We are heading back to my favorite store today, Dollar Tree! I have some more simple and inexpensive ideas for you using Dollar Tree products. Be sure to check out the video for quick tutorials with these products.
Painter’s Tape
Painter’s tape is new to my Dollar Tree, and I am really glad it’s here. Painter’s tape is made to adhere to surfaces like walls and floors to block paint from unwanted areas. This means the tape is designed to be removed from surfaces without damaging them. This makes painter’s tape perfect for dozens of therapy games and activities. Some of my favorites are:
- Creating Removable Paths: Create straight, zig zag, or curving designs. These paths can be used to walk on, ride a scooter board over, or animal walk along.
- Ladder Skills: Lots of athletes and trainers use portable ladders for coordination activities. These ladders can be expensive. Instead, try using small sections of tape to create an inexpensive ladder on the floor. Ladders can be used for a myriad of skills: jumping, side-stepping, running, hopping, etc.
- Wall Patterns: Just like walking along taped floor paths, you can create patterns on the wall for hands and fingers to trace. Try creating large letters, figure eights, or other shapes on the wall. Ask kids to trace them with their finger. Or, place small sections of tape on the wall and label each section with a letter or number. Then, call out numbers and have them tap them with their finger or hand to promotes visual scanning. If you call out a few letters at a time kids can also work on sequencing.
- Overhead Reach: Place a piece of painter’s tape sticky side out on a door or wall that is above your child’s height. Allow your child to reach up on their toes and stick a cotton ball or other light-weight item to the tape.
- Wall Target: We have talked a lot about using wall targets for throwing balls at. This activity works on throwing, visual scanning, and sequencing. We usually tape large colored paper dots to the wall, but pieces of painter’s tape will work just as well.
Pool Noodle
Oh how I love the pool noodle. I actually have an entire video about pool noodles. But, I couldn’t talk about the Dollar Tree and not bring up pool noodles. Here are some of my new favorite ways to use pool noodles:
- Large Stringing Beads: Try slicing off small sections of pool noodle to create beads that can be strung on a piece of string or a dowel. Pool noodle beads are much larger and easier to handle for kiddos with fine motor challenges.
- Overhead Reach: I have talked before about how I like to use clothes pins and a piece of string to encourage kids to reach overhead. Sometimes, however, my kiddos are not able to manipulate the clothes pin. So, try taking a few of your pool noodle stringing bead and cut an opening in the circle. This small slit will allow the bead to slide on and off the string without too much fine motor work.
- Adapt Sidewalk Chalk: The opening in most pool noodles is just the right size to hold a piece of sidewalk chalk. Slipping the chalk in a noodle allows wheelchair users to participate in the fun.
- Playing Card Holder: In my How to Adapt School Supplies video. I showed you how to create a playing card holder from a pool noodle and some velcro. There are lots of pre-fabricated card holders available on Amazon (my favorites here and here). But if you don’t have the time or money to order, pool noodles will work just fine.
Ping Pong Balls
Another new item my Dollar Tree is carrying is Ping Pong Balls. These are sooo much fun. Here are some cool activities:
- Oral Motor Strengthening: Use a straw to blow a ping ball across the table or floor to work on strengthening those lungs and oral muscles.
- Air Hockey: Combine a plastic cup and ping pong ball on a flat surface and you have instant air hockey. Place the ball under the cup and push it across the table. Your opponent must catch it before it slides off the table. You can also play in prone for some core strengthening at the same time.
- Kick off of Cones: We have talked a lot about kicking items off of cones or plastic cups to work on unilateral stance and standing balance. We have used bean bags, cotton balls, and loofahs. Well, ping pong balls are a great option too.
- Spoon and Egg Race: A ping pong ball is another great replacement for an egg in the told favorite spoon and egg race. This activity is great for eye hand coordination, balance, and control.
- Catching Games: Use a ping pong ball and plastic cup to practice catching and work on those eye hand coordination skills. You can roll the ball across the table and have your opponent catch it with the cup as it rolls off. Or, bounce the ball on the table and have your opponent catch the ball. Finally, just toss the ball in the air and challenge your opponent to catch it.
Party Platters or Small Sorting Bins:
The Dollar Tree has lots of very cool party platters and sorting bins. I like the clear platters best. But, whichever option you choose, they all work great for sorting.
- Color Sort: Adhere a small piece of colored paper on the bottom side of each section of the tray. I use a piece of double sided tape to adhere a small piece of construction paper. Then place colored objects in the center section of the tray and sort to your hearts content!
- Money Sort: Using the same technique as color sorting, adhere an image of each coin you want to sort on the underside of the container. I use a penny, nickel, dime, and quarter. Place some change in the center section and sort away!
- Silverware Sort: I use the smaller desk divider trays to sort silverware. I love these containers because they allow more room for sorting than a standard silverware drawer container. Again I place an image of the item in the bottom of the bin. I also use colored plastic silverware for sorting to improve color contrast for my friends with visual impairments.
What are your favorite Dollar Tree products? Let me know in the comments below. I would love to hear about them and how you use them in therapy/play?
Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you have an amazing week!
-Heather
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