Fall Fun at Leaps and Bounds!
Our pediatric OTs are getting into the autumn spirit with a spook-tacular scarecrow craft project!
Not only are these festive creations adorable, but they also help kiddos develop some awesome OT skills:
- Grasping & Finger Dexterity
- Finger & Hand Strength
- Motor Planning & Visual Perceptual Skills
- Direction Following
- Attending to Tasks from Start to Finish
It’s a fun-filled way to practice coordination, creativity, and focus while getting into the fall spirit!
Does your little one love hands-on projects? Let’s get crafty together!
Materials needed:
- 1 brown paper lunch bag
- Construction paper
- Scrap paper
- Gluestick
- Scissors
- Permanent marker
- Tape
Steps:
- Cut out all pieces (eyes, nose, mouth, and hat).
- Color in dots of eyes and draw a smile with permanent marker.
- Have child choose the color of the hat.
- Draw outline of cut out pieces (eyes, nose, mouth) on paper lunch bag. As well as lines for the hair of the scarecrow.
- Have child help put glue on the paper bag.
- Have child place cut out pieces at or near outlines and pat down.
- Pre-rip hair pieces (make a slight tear) and have child finish ripping downward until end of drawn line. (May need to block stopping points to prevent ripping all the way through).
- Begin folding over hair to front, Have child press down after folding over hair.
- Open paper bag.
- Grab and model to child to crumple up scrap paper to put into paper bag.
- Fold over hair to the front again.
- Take the paper hat and tape onto the top of the paper bag.
Thank you to our UWM OT Student – Sarah Torres for this fall-tacular craft idea!
