- Jefferson Early Childhood Center
- OT Corner

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Hello and welcome to the OT corner. Here you will find information on fine motor and sensory motor development, including some of my favorite links, parent handouts, and activity ideas to try at home.

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Mrs. Kim Grimes
I have been an occupational therapist since 1998. I have enjoyed working in a variety of settings including early intervention, private therapy, the clinic, and the school setting.
I live in Geneva with my husband and two kids. I enjoy spending time with my family, running, and cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers and Cubs.
Some of my favorite web links
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Flip over method to teach putting on your jacket
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Learning Without Tears, formerly Handwriting Without Tears
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Left hand preschool scissors
Did you know they make such a thing? If your child is showing a left-hand preference when using a scissors, it's important to provide left-hand scissors. Why? Right hand scissors, when used in a left hand, causes the paper to bend, causing jagged and frayed edges while also making it difficult for the child to see the line he is cutting.
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What is "heavy work?"
This website provides a nice overview of the benefits of what we call heavy work activities, which are activities that provide additional feedback to one's body and joints.
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Information on weighted blankets and lap pads and how to make your own
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Follow me on Pinterest for additional ideas specific to all things OT! You can search me as Kimberly Grimes using the search grimes4682; or, send me an email and I'll send you an invite to follow my page. I will use this as a way to offer activity ideas that you might try at home related to grasping skill development, pre-writing skill development, cutting skills, vision skills, and sensory skills. Happy pinning!
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iPad & iPhone apps
There are several apps that entice children to persist with, practice, and develop visual motor and visual perceptual skills. Keep in mind that we still want children to develop tool control when using a writing tool. There are several styluses available on the market. I've provided a link to one that I currently use under "my favorite links" section of this page. I encourage you to use apps as a starting point, then work with your child to transfer the skills when using crayons and paper.
Little Writer-This app is free. Use finger to complete some prewriting shapes as well as letters, numbers and whole words.
Doodoo Lite - This app is free. Provides changing backgrounds and line types while the child draws. You can also import pictures to trace or to draw on.
Letter School - There is a free lite version and $2.99 full version. You can chose the handwriting curriculum you are looking to practice. There are motivating songs and visuals that reinforce children as they practice tracing paths with correct directionality.
Injini Lite - This app is free and provides a variety of visual perceptual and visual motor skils including matching, puzzles, and tracing. Language concepts are also embedded into the activities.
Fun Bubbles Lite - This app is free. Use index finger point to make bubbles and pop them. Works on visual motor control and finger control.
Writing Wizard - $4.99 This app provides practive in tracing letters, numbers, and words in a fun and interactive manner.
If you're exploring and using apps at home, I encourage you to check out the link above on they type of stylus I recommend to promote tool grasp. We want children to gain this practice while also practicing using "pinching fingers" not just their pointer fingers.
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Intro and Types of Scissors for preschoolers
Video provides an overview of the types of scissors, including adapted scissors, commonly used in the early childhood classroom.
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Cutting Progression for preschoolers
Video provides an overview about the importance of scissor skill development and how to teach it.
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Cutting practice for preschoolers
Video demonstration of moving through the scissor use progression with a child
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Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions. I look forward to a fun and productive year working together!
Kim Grimes, MS OTR/L