Summer Fun…Therapy in Disguise!

For any therapy to be affective you don’t have to go to a medical provider or do boring exercises!  Like many GiGi’s programs, therapy can be fun, creative, and purposeful!  Check out these 2 colorful options put together by our very own PT, Leslie, that you can do outside on any summer day.

Erupting Ice Chalk Paint

What you need:

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

liquid watercolor paints

1/2 cup water

Spray bottle

4 cups vinegar

Directions: mix all items well then pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and stick the trays in the freezer until froze. A great tip is to hose off your painting area as it helps the ice chalk melt and spread faster ultimately blending colors more easily. Take your spray bottle filled with vinegar and become Picasso!

Benefits: fine motor skills when not only using the spray bottle but mixing the ingredients. Color recognition and sensory fun!

This next activity is so simple yet so much fun!

Giant Window Painting

What you need:

Windows

Dry erase markers

Water based paints

Directions: Have your kids pick what they want to paint. Draw the item on the inside of the glass and then let them paint with washable paint on the outside! Simple and fun, just like we said!

Benefits: While it may look like simple art activity – there is so much more going on here! First off, kids are getting to work on a vertical surface which is important for young kids (helps to build arms strength and shoulder and elbow stability). In addition, fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, color recognition, and decision making!