The Clothespin Sight Words Game: Combining Heavy Work for the Hands with Early Reading Work

Earlier this week, when I was at one of my night jobs (tutoring), a student of mine cut something in front of me.  Although I am not an OT, I immediately recognized that her scissor hold is awkward. So, I immediately asked her mom for tweezers and tongs and adapted some planned word work games to Montessori-inspired pre-scissor/ pre-writing work. 

The following day, when it was time to do some word work with my son, I decided to combine the model of the games I had played with my tutoring student with the concept of using clothespins to provide Heavy Work for the Hands (based on a piece I had just written for Special-ism, a newly launched sight that I am excited about and happy to be a voluntary writing for. ) The game was a hit – and made me realize that although my son’s pencil grip has always been good, he definitely is engaged by and can benefit from more clothespin work.  It's an effective twist on similar reading games we sometimes play.

For others that want to try this game out to support a child's sensory diet or reading development, here’s a quick run down:

The Clothespin Sight Words Game

a word work game that requires little preparation and ties together two things many young children need:  sight word repetition and practice and fine motor “heavy work” input

Materials

• slips of paper
• a writing utensil
• a collection container (box, tray, basket or similar)
• a clothespin

Presentation 

1. To prepare, choose a selection of sight words that your child is working to master.  Write these on slips of paper and fold about ¼  to ½ inch up on one side of the paper, folding up the right side  if your child is a “rightie” or the left if your child is a “leftie”.  (Your child can actually do the writing and folding for some extra handwriting and hand work practice, if you wish.)
2. Lay these on a table or work mat and place a box, tray, basket or other collection container nearby.
3. Give your child a clothespin.  Say one of the words aloud and have your child pick the corresponding slip, using the clothespin, and drop it into the collection container.
4. Continue until all the words are in the container, being sure to note how your child is grasping the clothespin and to coach accordingly.  Below you can note examples of what you might see and say my son and my different rounds of play.

Here, my son is using his “strong” hand almost-effective hang placement.  I suggested he move his finger and thumb tip pads up just a little bit.

Here my son wanted to try to use his “weak” hand.  As you can see by his grasp, he had difficulty manipulating the clothespin with that hand one way.

And another.

So I asked him to try to pinch the clothespin and to use a helper hand if need be.

This worked for him.

 With practice, he was able to use the clothespins single-handedly, too.

5. Then, to give your child’s hand a break while encouraging him or her to read aloud by asking for the clothespin and taking the word slips out of the collection container one at a time, while asking your child to read them as you do.  Place these back on the table or work mat.
6. Play several rounds.

Skills

• Reading (Sight Words)
• Finger/Hand Strengthening
• Motor Planning
• Fine Motor

Quick Tips/Extensions

• Be aware of your child’s hand strength and fatigue level.  Coach as needed, but also consider switching the activity up (say to one with tweezers or tongs!) if your child is struggling too much with clothespin grasp.
• Work sentence formation by using a variety of words that can make short sentences and have child try to move word slips into logical (or silly!) sentences on a tray instead of into a collection container.
• Make it more Montessori-inspired by replacing the collection tray with matching word strips or picture cards that match the word strips.  Then, students can play independently with control of error.
• To add a gross motor (proprioceptive/vestibular) element to the game, place the word slips in one spot and the collection container a distance away.  Ask your child to run, jump, gallop, hop, crawl or otherwise move to the container to deposit each word slip, without dropping it from the clothespin’s grip.
• Be aware of your child’s focus and reading level.  Select only three to five words for true beginners or for children with difficulty looking at many things at once.  Build up to as many as your child can confidently handle.

Also, as shared in Heavy Work for the Hands at Special-ism, a piece that contains five other fine motor clothespin ideas, please note:

• Light, wooden clothespins are often easier to manipulate than plastic ones. So, consider your child’s needs when beginning clothespin activities. Test clothespins out yourself before offering them to a child and, then, mix, match and graduate the types you use depending on the child’s growing hand strength.
• Be aware that some children may need to begin clothespin activities by using fingers from both hands to open them. As hand strength and stability (as well as personal confidence!) increase, they can be encouraged to use only one hand to manipulate clothespins
• Some children have difficulty knowing where to place the pads of their thumbs and index fingers in order to manipulate clothespins. Drawing colored circles on the clothespins, or putting stickers with a theme that interests a particular child, exactly where thumbs and index fingers should be placed can help with this.
• Be aware that clothespin activities may be too difficult for certain children. A good indicator that a child is not ready for them yet is if you see a child clutching a clothespin into the palm of the hand, with the thumb pressing into the palm, or the thumb tip hyper-extended (bent backwards). This can be a result of the child compensating for weak hands and/or coordination. It can also mean that too much demand is being placed on the finger muscles. If you witness such things, other hand strengthening activities should be considered before presenting further clothespin ones.

How do you adapt traditional reading goals to your child’s physical and developmental needs?  Do you have any favorite clothespin activities? Please add ideas or links in the comments.

Different...Not Less by Temple Grandin: A Book that Inspires at a Great Pre-Release Price

“To every individual on the spectrum who believes in finding a sense of

fulfillment and success in life, sometimes against all odds—

May you find valuable information, inspiration, and hope in the pages

of this book.”

These are the heartfelt wishes of Temple Grandin in the dedication of her new and inspiring book, Different…Not Less, which is due to be released soon (and which you can get at the discounted price of $16.96 instead of the $19.95 by using the code HAPPY at check out at Future Horizons.)

Over the past week, whenever I have had a spare moment to read, I have had the privilege of feasting on a pre-release copy of Different…Not Less and, although I am have not read every chapter in the book yet, I have to say that it has been delightful to bite into the many that I have.

In the Publisher’s Note at the beginning of Different…Not Less, Temple Grandin is quoted as saying, “Being on Social Security is NOT a job choice.”  I love this statement because I am a big believer that being neurologically different does not mean being unable to embrace individual gifts and to share them with society in a way that can help one make a living. 

What I appreciate even more is that in Different…Not Less Temple Grandin hand-selected a cross-section of 14 men and women on the spectrum from different fields (i.e. medical, retail, art, technology, business, etc.), various life situations (i.e married/single/divorced, rural/urban, religious/non-religious upbringings, etc.) and several countries(i.e. the United States, Australia, Scotland and Canada) to evidence that regardless of differing backgrounds, folks with autism can meet similar successes!

Every testimony in Different…Not Less speaks of unique, personal, and sometimes as heartbreaking as they are inspiringm histories of their author’s early years, school years, employment, relationships and more.  Yet, they all share a common thread – they chronicle individuals who have used their personal talents and coping strategies not only to deal with social, communication and sensory challenges, but also to find personal satisfaction and success in their lives.  This success is not always measured in common terms of wealth, popularity or fame, but seems to be assessed in more significant terms: recognizing self-worth, pursuing individual interests and finding work that “fits”.  

After reading many of the stories in Different…Not Less, as well as Temple’s epilogue on how people on the spectrum can succeed with employment, I was struck by how effectively the book works to further Temple’s mission to show those on the spectrum – and those who know and love them – that it is possible to find fulfillment in life.  Yes, there are hard times and there will inevitably always continue to be challenges.  And, yes, people with autism are “different”, but their sense of personal and life success need not be any “less” than that of other people’s.

As Temple says in her introduction of Different… Not Less, “People on the autism spectrum always keep learning. It is never too late to learn new skills, improve relationships, or learn better work skills.”  Through the 14 stories shared in the book, whether you are an adult on the spectrum, or a parent, educator, therapist or employer of a person, young or old, on the spectrum, some of that learning can be had.  There are few other resources (if any!) that allow readers to glean insight from a wide array of individuals who have faced the common childhood challenges of autism – diagnosed or undiagnosed – and who now embrace success as adults.  In Different…Not Less, you will find no shortage of recognition, inspiration, insights and practical tips from those that have.

Want the book soon?

If you’re interested in being inspired by Different...Not Less by Temple Grandin, pre-order now at the Future Horizons website and don’t forget to input discount code HAPPY to get your copy for $16.96 (instead of the $19.95 retail price) upon checkout, plus 15% off other items you may wish to purchase, including conferences, such as Temple’s one that is coming to the Boston, which I am excited that I might be able to attend.

One Note of Caution to Conservative Readers

The stories in the book are told by a diverse group of folks, thus, adults, I would definitely read through this book yourself before sharing it with teenagers or other impressionable readers.  For while all topics in the book are treated with honesty and taste, some might be considered sensitive to certain audiences.

A Prayer for a Little Boy and A Special Ritual, Too

When we celebrated the baptism of my first son, my parents gifted us with a plaque that held a Prayer for a Little Boy.  This prayer (along with the Prayer for a Little Girl, which my folks gifted my daughter upon her baptism) has since been written in my heart and in my chidlren's -- its words both melodic and meaningful.  In fact, lately the prayer has become part of one of my favorite recent rituals with my youngest child Jack.

At least a few times a week lately, I am blessed with time to spend cuddling Jack to sleep for nap or bedtime without interruption from his siblings.   Usually, as I lay holding him, I sing him a special song that I that made up for him shortly after he was born.  Sometimes, I also sing a few traditional lullabies, as well as the Our Father and the Hail Mary.  Almost always I sing the words of the Prayer for a Little Boy to a tune I have made up.

As I sing, Jack sometimes hums quietly along.  More often, though, he simply remains still in my arms, with a slight peaceful smile playing upon his lips and his eyes intent upon gazing at something, which I am not sure I see, but that I sense may be angels or the Spirit.  For during such times, a warm sense bathes my son, and, as his eyes go from gazing, to blinking, to finally shutting in slumber, I am filled with it, too.  I know a great love I can feel, but not express adequately in words.

Once Jack is asleep, with his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, I marvel at the miracle he is -- and at the miracle each of us is.

All of us are created with love and purpose by God.  Each of us is gifted into a special family that God has selected just for us.  Within that family -- and within the greater human family -- we sometimes get frustrated, upset or otherwise ill-humored.  At these time, the words of the prayer "Lord, while I live, please let me be, from quick and angry passions free..." beg to be heard.   At other times, we are faced with challenges that make us truly call out to make us "strong and brave of heart."  At still other times, we feel called to "do our part" well, maintaining "generous thoughts and happy face and pleasant words in every place." Always, we know that God forgives the wrongs we've done and blesses us -- each and every one.

One of God's blessings to me lately certainly is the peaceful pause I savor when parenting Jack to sleep.  Likewise, I truly believe a blessing God offers Jack at the same time is an understanding of love, peace and prayer that a 19 month old can know, even if he cannot express it in words quite yet.

My Jack is still rather silent at 19 months old.  He has only recently begun to say distinct syllables which seem to communicate meaning as words.  Yet, when I sing the Prayer for a Little Boy to him and for him, I sense there is a deeper language being spoken directly to my son's heart -- one of God's love.  I know that neither the prayer itself nor me singing it to Jack engender such love, but somehow they act as a conduit for it and for that I am so grateful.

Do you sense God's love speaking to you child at times?  What experiences, tools and resources seem to act as a catalyst for that?  Do share!

Sensory Savvy: A New (Sometimes) Series

In an ideal world, our home would be organized enough and our wallets fat enough to create a fabulous home sensory gym for our three children. For regardless of what each of their neurological profiles may be, I am confident that all three of our children would benefit from having such a dedicated space in our home. I can just envision the hours of fun and physical activity that would take place in it.

Then, there is reality.

In the real world, de-cluttering and organization is a work-in-progress here and financial stewardship demands frugality. So, the idea outfitting a large space in our home as sensory gym remains a pleasant dream while we allow (okay, encourage) the kids to jump on the living room couch as needed and appease their cravings for sensory input in other practical, if unconventional, ways.

In other words, we tuck sensory spaces and solutions in as we can, using what we have, where we are at physically and financially in order to provide our children with decent daily doses of focused sensory input.

Today, both to chronicle our efforts in providing economic alternatives to my expensive sensory gym dream and also and to offer concrete, do-able ideas for others who wish to provide sensory experiences for their children despite tight spaces or slim wallets, I have decided to start spotlighting some of our spaces and solutions. My hope is to do so regularly, if a bit sporadically. (Thus the “sometimes” in this post’s title.) 

So, here’s our quick sensory savvy idea for today:

Jump on the Couch (or a cushion, or trampoline, or… use your imagination!)

When?

Whenever alerting or calming is in order and attitudes are focused enough for safe jumping.

Some folks say that strong “heavy work”, such as jumping, can have latent effects for 1 ½ to 2 hours. So, I say, the more crazy (but safe!)  jumping in one spell, the better. It can bring hours of focused peace.

Why?

In plain-speak: Jumping is a natural joy of childhood. And, well it should be.

For in sensory savvy lingo: It provides proprioceptive input with a strong dose of vestibular input for good measure.

Like all heavy work, it can act as a great equalizer helping your child become alert as the jolt to the joints gets the messages moving, or it can help your child calm down and feel more organized. It is a great gross motor work out, increasing the heart rate, and, thus, offering a strong cardiovascular work out.

Also, the brain is forced to work bilaterally when a jumper is in the air. Both sides of body and brain must work together to maintain coordination and balance. Plus, jumping can strengthens and lengthens muscles, thus improving flexibility.

Caveat: Remember. I am not an OT, PT or anything of the sort, and have no other knowledge or expertise than that gained as a mom on a mission to help her kids. So, please use your own good judgment and consults with professionals.

Thanks:  Back in October when I asked for reader opinions, five folks took the time to comment.  Although I have taken their comments to heart, trying to focus more of my posts on sharing about faith, special needs/sensory stuff, resources and practicality with joy, I have not yet thanked those readers here on the blog.  So, I am doing so now Heidi, Dandelion Wishes, Mama Pickles, K- floortime lite
and The girl who painted trees. I appreciate your comments and will continue to try to post ideas and activities that you can enjoy and learn from.

15% off Autism/Aspbergers Conferences

I am so excited.  I was just going through a pile of mail that amassed while we were away visiting in-law's (and getting through the stomach bug) when I found one announcing the Future Horizons Autism/Asperger's Conference in the Boston area on March 16.

Dr. Temple Grandin, Eustracia Cutler (Temple's mother) and Paula Aquilla (Sensory Integration author), will all be speaking.  I am now going to see if I can get the stars to align to see if I can attend as I know it is going to be great!

If you want to attend this conference, or any of the conferences sponsored by Future Horizons, simply register at Future Horizons using the code HAPPY for 15% off.  


This code can also be used on any Future Horizons purchase, such as for the Building Bridges through Sensory Integration book, A Thorn in My Pocket or any of Temple Grandin's books or videos and will get you 15% off total purchase, plus free shipping within the continental US.


Praying to get to the conference and to see some of you there!

Catholic Kids Bulletin

Ugh! We have had a rough week this past week with far too much throwing and going between the five of us here with a belly bug.  Yet, oo!  I am excited.  Not about the bug, mind you, but about a little gift I just found online.

Last week, in response to my discussion about the challenges of participating in Mass with little ones with special needs, Mama Pickles of The Squishy Pickles shared in a comment that Is There Zucchini in This offers weekly Mass coloring pages.  I checked it out and discovered that Theresa, the creator of some wonderful weekly bulletins that I know my little ones will love, has a new site called Catholic Kids Weekly Mass Bulletins, where she posts bulletins a week before they are needed.

I cannot wait to try out this week's bulletin with my children.  If we are not able to attend Mass due to the belly bug still hitting us, it will provide an engaging way to bring this week;s readings and connected ideas to life for the children.  And, if, God-willing, we finally get this virus behind us, it will offer a way to keep the kid's busy hands focused on faith during Mass.

What a gift Theresa has offered in making this resource available for all of us.  If you know of other helpful resources for sharing faith with little ones, do share!

Have Boxes? Will Imagine!

One recent Saturday I asked my husband to run down to the local grocery store to collect some of my favorite free sorting and organizing tools:  banana boxes.

I set them out on the table, ready to start sorting stuff into them.  However, someone had other plans for for what should go inside the boxes:

Treasuring a timeless rite of childhood - box play - I opted to hold off on my housekeeping project in order to  allow our literal Jack-in-the-box to play.  Then, I closed the boxes up and stacked them against a wall until I had time to get back on-task another day.

Before such time materialized, the rest of the gang just could not resist the lure of boxes.  Conductor Luke had a plan: boxes + stools + an exercise wheel + a Sit-and-Spin =

a post-dinner adventure on The Polar Express!

Whizzing up inclines, around bends and down hills.

Calling others to join the fun.

Who needs high tech toys or screen time?  Inspiration from a book read weeks ago, coupled with memories of a Christmastime train ride and the provocation of a stack of boxes and my children were entertained for a good part of the evening!