Using Everyday Items to Promote Play & Skill Development

By: Shannon O’Leary, OTD

In today’s fast-paced world, parents are often looking for creative ways to support their child’s growth without breaking the bank or adding to the clutter. The good news? You don’t need fancy toys or expensive learning tools to promote skill development. Everyday items around the house can provide endless opportunities for learning and play! From kitchen utensils to cardboard boxes, common household objects can become powerful tools for building essential skills like problem-solving, motor coordination, and creativity. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can transform ordinary items into playful learning experiences that nurture your child’s development in fun, simple ways.

DIY Sensory Bins: Sensory bins are essentially containers filled with some kind of textured substance(s) that provide tactile input and promote creative and imaginative play skills. They can be any size or shape, and can contain various kinds of contents, including different toys! Of note, there are various recipes and ideas on Pinterest for edible-safe sensory play, should that be a concern! Other ideas for sensory bin materials, are suggested below:

• Wet Ingredients: ice, water, shaving cream, foam soap, Jell-o, cooked beans, chick peas, bubbles, Oobleck
• Dry Ingredients: rice, beans, split peas, coffee grinds, Kinetic sand, uncooked pasta, cereal, sprinkles, pebbles, beads
• Toy Ideas: shovels, cups & spoons, cars/dump trucks, Little People play figures/animals, pompoms, magnetic letters puzzle pieces, tongs, bubble scissors, scoops or measuring cups

Movement Games: Movement games are essential for a child’s development because they promote physical health, improve coordination, and support cognitive and social skills through active engagement and play. Some ideas may include:

• Simon Says: Play this game to have your child imitate various movements or positions as well as follow directions.
• Charades: Can help work on similar skills, however, this game can also incorporate emotions, language, and vocabulary.
• Singing/Playing Freeze Dance: Play this game or sing along during favorite songs or shows as a motivating way to engage your child in movement.

Scrapbooking: It’s no secret that crafts are a fun and straightforward way of engaging your child in various fine motor activities, such as coloring, cutting, writing, gluing, etc. However, more often than not, you are the one who tends to keep their hard work as a memory for yourself while they may soon forget. Another activity that can be adapted for all ages is scrapbooking, which incorporates these same kinds of skills through a motivating experience that your child can cherish forever! An added bonus is to make a mini spring or summer bucket list and use a scrapbook to document all of your adventures and activities as a family! Some common items to help you get started include:

• A scrapbook OR a simple folder composed of pocket protectors
• Colored or patterned paper
• Tape/Washi tape, glue, stickers, stamps
• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
• Scissors and different hole punchers
• Envelopes if you want to pocket keepsakes!

Boxes, Balls, & Blankets, Oh my! Use your Amazon packages to your advantage with these cardboard box play ideas:

• Make a house, car, rocket, & beyond! Help to cut windows, paint/color it, add stickers, etc.
• Make a doll house or bed for a favorite stuffed animal
• For sensory input: Place your child in a larger box and push them around the house, or allow them to push siblings! Build a tower with multiple and crash into them, too!
• Make it into a mailbox to encourage role play and social skills

Use balls and balloons for a number of fun games including:

• Play catch or “keep it up” alone or with others
• Push it up and roll it down a slide or stairs
• Place it on different body parts for imitation during “Head, Shoulders”
• Send it into cups or cones for bowling
• Make a ball pit out of a baby pool!
• Hide it and use words such as “under” or “closer” for finding!

Blankets aren’t just for picnics! Try using blankets in the following ways:

• Build a fort using chairs or other furniture
• Make a parachute and place objects, like balls, on top to fly!
• Wrap your kiddo up tightly like a burrito for sensory input
• Make it a swing with 1 adult on each side
• Use it for an obstacle course! Use couch cushions and pillows as stepping stones and a rolled up blanket as a balance beam right in your living room.
• Make a Floor is Lava course!

Another simple way to play: Using a standard ice cube tray!

Activity 1: Rescue Mission

• Use your kiddo’s favorite characters or small toys and place them inside each compartment of the tray. Use painter’s tape or masking tape to “trap” them, and have your child rescue them using scissors or their fingers to promote bilateral coordination and hand strength!

Activity 2: Erupting Ice Chalk

• Using cornstarch, baking soda, water, and food coloring, you can make ice chalk to draw with outside. Once your child is done with their artwork, have them use a spray bottle full of vinegar to make it “erupt” for an easy and fun science experiment! Activity credit to: http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2014/05/erupting-ice-chalk-paint-recipe.html?m=1

Activity 3: Ice Cube Discovery

• Freeze your child’s small toys or various sensory supplies, such as confetti, pompoms, beads, beans, foam stickers, etc. and have your child use a dropper or pipette with warm water to discover what is inside! They may also use a mini hammer or other kind of tool to promote utensil use during this mission!

Classic board games: Board games are a great way to work on different skills that might not be inherently motivating, such as handwriting, articulation, strengthening, etc. Examples that may helpful to apply with your own favorite games at home include:

• Use games that require verbal answers to work on handwriting. For example, rather than calling out the picture in Spot It, your child may have to race to write it. Or, while playing Guess Who, have your child write the character traits in response to “yes” questions to make a running list!
• Don’t Break the Ice with sight words vs. pictures on each cube for direction following / articulation / identification using AAC device.
• Place sticky notes containing a letter on each spot of Twister and have your child jump or bounce a ball on the letter you call out. Have them say individual letters’ sounds or have them spell out words!
• Any game can be upgraded by:
  • Adding tongs for manipulating pieces
  • Laying on your belly
  • Adding a game to the end of a relay or obstacle course
  • Practicing turn taking and social skills
  • Being able to recall and explain directions for others

The occupational therapists at Child & Family Development offer free 15-minute phone consultations for families in Charlotte and surrounding areas, who have questions about their child’s development. If you have concerns or would like more ways to engage with your child while working on their development at home, you can request an appointment with us online.