Occupational Therapy Preschool Activities

October

 

 

Body scheme is the internalized awareness of the position and functions of body parts and body movements.  This internalized awareness is an important first step in building the ability to maneuver the body through increasingly more complex gross and fine motor movements.  In order for a child to draw a picture of them, a popular preschool activity, the child has to have a good sense of how all those body parts fit together.  Try these activities to improve body scheme.

 

During bath time, give your child a wash cloth or netted bath sponge.  When the cloth is nice and soapy ask them to wash various body parts.  Start with the big parts like arms, and legs then see if your child can find and wash smaller parts like, elbow, chin or ear.

 

Play the Wiggle Game.  Start off with wiggling fingers, Have your child “pass” the wiggles to his/her head.  Now you and your child wiggle your head.  “Pass” the wiggles back to your fingers.  Then pass the “wiggles” to your arms and both you and your child wildly wiggle your arms (but only your arms) then pass the wiggles back to your fingers.  It is important that the “wiggles” get passed back to the fingers between each body part.  Continue passing the “wiggles” to various body parts.  When you are done, take a deep breath and blow the wiggles away. 

 

  Have Fun

 

Beth