Outside · Harrison
Leaf walk “I spy”
On a quiet street near school or home, look for red leaves, crunchy piles, squirrels, and pumpkin decorations. Check them off as you go.
Builds visual scanning and noticing details.
Try at home today
Pick one · no printer neededFine motor
No carve pumpkin
Decorate with stickers, markers, or washi tape instead of carving. Great when wet pumpkin insides are too much.
Hand strength and finger control without the mess.
Kitchen
Roast pumpkin seeds
Rinse, pat dry, toss with oil, and roast. Kids can scoop, stir, and shake the pan with help.
Two handed work, waiting, and tasting together.
Halloween option
Candy from the porch
If door to door feels like too much, hand out candy at home. Same holiday, calmer sensory load.
Meaningful participation without overload.
Heavy work
Help around the house
Carry grocery bags, push a laundry basket, stir batter, or wipe the table before homework.
Body input that can help kids settle and focus.
Warm ups
No printer neededMovement
Fall yoga poses
Stand tall like a tree, reach up like a pumpkin vine, curl small like a seed, then balance on one foot like a flamingo. Take three slow breaths.
A calm body warm up before homework.
Movement path
Silly Halloween walks
Make a short path through the room. Tiptoe like a cat, stomp like a monster, float like a ghost, or march like a scarecrow. Let your child choose the next walk.
Builds balance, planning, and body control.
Stretch and dance
Bone dance and Frankenstein stretch
Wiggle like a skeleton for ten seconds, freeze, then take five big stiff Frankenstein steps. Finish with a gentle reach across the body on each side.
Wakes up the whole body without equipment.
Animal walk
Pumpkin patch parade
Pretend to visit a pumpkin patch. Bear-walk to a pumpkin, frog-hop to the next one, crab-walk back, then carry an imaginary pumpkin to the basket.
Heavy work and coordination in a playful loop.
Before homework
Wall push-ups
Stand an arm’s length from a wall with hands at shoulder height. Bend elbows to bring your chest toward the wall, push away, and repeat 8 to 10 times.
Gives shoulders and hands useful work before writing.
Free printables
Outside free pages · print if you wantThese optional free pages live on The OT Toolbox and AOTA sites. We do not host those files here.
Harrison school calendar
District datesPlan practice around early dismissals, conferences, and breaks. Half days and vacation weeks still count.
Oct 12 · Columbus Day · no school
Nov 3 · Superintendent’s Conference Day · no school
Nov 11 · Veterans Day · no school
Nov 25 · K to 12 early dismissal
Nov 26 to 27 · Thanksgiving recess
Dec 10 to 11 · K to 5 parent teacher conferences
Dec 24 to 31 · Holiday recess
Open full Harrison calendar
Download 2026 to 2027 one page PDF
Choose your child’s grade
Pick your child’s gradeOpen your child’s grade for try-at-home ideas.
Home motor ideas
Anytime · any grade · pick oneThese are everyday ways to build the body skills behind handwriting. Use them when you have a few minutes at home. They work year round, not only in October.
Big body
Gross motor
Strong legs, core, and balance come first. Try hopscotch, catch, bike or scooter, jump rope, hula hoop, playground climbing, swinging, dancing, or a family sport.
Big muscles support posture and control at a desk.
Arms and shoulders
Shoulder girdle strength
Wheelbarrow walks, crab or bear walks, work on the belly propped on elbows, tape a worksheet to the wall, write on a binder incline, erase a board, push a laundry basket, sweep, or do wall push ups.
Stable shoulders help the hand stay steady when writing.
Hands
Fine motor
Hide coins in PlayDoh and dig them out. Mystery bag (guess by feel). Stack blocks or Legos. Tweezers, clothespins, bead or Cheerio necklaces, coins in a bank, bubble wrap pops, stamps, or a simple tool set with screws and bolts.
Finger strength and precision for grasp and control.
Both sides
Two hands together
String beads, lace cards, fold laundry or paper, deal cards, cut shapes, tie shoes, catch and throw, or hand over hand tug games.
Kids need both hands for scissors, paper, and many school tools.
Eyes and hands
Visual motor
Puzzles, mazes, connect the dots, I Spy, Memory, pattern games, copying shapes in sand or shaving cream, MagnaDoodle, or cutting coupons and snowflakes.
Eye hand coordination for letters, lines, and copying from a board.
Family night
Games that practice skills
Operation, Connect 4, Jenga, Don’t Break the Ice, Ants in the Pants, Hi Ho Cherry O, Pick Up Sticks, Twister, Bingo, Chutes and Ladders, Memory, or a simple card game like Go Fish.
Turn taking, finger control, and attention without a worksheet.
Shoe tying
Self-serve tips · watch and tryMany kids need practice into early elementary. Start with the shoe on a table or lap, not on the foot. Use two different colored laces or pipe cleaners so loops hold shape. Pick one method and stick with it. Short daily practice beats long frustrated sessions.
Make it easier to see
Two-color laces or pipe cleaners
Use two different colored laces or pipe cleaners so your child can see which loop and end to move next.
Start off the foot
Practice on a table or lap
Keep the shoe still and visible on a table or lap before trying the same steps while wearing it.
Try one way
Bunny ears vs one loop
Pick one method and stick with it for a while. If one loop is hard, try bunny ears, or the other way around.
Build independence
Backward chaining
Start most of the steps for your child. Let them finish the last pull, then add one earlier step at a time.
- The OT Toolbox: shoe tying tips and methods
- YouTube: How to tie your shoes (easy for kids)
- Raising Children Network: step-by-step shoelaces
Videos are third-party. Choose what fits your child.
Trusted links
General ideas for families from occupational therapy sources. These are not a substitute for your child’s plan.
Why everyday movement matters
Research/articles · optional readingResearch and articles for interested parents.
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Gaul & Issartel (2016): fine motor skills in children may lag expected norms (PubMed abstract)
Many kids’ hand skills are behind what we used to see, especially when play is less active.
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Related free PDF thesis on fine motor skill performance in children (DORAS)
A longer free read on the same idea: hand skills and how kids move day to day.
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Free article: screen time and manual dexterity / fundamental motor skills in preschoolers
Extra screen time can go with weaker hands and slower big-body skills in little kids.
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Free PMC: outdoor play may help offset some screen-time concerns
Outside play can help balance things when kids also spend time on screens.
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Free PMC: outdoor/natural activity and motor skills in children
Playing outside in nature often goes with stronger movement skills.
These are free online sources for curious parents. They are not medical advice for your child.