There is any number of reasons that kids would need to participate in occupational therapy activities. Be it from birth injuries to learning disabilities, sensory processing disorders, autism, developmental delays or even chronic illnesses, according to KidsHealth, any and all of these conditions can benefit from occupational therapy.
And when turned into games, cooking, or calming activities, kids do not even realize they are having anything other than fun. That makes for some of the best occupational therapy activities for kids.
According to The OT Toolbox, the reason that kids use play for their occupational therapy activities is because their job is to play.
As such, activities that are centered around play are actually working cognition, problem-solving, self-regulation, motor skills, emotional skills, sensory integration, and so much more. That is why there is so much success for kids when the area of development they need to work on is based in occupational therapy activities.
Not only are they strengthening areas where they may not be as developmentally strong, but they are integrating areas where they are developmentally on target as well.
Here are some occupational therapy activities for kids.
10 Make & Play With Play-Dough
Play-dough may be one of the most impressive occupational therapy items there is. This is because, according to Daises & Doodles, the benefits of play-dough include:
- Develops motor skills
- Strengthens fingers
- Encourages bilateral hand use
- Is a good medium for imaginary play
- Helps with concentration
- Fun for sensory play
Play-dough truly may be the best all around occupational therapy activity there is.
9 Create A Sensory Bin
Sensory bins can be created to use any or all of the five senses. And it is when kids are using these senses through play that they are actually achieving so much more.
According to Lumiere Children's Therapy, benefits that come with using the senses to play in a sensory bin include:
- Cooperative play
- Fine motor skills
- Cognitive skills
And because sensory bins can take on any theme and have any number of different objects in them, there never is a need to duplicate sensory bin fun.
8 Bake Cookies
Not only is baking cookies a fun activity, but a delicious one too!
According to North Shore Pediatric Therapy, the benefits of using baking cookies as an occupational therapy activity include:
- Uses bilateral skills
- Visual motor skills are used
- Upper body strength is necessary to move sugar and flour
- Necessity to follow instructions
- Body awareness
- Fine motor skills are used
- Problem-solving skills may be necessary
With baking cookies not only being beneficial as an occupational therapy activity but a bonding activity between parents and kids, it is one that should be repeated with frequency.
7 Make A Paper Airplane
An activity that kids will want to play with once the occupational therapy portion of it comes to an end is flying a paper airplane.
According to Your Kids OT, the way that making a paper airplane is an occupational therapy activity includes:
- Using fine motor skills
- Sequencing skills
- Visual planning skills
And with so many types of planes to make, this activity may just make an entire squadron of paper planes before coming to an end.
6 Play With Stickers
Stickers are fun to decorate with. But they also make for a great occupational therapy activity as well.
According to Therapy Fun Zone, the way that stickers are an occupational therapy activity include:
- Practices pincer grasp
- Works tactile desensitization
- Motor planning
By using stickers in pictures, cutting around them, grouping them, and more, they make for fun activities for kids needing occupational therapy.
5 Throw Water Balloons At Targets
A great outdoor activity that can cool kids off while helping them with occupational therapy is throwing water balloons. But it is not just haphazardly throwing the balloons. It is aiming at targets that help to work occupational therapy skills.
According to The Real Recreation Therapist, the way that aiming water balloons at targets is an occupational therapy activity includes:
- Working coordination
- Strengthening gross motor skills
- Working with others
- Interacting and being social with others
Water balloons are a fun twist on making objects drop into targets that kids of all ages, (and maybe adults too!) will love to pay.
4 Transfer Water With A Sponge
If looking to work dexterity and gross motor skills, according to Voila Montessori, the transferring water with a sponge is an occupational therapy activity to make that happen.
Kids will have two containers to work with. One will be filled with water and the other will be empty. The goal is to use skills to fill the sponge with water and then squeeze it into the empty container. The more this is done, the stronger the hand muscles will become and the easier it will be to manipulate activities using motor skills.
3 Play With Legos
According to Seirrah OT, Lego therapy is beneficial for those who would benefit from occupational therapy as well. As such, combining the two therapies makes for an exceptional therapy activity for kids.
When using Lego therapy with occupational therapy, the benefits to kids, per the publication includes:
- Strengthening fine motor skills
- Using bilateral integration
- Works on sensory skills
- Helps them to follow the rules
- Helps kids to follow directions
- Encourages taking turns
- Strengthens problem-solving skills
By using Legos at just about any age, kids who need occupational therapy will benefit. All the way from early learning with Duplo blocks to Lego sets for older kids.
2 Create An Obstacle Course
Obstacle courses can be made more and less difficult based on the age of kids who are going to participate in them. And because of this, obstacle courses can be used as an occupational therapy activity for both the young and old.
According to Marshall Pediatric Therapy, the benefits of creating an obstacle course for an occupational therapy activity include:
- Strengthening cognitive skills
- Becoming more proficient with balancing skills
- Gaining strength in the body overall
- Work on coordination skills
- Hone fine motor skills
- Work on sensory skills
Obstacle courses can be built to meet the needs of each child going through it. As such, they make for a great occupational therapy activity for kids.
1 Yoga
When it comes to centering the mind and body, yoga is a perfect activity. It is no wonder that it is a favorite of
Occupational therapists when it comes to activities for kids.
According to Occupational Therapy Helping Children, the benefits of kids doing yoga as an occupational therapy activity include:
- Strengthening gross motor skills
- Working on fine motor skills
- Developing sensory processing
- Working on behavior regulation skills
- Strengthening mindfulness
In addition to these skills, the mind and body get an opportunity to slow down. And when this happens, the two get an opportunity to really absorb what is happening around them during this very successful occupational therapy activity.
Source: KidsHealth, The OT Toolbox, Daises & Doodles, Lumiere Children's Therapy, North Shore Pediatric Therapy, Your Kids OT, Therapy Fun Zone, The Real Recreation Therapist, Voila Montessori, Seirrah OT, Marshall Pediatric Therapy, Occupational Therapy Helping Children