Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so while we're all inside on these cold days, we've compiled some great crafts to help address those OT goals your kids are working so hard to meet!

Paper Plate Yarn Hearts

Fingerprint Tree

Handprint Love Bug

Paper Weave Valentine

Paper Heart Penguin

Tic-Tac-Toe Snack Craft

Valentine's Fruit Plate

Find the Hearts Sensory Bin

{Recognize this guy?}

It's a new year-- a time many of us make resolutions to take better care of ourselves, get organized, connect with our family.  As a parent of two very loving, adorable and energetic boys, one of my resolutions is to find some time for ME, and the best way I have found this extra time is to delegate household responsibilities! True, it’s easier said than done but I assure you it’s possible.  Here are some fun and easy ways that children of all ages and abilities can help out at home, as well as specific products that enhance independence.  Not only will these activities help your child achieve their therapy goals, YOU get a little time off-- everybody wins!

Anyone else getting stir crazy?? Schools are closed...and so is everything else.  The snowmen are built, the sledding has been done, the whining is without end.  Never fear!  A few more ideas for indoor fun to occupy the kids and build up their upper body and fine motor skills:

(Image via MotherhoodOnaDime.com)

• Balloon volleyball, tennis and baseball.  If you don't have a tennis racket or bat, use a cardboard tube from wrapping paper or paper towel rolls.

• Work their fingers by playing with clay, Play-Doh, Model Magic, kinetic sand, or shaving cream to activate the tactile system and improve overall hand skills.

• Encourage your children to help "clean the house". Use spray bottles, sponges, and towels to get those hand muscles working.

• Engage you child in cooking activities. Mixing ingredients encourages bilateral coordination, opening containers and mixing dough reinforces hand strength.

Two snow days before Winter Storm Jonas even arrived! The kids have already watched six movies, played with legos, finished a craft, and are whining with boredom.  How are you going to get through the weekend??  We feel your pain!  Here are a few ideas for indoor activities that will promote gross motor development, sensory regulation, and parental sanity.

• Cosmic Kids Yoga Videos 

Found on YouTube, these are 20-30 minute clips that highlight yoga moves into themes like Star Wars, ocean animals, princesses, etc.  If you have to resort to a screen, this is the way to go! Kids love the interactive scenes and develop their body awareness, core strength and endurance and overall motor planning skills while immersing themselves in imaginary scenarios.

• Indoor Obstacle Courses

(Image via Teachpreschool.org)

A great way to provide kids some heavy work with supervision for safety! Let them rearrange furniture and pull cushions off of the sofa to set it all up.  Line up chairs  and have them crawl under the "tunnel," crawl/jump/walk across couch cushions to challenge balance, use painter's tape or jump ropes to make "balance beams", tile floors become hopscotch patterns, and sliding across hardwood floors with paper plates under their feet becomes ice skating.

• Rough and Tumble play with Mom and Dad

What better way to work on strength, engagement and interaction, and just have fun together!

• Dance parties...need we say more!

(Image via yourneighborhoodtoystore.org)

• Animal Walking Games

A great way to travel the house: slither like a snake, crawling like a dog, hopping like a bunny, leaping like a frog, walking like a bear (crawling on hands and feet versus knees), and crab walking.  Set up a puzzle on the opposite side of the room and have them travel back and forth bringing one piece at a time.  

• Human Bowling

Your child becomes the bowling ball as they log roll or somersault across the room to knock down pins (you can use paper towel rolls or tissue boxes).

There are so many fun ways to keep the kids occupied inside-- don't forget about good l' Hide & Seek.  Good luck out there parents!  Or, IN there rather...