May 8, 2014

Improving Motor Skills with Sidewalk Chalk: Part 1



I am always looking for ways to help M. Children with Aspergers often struggle with motor skills in addition to the social aspect associated with the "disorder." (I put it in quotations because I HATE using that term!)  

Today, I felt inspired to grab a bucket of chalk and trick her into a therapy session of sorts. First, I drafted a list of a few motor skill challenges. Next, I brainstormed a list of activities that would address them. Being the nice person I am... I typed them up to share with you!



Good thing that Summer is coming up, we will have plenty of time to try out all of them!


Peanut was excited about our new bucket of chalk.


STARTING WITH A CIRCLE

How to play: Have your child draw different size circles. After the shapes are drawn, let them take a "break" from instructional time and allow them to transform the shapes into whatever they choose.

How this helps: Forming shapes on a large scale helps children grasp the motions needed. As they go down the line and make smaller circles, they are refining the movement. *Eventually, I will buy smaller chalk for her to play with.

M meticulously drawing "petals".


We drew different sizes of circles. M turned the circles into "sunflowers".


HOPSCOTCH

How to play: Have your child draw the "spaces" and the numbers inside of them. If your kid can't form numbers yet, agree to write them...as long as they assign numbers to the spaces. After your board is made, demonstrate the jumping pattern. Take turns with your kiddos!

How this helps: This activity is great for most of the challenges I listed! When they are creating the spaces and numbering them- they are working on shape and character formation. When they are actively playing the game- they are working on balance through hopping and jumping. This is also a good activity to teach your kids how to take turns!

Hopping on one foot is a fairly new skill for M. She is doing a great job!



M teaching Peanut how to play hopscotch. I love these moments!

We had a good time playing outside and sneaking in some "therapy" time, too!

Be sure to stay tuned for our future "chalk therapy sessions."






35 comments:

  1. My boys LOVE sidewalk chalk! Sadly we have a relatively small driveway, which fills up quick, and we live on a dirt road, but our elderly neighbors usually let my boys "decorate" their driveways.

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  2. Chalk for the win!!! We use an entire bucket over each summer, and M & Peanut's chalk gift was broked out last night!!

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  3. Great ideas! My kids love to play with chalk, but I haven't really been directing them with ideas to build their motor skills. We'll have to try these.

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  4. I was just thinking yesterday that I need to replace our sidewalk chalk. My kids dearly love being Picasso on the driveway.

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  5. I was just telling my daughter yesterday that she she do some sidewalk chalk stuff on our driveway.
    http://therantingsofadramaqueensmum.blogspot.com

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  6. I remember the days of doing sidewalk chalk games! Those were some good times!

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  7. I love sidewalk chalk and we just bought my daughter her first kit. So far she just scribbled a few colors but she is definitely getting more into it!

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  8. That is super cool. I love her petals....you can tell she was really working hard. My little guy loves sidewalk chalk too, but we don't have a lot of space to use it except for our front porch. He loves using it out there.

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  9. Love all these ideas! We have a bucket of sidewalk chalk in our garage. I think I'll try some of these out with my kids during the Summer!

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  10. Great activities with chalk. We need to get more. My kids love to use it in the garage (our driveway is way too sloped!)

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  11. The kids and I love to play with sidewalk chalk. You've made some great points. I know it's spring when the chalk is pulled out of the garage and I see it all over our carport.

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  12. My kids love sidewalk chalk. I buy it in bulk, lol. We have a drawer full and sometimes when they are just too much to handle I tell them to go outside and draw, and they are seriously busy (and quiet!) for a long time. It's wonderful!

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  13. Chalk therapy, who knew? I always have a tub or two for that chubby chalk. My kids love decorating the driveway with it. I hadn't thought of it as a means of therapy or education.

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  14. Oh I remember playing hop scotch as a kid. This is a ball of fun! My kids are older so they won't go for this anymore :-(

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  15. We love playing outside with chalk! We have a basketball court in our back yard so we have plenty of room for all of these games.

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  16. They won't even know they're practicing all these skills. They'll be having so much fun!

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  17. If my son starts liking to play with sidewalk chalk I will make sure to remember these ideas.

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  18. My kids love sidewalk chalk, I honestly hate the mess. I wish there was a way to keep it off their clothes. We have already broken out our stash this spring!

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  19. we use a lot of sidewalk chalk each year. the kids love it and it IS great for fine motor skills!!

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  20. we love sidewalk chalk! we go through a LOT each summer. it's so fun though!

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  21. We love playing with sidewalk chalk. There are just SO MANY things you can do with it!

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  22. People often think of the technology that is available now in order to help kids have fun and learn. Too often people forget about the low tech fun learning activities like sidewalk chalk and a game of hopscotch.

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  23. Sidewalk chalk is so much fun! Great poiint about how it helps improve skills!

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  24. What a good natural, inexpensive way to spend fun time and to support and define motor skills. I always loved playing with chalk as a child and this really brings back great memories.

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  25. Sidewalk chalk is terrific! I just sent some out to my nephew.

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  26. I love your table! Very organized. We love sidewalk chalk

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  27. My son is in a chalk phase right now. He is coloring EVERYTHING! :)

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  28. I LOVE this! I am a former Music Therapist, so it makes my heart smile to see folks utilizing the arts and play to accomplish therapy goals.

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  29. My twins are still in the "Eating Chalk Stage" but these ideas will be great for next Spring!

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  30. We are really big fans of sidewalk chalk! We haven't tried hopscotch, but I'm going to show the how to do it today!
    ~Amanda

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  31. I showed this to my mother, who is a former art therapist. She said it was a fantastic idea!!

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  32. These are really great ideas! Makes it seem more like play than work!

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  33. Sidewalk chalk is so awesome. It was one of my favorite things when I was a kid. It's great that it can help you learn as well as be so fun!

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  34. i remember my kid''s 1st hopscotch. it was a great way to work on motor skills

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  35. This is my son's favorite activity lately. All he wants to go is go outside with the chalk and practice his shapes and letters. I love it!

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