String a Farm: 50 Amazingly Simple Ways to Practice Speech and Fine Motor Skills With ONE Toy
Therapists and parents are always looking for inexpensive toys to enforce therapy targets with children. The Alex Toys Wooden Stringing Sets are a great addition to your selection to work on speech and occupational therapy goals just while simply playing. In particular, the LLA therapists love the Alex Toys Little Hands String a Farm set for therapy sessions. We have listed 50 super easy and simple speech and occupational therapy skills to naturally integrate into play while using this set!
1. Answering yes/no questions- Is the pig pink?
2. Requesting- Can I have the cow?
3. Animal naming- Cow!
4. Naming and pointing to shapes- The apples are circles
5. Identifying and naming colors- The apple is red
6. Identifying and naming categories- Which animals fly?
7. Identifying and naming adjectives- The pink pig
8. Identifying and naming animal sounds- Who goes moo?
9. Comparing and contrasting animals- The chicken and tree and both green
10. Following directions- Put on the cow first, then the sheep
11. Targeting verbs- The cow is running
12. Identifying and naming basic concepts- on top of, next to, first/last etc.
13. Targeting take off- Take off cow
14. Targeting put on- Put on cow
15. Asking and answering who questions- Who should we put on next?
16. Asking and answering what questions- What animal is white?
17. Asking and answering when questions- When do chickens sleep?
18. Asking and answering where questions- Where do the animals live?
19. Asking and answering why questions- Why is the horse eating?
20. Articulation targets- Speech sounds errors in animal names, colors, actions, etc.
21. Using past tense verbs- The horse jumped
22. Asking for assistance- Can you help me?
23. Using pronouns to replace nouns- They are in the barn.
24. Inferencing- I am pink and roll in the mud. What animal am I?
25. Sound discrimination- What sound does cow start with?
26. Syllable counting- Clap out the syllables for Chick-en
27. Rhyming awareness- What word rhymes with pig/cat/tree?
28. Sorting animals by shapes, size, color etc.
29. Targeting counting-Counting animals, spots, apples, etc.
30. Targeting sequence-Sequencing animals
31. Grasping animals and string practice
32. Practicing right/left discrimination- Knowing right hand from left hand
33. Bilateral coordination- Using both hands together to hole string and bead
34. Targeting eye-hand coordination- Inserting string through hole in bead
35. In-hand manipulation of blocks and string- Moving lace, bead in hand
36. Using visual discrimination- What is different with shape, color, size
37. Using visual scanning of objects- Finding a certain bead among the others
38. Targeting visual memory- Remembering color, shape, size, type of bead
39. Utilizing problem solving skills- Which way does the string fit through the hole?
40. Utilizing motor planning- Inserting string through hole and pulling bead to end of string. (Performing the act)
41. Ideation- Developing a plan on how to perform the activity (I need to put string through hole)
42. Practicing patterns with colors, animals, etc.
43. Encouraging sharing of blocks and string when playing with peers
44. Practicing cooperation when playing with peers
45. Targeting turn-taking when playing with peers- “Who’s turn is it?”
46. Practicing waiting for your turn when playing with peers- “Wait your turn.”
47. Giving your child a sense of accomplishment- “I can do it!”
48. Improving self-esteem- By using positive feedback-“Great job!”
49. Strengthening your child’s hand muscles- Holding, pushing, pulling bead on string
50. Tactile input to hands- The feel of the beads, string
You can find this set by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/ALEX-Toys-Little-Hands-String/dp/B001447IX8
Jessica Glenbocki, MOT, OTR/L & Katie Sinclair, CF-SLP