The Beauty of Theraputty

So I guess by now most of you have figured out that I won't be posting much about the "tiny-units" of the summer. In between preparing for the next school year and enjoying the summer, my time blogging has been cut dramatically but then again, I think most of you are probably taking the summer off and thus not really in need of any ideas for these units anyway, right? I must say my time spent on school with Adrian this summer is much lesser than anticipated. After our first guests left, the weather turned out to be SO nice that we never really went back to our regular school schedule. I am not lying, it has not rained in over 4 if not 5 weeks now. The temperatures are also very comfortable too (not too hot, not too cold) so school time is mostly spent outside, drawing with chalk, riding bicycles, picking cherries, playing in the water and the like (although sometimes we're inside, with our math and language worksheets). But there is one activity Adrian can't get enough of and something I always indulge him in: Theraputty. Theraputty is usually something you'll find in an occupational therapy office; something a child or an adult will work with to rehabilitate their hands or fingers. It is also used to increase the strength of the hands and fingers after an accident for example. In Adrian's case, I made the purchase last year after I noticed he could use some help in the finger strength department (specifically so he could eventually hold his pencil the proper way for a "long" time. Ever since, we've done quite a few exercises, which he always welcomes with joy.

Theraputty

Theraputty is a bit like play dough but it is harder and it can be stretched quite a bit. It also comes in different strengths (each strength has its own color but different makers means different color coding too) and it is slightly sticky/adhesive. You do not want to use it on say...a paper towel as it will not peel off but if used on a table, it will peel off well. It also does not hold its shape. Preparing activities ahead can be challenging as it stays shaped for only a little bit of time before taking the shape of the container it is kept in but that makes it quite interesting to work with. A few more things to keep in mind prior to working with Theraputty: it stains clothing. It kind of "melts" into the fabric and somehow does not come out of the fibers (WD-40 helps tremendously but doesn't remove everything every time!). Also, although it is somewhat like Crayola's Silly Putty, Theraputty isn't Silly Putty: it won't bounce and remember, it is "hard"! :)

Now on to our latest Theraputty activities (all done with a medium strength Theraputty made by Theraflex):

 

Theraputty Porcupine

I made the first porcupine and Adrian's task was to remove the quills and eyes (poor porcupine!) Then, Adrian had to flatten the putty and make his own porcupine. Pulling and poking, rolling and stretching  all require strength.

Theraputty Monsters/Ghosts

Another stretching activity. Shaping the putty can be tough so strength is put to the test here. Decorating Theraputty always makes it more fun, even if the goggly eyes don't stick/sink in very well. It'd be a great Halloween activity I think if you're into thematic weeks.

Breakfast food for our monsters and ghosts: pancakes and sausages

Our monsters and ghosts were hungry so after we finished them off, we made pancakes and sausages for them. Pinching a tiny bit of Theraputty off in between the thumb and index finger is not that easy as it's hard and stretchy by the way. Then of course, a tiny ball had to be made in between those two fingers and finally, the thumb was used to squish the ball on the table to make "perfectly round" pancakes. The sausages were made by pinching and rolling the putty.


The following activities were all done throughout last school year and by clicking on the picture, you'll be taken to the post featuring the Theraputty activity seen. Enjoy and get ready for more Theraputty in School Year 2013-2014!

Theraputty Candies

Pirate's Treasure Chest and its Coins Stuck in the Mud

Frog Spawn at the Bottom of the Pond

Rotten Teeth Ready for Extraction

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Today, I'm happily linking up to

Montessori Monday, The Kids Co-Op, Show-and-Share Saturday, Link & Learn, TGIF, Share it Saturday, Mom's Library, The Sunday Showcase, Sun Scholars's For the Kids Friday, Stress-Free Sunday, Thursday Toddler & Preschool, Tuesday Tots, Preschool Corner &5K, Serenity Saturday, Virtual Montessori Sharing Fair, and Artsy Play Wednesday, Monday Kid Corner, We Made That.

If you would like me to link up with you, please don't hesitate to ask, it might take me a week or two, but I generally do!