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Feed the Ball

Purpose

This activity is designed primarily for hand strengthening.

Materials

Beads, Beans, Coins, Tennis Ball

Skills

Bilateral Hand Use, Finger Strength, Finger Translation, Pincer Grasp

Description

Cut a 3 inch horizontal line across the tennis ball (so when you squeeze the ball, it looks like the tennis ball is opening a mouth). Put the coins (beans or beads can be used as well with older kids) on the table, in front of the child.

First, show the child how to squeeze the ball so it opens its mouth using only one hand (preferably the dominant hand). Then have the child pick up the coins, one coin at a time, using a pincer grasp and "feed" the ball by squeezing it with the other hand and opening its mouth.

To work on finger translation, ask the child to pick up 2-3 coins at one time and "feed" the tennis ball one coin at a time.

Images (click to enlarge)

Feed the Ball OT activity

Comments

Great activity to use from geriatrics to pediatrics. Every age has enjoyed this activity so far!
Nacole Jackson, COTA on Wednesday, June 09, 2010
awsome - great for the kids i work with - they love the smiley face
kristen COTA/L on Sunday, March 21, 2010
Great idea
Bel on Monday, December 14, 2009
Excellent idea and I can use this with my adults.
Charlene Wyatt, OTR/L on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
great activities for my kids - they love feeding "Mrs. Yellow"
Tara, BSc(OT) on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Very nice activity, I tried this activity with various thickness of the ball, it gives nice result for my patients.
Karthikeyan krishnamoorthi OT on Sunday, October 11, 2009
My student made one of these and I love it. The kids love to feed smiley face.
Denise Shelton, COTA/L on Monday, September 21, 2009
thank you I like the activity which I can apply to my patients.
becky on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
excellent
Cheryl Hall on Tuesday, July 10, 2007
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