OT Corner:  Summer Fun Things to Do
By Lisa Amy Wagenfeld, Ph.D, OTR/L
Originally printed in July 2004

Summer Fun Things to Do...

It's the age old, "Mom, I'm bored.  What should I do?" kind of a column this 
month.  Short of suggesting things like disassemble the computer and scatter the 
pieces throughout the house, or rearrange the spices in alphabetical order 
(okay, I admit it, mine are, but that is the only concession to organization in 
my entire house.  I may not be able to find a stamp, but I sure can locate 
tarragon in a flash!), I'd like to offer a few of my more realistic ideas.  So, 
the following is a series of simple and fun activities that receive my OT stamp 
of approval.  As you will see, I have broken down the activities by age groups 
into the 1 to 3-year old crowd, the 3 to 6ers, 6 to 10-year olds, and the above 
and beyond 10-year old age group.  Have fun, and I hope that these ideas help to 
reduce the "bored" word in your house.

1 to 3-Year Olds
* Do lotion massage.
* Bathtub play - use lots of plastic cups and bottles for filling and spilling.
* Sandbox play - I really love sand toys like sieves and colanders... big, 
plastic spoons are great as well.  If you can find spoons with all kinds of 
different shaped (and diameter) handles, that is a fun way to work on some early 
grasp skills.
* Fill wading pools with water, balls, beanbags, blocks... you name it.  
Swimming will take on a whole new meaning.
* Help Mom or Dad stir the pitcher of orange juice, lemonade, or Kool-aid.
* Stack plastic cups and bowls of varying sizes.
* Open and close plastic jars such as peanut butter jars.  You may want to put 
something like a raisin or two inside for the children to retrieve.
* Use a clean laundry detergent lid to scoop things up.  For optimum hand arch 
development, holding the lid on the bottom, so the children are cupping the lid 
is best.
* Pin tiny clothespins around a coffee can (for the close to 3-year old crowd).
* Fill empty dish soap containers or clean spray bottles with water, and water 
the garden, shrubs, or other outside vegetation.

3 to 6-Year Olds
* Play on play gym equipment.
* If you have an old fashioned juicer, cut some citrus fruit, and have the 
children make orange juice, lemonade, or some other fun juice creation.
* Macaroni necklaces; you can paint the pasta first.  Use different shaped 
pastas with holes, a fun way to work on grasp development.
* Using a hammer, pound golf tees into a chunky piece of Styrofoam.
* Play dress up; choose clothes with all kinds of chunky buttons, zippers, and 
other fasteners.
* Using any kind of building material such as blocks, Duplos, and the like to 
make huge roadways or runways.  Drive Matchbox-like vehicles through these 
paths.
* Using toaster tongs or any oversized tweezers (I can provide you with source 
information) to pick up cotton balls, dried beans, pasta, and such.
* Paint with water on a chalkboard or driveway. Use lots of different kinds of 
brushes to facilitate varying grasp patterns.
* Paint the bathtub walls with shaving cream and create amazing masterpieces.
* Make a tape of lots of different kinds of music and have a dance party.  
Waving pretty scarves around adds to the fun.

6 to 10-Year Olds
* Provide children with a bag of "junk," some glue, and or tape, and have them 
create a sculpture or invention.
* Write with chalk on the driveway or sidewalk.
* Play hopscotch.
* Using a plastic knife, have kids make sandwiches for lunch.  Also, give 
children some pieces of soft fruit and have them make a fruit salad.
* Hunt around the house for noise making "things" and create a band.
* Dress up and have a play.
* Draw mazes and have someone else solve them.
* Write out the dinner menu or grocery list.  It might be fun to have special 
menu paper or grocery list paper.
* Cut out coupons.
* Cut out wish-list pictures and paste them onto a piece of construction paper 
to create a collage.

Above and Beyond 10-Years Old
* Make "sculpty" creations (available at crafts stores).Try doing origami 
(wrapping paper works as a substitute for origami paper).  There are many 
websites that provide nice origami patterns.
* Count all the coins in the house.  Putting them into the money rollers is also 
great fun.
* Play Cat's Cradle.  There are websites that provide instructions.
* Play marbles (one of my favorites).
* Make card houses and or just play cards.
* Plant and tend a garden; daily weeding is also a must.
* Cut out paper snowflakes.
* Play four-square or other group ball games.
* Have a lemonade stand, complete with lemonade prepared by the children.  Using 
either powder mix or canned lemonade involves measuring, mixing, stirring - all 
good "stuff" to do.

This is the short list.  I would love to hear your ideas, so please feel free to 
share them.  I am e-mail available at childrenstherapyconnections@verizon.net.  
Next month, a surprise!