Valentines is a around the corner and here at The Big Picture Therapy we have some activities for the kids in your life to help them with development and visual motor skills.
STNR-Inspired Valentines Reaches
These are great one to use if a child has difficulty:
-Sitting still
-Maintaining good upright seated posture
-Copying from a board or model in front of them
-Concentrating and attending to tabletop tasks
-With eye hand coordination such as catching
(All signs that STNR may need further integration)
This activity:
❤️Improves freedom of head from trunk movement
❤️Assists with separation of upper and lower body movements
❤️ Works eye tracking and visual discrimination skills
❤️Is great for kids that need to spend more time in quadruped or have skipped the crawling developmental stage
ATNR-Inspired Valentines Reaches
One study of 683 children found that the ATNR was associated significantly with reduced reading, spelling and mathematics. ATNR was attributed to a 13% difference in reading scores (Jordan-Black, 2005).
For more on the ATNR reflex and even more activities you can read this blog.
This activity:
❤️Opens the chest and expands peripheral vision
❤️Reinforces differentiated right and left body awareness
❤️ Works eye tracking and visual discrimination skills
❤️ Is a killer core-strength challenge
❤️ Is inspired by the integration of the ATNR reflex (a big culprit of academic difficulties such as dyslexia)
Make it easier or start off by having them only use their upper body (no dual tasking).
If they struggle keep place visually have the call out the colors verbally (I needed to do this).
Work figure-ground and discrimination skills by putting up competing symbols!
I got the ❤️ stickers at the dollar store but you can also print this paper and cut out hearts for your targets. (You don't have to cut out the hearts thoroughly for this to work, a square with a heart in it would do.)
References:
Jordan‐Black, Julie‐Anne. (2005). The effects of the Primary Movement programme on the academic performance of children attending ordinary primary school. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs. 5. 101 – 111. 10.1111/j.1471-3802.2005.00049.x.