REGULATING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR SUMMER (CONTINUED)

Executive Functioning:

I-spy for working memory and visual attention

Red light, green light for impulse control and direction following

Sensory Processing:

Sensory Scavenger Hunt

Soft item

Itchy/scratchy item

Something that smells good

Something wet

Something bright

Something you can hear from far away

Something with 4 legs

Color-Based Scavenger Hunt

Describing the Sensory Features of Treasures Found in the Outdoors

Turn Smelling Different Plants Into a Deep Breathing Exercise

The best part of utilizing an outdoor, nature environment as your landscape to work on different skills with your child is that it is free to enter and can be found all around us! You can adapt an environment as needed by going to a creek in the middle of the woods for more quiet, focused attention or a playground for a busier environment that promotes social interactions. Any environment can be used to create opportunities for natural play with your child and the more movement and connection with outdoors, the more available they will be for quiet, restful time later on.

WRITTEN BY ASHLEY LON, M.S., OTR/L OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST TLC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT

By Ginny McDonald Tutoring Supervisor Testing, Tutoring, & Counseling Dept at TLC

As the summer winds down, we watch our kids getting antsy as they anticipate the new year. We want this to be a time of excited anticipation from children, as well as last minute attempts to take in as much of the summer as possible. However, transitioning from summer to school can be difficulty for children as well. Here are some helpful strategies to create a successful transition in the fall.

Prepare Your Child:

1. Listen to your child and hear any fears or concerns about the new school year. Are these areas where you can provide help or does the child need to work through these with your guidance? Do you need to seek the help of a professional?

2. If it is a new school, be sure to walk or drive the route so the child knows what to expect.

3. Attend the teacher meet and greet, if there is one so that the child can meet the teacher, see the classroom, and possibly meet other students to become friends with.

4. Go through your child’s clothes and see what fits and hand off what doesn’t. Get used to selecting tomorrow’s clothes today and having them ready for the morning.

5. Talk about the plan for lunches. Will the child take their lunch or buy it? If they are taking lunch, be sure to get a lunch box that they can open independently.