Fine Motors Skills activities ( learning through play )

At home, nursery and school children are introduced to writing and craft /art projects that require precision writing and cutting. The key to these  with these activities depends on strong fine motor skills, which are ecuted through practise. Encouraging your child by practice tracing and cutting with engaging tracing worksheets and cutting worksheets will help him develop important muscles in their fingers and hands, as well as improve coordination between his dominant hand (the hand that holds the pencil or scissors) and his non-dominant hand (the hand that steadies the paper being written on or cut)

Another way to encourage their hand to eye co-ordination if by use of tweezers and say dried peas. Or small teddies that you use for counting. Anything that encourages the grip of a pen or pencil.

This can also be used by using fine grip pegs which are available from your local supermarket. I love this idea for using them within painting!

And on a larger scale  why not apply a well loved book into their learning activity , children learn more when they are having fun as they don't see it as a task . Learning through play should be fun and not seen as a chore , spontaneity is the key to life, leaning and imprinting the task to memory.

This can be done by getting a bucket , a large set of tongs and a load of dinosaurs they can then transfer the dinosaurs by use of the tongs to the bucket  They will love that they are being "Harry from Harry and the bucketful of dinosaurs"

" Romp in the Swamp " Harry and his bucketful of Dinosaurs.

Your ipad can be an aid to helping promote the fine motor skills that your child needs to develop at school. You can now buy a retro looking marker pen for the ipad called a scribble pen. These are perfect for drawing on a ipad and a child can have such fun and adventures with one of these.

Or there are many Apps available for the ipad such as this one Dexteria.

Inspiration for the nation

In a heartbeat I wish it was the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics again, true the word legacy has been given out like somebody handing out Smarties but so what. It has stirred something in me and I know I am blogging about it again but sometimes there comes a moment in your life and you just have to seize with all your might. I think I changed that day seeing peoples capacity for human joy was like an intoxicating drug. Hand on hand I wish that everyday could be like that.

The Olympics and Paralympics were if you were a call to arms a war cry in essence except the bang of drums was every ones hearts beating in unison.

Splodz has her take on Inspiration about the Olympics and Paralympics which you can read about here 

Like Splodz I too was an active child along with Brownies,Guides,piano playing,Chess,Choir,Archaeology club though me and gymnastics never did seem to get on , I was a mystery to my PE teacher on this. With school reports saying phrases as "uncoordinated" which resulted in my mother dragging me off the the doctors.

I tried out for various teams at my Upper school I wasn't good enough for the tennis team, rowing ( not good I couldn't swim ) .  ,Orienteering team yes that's was me ,Chess team yes I was in that I was a Times Challenge player.It broke my heart when I wasn't quite fast enough for the Cross Country team .. darn those fair haired long legged girls ! But just because I had a knock at school it didn't deter me from sport outside of school. And by a knock I mean a knock to my self confidence buts it case of picking yourself up and pushing yourself to your limits.

Its interesting what Splodz says about picking one thing for me it really should have been the running that I concentrated on more though one girl at my running club did that and she was Paula Radcliffe.
Having gone to the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics which you can read about here. I really do have a happy beat in my heart about what I do. I am hoping my positive attitude rubs off on m son who is also a keen sport mans and I think he suffers from activity overload like I did with his rugby,football,cricket and now he is going to take up Badminton and the reason why ? that's right you guessed it it was the Olympics. And if that doesn't make your sing because the next generation is being inspired then I don't now what will.



Stand up be proud , make yourself heard and be counted.

Opening Ceremony Paralympics.

Everyone  can be just like those wonderful games makers...

Alice in Wonderland Cookie Recipe

If you are planning an Alison in Wonderland party then then this "Eat Me" Cookie Stamp is perfect for you.

Simply roll out the dough and use the stamp to imprint the words “Eat Me” on your delicious baked goods before they go into the oven. This is an essential item for the kitchen if you love baking such as my self.

Features:

• High quality wooden handle, fitted with a silicone stamp
• Includes a scrumptious cookie recipe for you to try
• Wash in warm soapy water

Size:

• Dimensions: 7cm wide x 10cm high (including handle)

Eat Me Cookie Stamp

Be proud of your Homemade baking use this Cookie Stamp to make your mark.

Try this recommended recipe!

Ingredients:

• 250g butter

• 140g caster sugar

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 300g plain flour

• 1 egg yolk

• 2tsp vanilla extract

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 190ºC (gas mark 5) 2. Sift together plain flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. 3. Mix in butter and blend until mixture is crumbly. Stir in egg yolk and vanilla essence. Blend well. Chill dough for one hour for better cookies.

Chill dough for better cookies.

 4. Regularly sprinkle work surface and stamp with flour. 5. Separate dough into golf ball sized chunks. Slightly flatten the balls and stamp. 6. Place on a greased baking sheet.

 Bake for 6 - 8 minutes, or until lightly brown. 7. Remove from oven and leave for a couple of minutes to harden, then transfer to a wire cooling rack. 8. Enjoy your ‘Home made’ cookies.

Things kids say ...

Imagine if you will a crowded football stadium to the left of you the Garibaldi brigade, 1970's thermos firmly clamped to their hand, the widest set of flares ever ( one flap of those and a South Polynesian Island is wiped out in a hurricane called Barbie )

To the right of you is Mr Shouty ... sweary man .. nothing can shock him or could it .

You are know stroking your imaginary beard aren't you?.




You know how it is you are at your local football match when you take a child .. one that has seen Soccer AM and won't for the love of God  what ever deity you pray to . And you child just won't Shut Up.

You have the "Mum I am hungry ..."


"Need toilet NOW" whilst exhibiting dance moves the Bee Gees would be proud of.

Then the toe curling comments come and there is no escape you are in the middle of the aisle trapped between Garibaldi brigade and Mr Shouty man...

"Mum As we are Derby we are the Rams..."chirps the innocent one of doom.

"Yes Darling" basking in the warm glow of the proud Mummy moment.

"If we were a bunch of cats..."


At this point I am mouthing the words No ... Too late.

" We'd be a bunch of pussies" at full eye piercing shrill child voice.

Last I saw as I dragged took him for some chips post haste was the Garibaldi brigade were tapping Mr Shouty man on the back who was  chocking on his sausage role.

Bless his little cotton socks.

The motion of emotion

The motion of emotion is a rather  curious affair sometimes you see something that sweeps you up or read something that takes your breath away and for me this morning it was this Makaton Post from Downside Up.


I can not stress how important Makaton was to myself and my son when he wasn't talking which you can about why here , to see him initially struggling because  he wasn't talking is heart breaking. I truly longed for those tantrums screaming " I want " over a chocolate bar, instead of the screaming ab dabs that made no sense to me but obviously they did to my son at that moment in time.

Prepositional language putting the car in the garage.

The key to Early years speech therapy though is early intervention which was initially hard for me ,you can read all about here. I am so grateful for the fact that my son was given early speech therapy part of which consisting of teaching him Makaton. A good nursery school is half the battle in Early years Speech therapy and help with special needs.

A good nursery is essential for a Early years Special needs Child.

"Can you put your finger on the television ?"

One of the key things he was taught within Makaton was the signs in conjunction with prepositional language  "Left" "Right" "Over" "under" and so forth. Once this was established We were able to incorporate the prepositional language into our everyday activities such as buying a chocolate bar which was met with sign for in.

Incorprating the word 'On' into dads pyhsio for his back

And with Makaton comes the ability to communicate with the world around you .....

When you read Downside ups post you and you must ! pay attention to paragraphs 6 & 7 as this was especially true for myself as the Makaton did ease his frustration.


You read find all about Makaton complete with all the excellant resources.