschooler is ready for new challenges. These fine motor objectives should come naturally to a child that does not have any delays or concerns. The goals for this age period should include:

*completing a 5 – 10 piece puzzle

*creasing paper with fingers

*drawing a picture that is recognizable

*prints name with a modeled example

*capable of placing a paper clip onto a sheet of paper

*readily traces shapes and letters

*places a key into a lock successfully

*builds with blocks and connective toys

*cuts out pictures from newspapers and magazines

*draws a line between two objects on a piece of paper

*uses a dominant hand the majority of the time

This list is not complete but should provide an idea of the type of accomplishments a preschool aged child without delays or impairments should be able to conquer.

Hand Mapping and Fine Motor Development in Preschoolers

Fine motor work generally refers to 'working with the hands'. Many of the actions come naturally to most individuals. Normally we do not need to focus on bringing a spoon to our mouth or a tissue to our nose, but for those with fine motor concerns, it is not so natural.

The first step in focusing on fine motor development is to recognize the terminology. Finger pads are simply a persons finger tips. Pincer grasp is when a person can hold a small item, like a piece of dry circular cereal, between their thumb and index finger. Finger opposition is the ability for the thumb to touch the finger pads. Finally, the tripod grasp is when a person typically holds a pencil or crayon. The item rests along the side of the longer middle finger and is grasped between the pads of the thumb and index finger.

When dealing with fine motor delays or the initial development of these skills, incorporating fun activities makes the process (or therapy) go along more quickly. Some simple activities can include:

*pegs placed on a pegboard

*washing hands with scented soaps

*using hand lotion (rubbing it in throughout the tops and bottoms of each hand and in between each finger)

*sorting small items (like dry cereal) into small, clean trays (ice cube trays or egg cartons work nicely)

*using a spoon in a mug ¼ filled with jelly beans to relocate each bean to a color specific designation

*use tongs or tweezers to sort small to large sized items

*place pennies in a piggy bank

*roll balls of clay in between the palms of both hands or on a flat surface like a table

If the tasks are a little to difficult for the student, not because of physical limitations, but focus – break the task down to simple steps. Truly give specific steps for each movement and / or show by doing it yourself first.

Any activity that incorporates hand movement is perfect for developing the fine motor skills. Some examples would be:

*rolling, tossing or throwing a small ball

*find the coin game – two people needed for this game. One person takes the coin and mixes which hand the coin is grasped in (usually done behind the persons' back) while the other person has to patiently wait. The coin holding person brings both clinched hands out in front of them and the other person must decide (guess) which fist the coin is located. If the person guesses correctly – it is their turn. If the person does not guess correctly then the coin person gets to do the 'mix-up' again. The key to extending the fine motor work is to be sure that the person needing the work has to place the 'guessed' coin (using pincer grasp) onto the other person's opened hand (palm up). If that person is the guessing person, then they should take the coin (pincer style) from the coin holders open hand. This game is a lot of fun to do while waiting for appointments.

*do the wooden puzzle boards that come with the tiny knobs. If the board puzzles do not have the small knobs, add your own. This is really easy using push pin style tacks. Push a tack into the center of the wooden puzzle piece and remove. Dab a bit of wood glue or super glue onto the metal pin and bottom of the plastic tack topper. Push the pin back through the same pin hole and let dry. Do this with all of the pieces of the wood puzzle.

Fine motor work can be integrated into nearly any event with simple alterations to how a person holds, throws or distributes the pieces needed to complete the activity. Next time you are playing a board game that has small objects, observe how the players grasp and relocate the pieces. In other activities notice how a person will toss a foam ball or tap a bouncing balloon. Simple observations and corrections can go a long ways in adding to the developing skills of the preschool leveled student.

Hand and Eye Coordination - Fine Motor Skills

Happy New Year .....


I mentioned before that this is the first 'real' blog that I am doing .... well- what that means is that I have attempted in the past and it just was really difficult for me to do (I also mentioned that this really is 'stepping outside of my box').


So - I am going to add a few of the pieces that I shared in the past.  These will be articles and suggestions that are definitely pertinent to special needs, preschool and kindergarten level individuals.


First is :

Yarn Balls ….. they can be made with different types of yarn and varying sizes. You will need the yarn (twine can be used as well), a small strip of cardboard (about 2 inches wide) and scissors.

Wrap the yarn around the cardboard – rotating the 'ball' to get it 'round'. When the ball has been completed to the desired size snip the yarn and thread the end into the yarn ball … bring it back through to the top and tie it off with a knot.

Tossing or even rolling the textured ball is a lot of fun for the little ones and will help develop the hand and eye skills.

Lacing Cards ..... Huge Variety of Activities and a Coupon Code - Huge Savings

Have you seen the lacing cards .....

These cards are so easy to make and can be used for more than just lacing.  Make several sets of these cards and have the children use them for making words .... practice spelling lessons or making rhyming words.  The cards were also created using a color pattern - red, yellow, blue and green.  Have the students sort into color sets.  I am certain this is not the only activities that these letters can be utilized for .... let your imagination run wild ---- okay ---- use a little control.


The set is over at http://www.Resource4Preschool.com


The Lacing set is listed for $4.97 .... but if you use the coupon code ABCLACE  - you will will get it for only $1.24 .... I think that is around a 75% savings on the set.