Mama's Tool Box Designs

Yesterday, I talked about why we may be feeling out of control lately with the global pandemic (in OT language).

Today, I want to share an idea that will hopefully plant a seed in your mind for otherwise to balance managing your household and encouraging development in your child or children.

It involves one simple tool, and often times it's a tool that kids are motivated to use. I introduce

A spray bottle!

I mentioned yesterday how OT's are adaptabel and flexible, so I'm going to give you a "formula" that you can fill in to best fit you. Ready?

Here it is:

Give your child a spray bottle filled with (your own DIY recipe that's chemical free, water, any other cleaning substance you're comfortable with them interacting with) and have your child spray (the table, the tile floor, or your house plants).

What are you getting out of this? Here are a few:

A few extra seconds or minutes to yourself while your child is occupied
Potentially some assistance with cleaning things (even if you're going back to touch up the job)
Grip strength development each time your child spray's the bottle
Shoulder/scapular development as they hold the bottle against gravity to spray
Some visual motor integration and bilateral coordination
Weight bearing and extensor muscle strengthening if you're child is on his/her hands and knees in a quad position while wiping something down
Implementation of potentially age-appropriate chores to increase your child's self-confidence and increase your bond together

Like I said, this is a suggestion meant to give you a few ideas for coming up with some ideas at home to help YOU balance your innate desire to foster development in your child while taking care of your professional and personal checklists at home. So find different ways to modify! How? Here are a few suggestions:

Take the spray bottle into the bathtub or shower
Blow bubbles and have your child spray the bubbles with their spray bottle
Experiment outside with colored water spraying the sidewalk for art
Cleaning windows (it's a bonus that windows are a vertical surface that challenges their strength)
Cleaning and wiping their own toys or work area

If you don't have a spray bottle, here are the ones I like. Though you can go to the dollar store and also get some non-glass spray bottles. But given the circumstances, I would just order online and stay in! I have used the brown ones, but find it leaks after heavy use with the spray bottle.

Send me a message on instagram @occupationalbalance if you ordered a glass bottle, and I'll mail you a free customized vinyl decal for it!

I would love to hear from you and how you incorporated a spray bottle to balance your time at home with the kids! I would also love to know if you found an alternative!

Hoping to share ideas to help keep you grounded with your toes in the sand,

Marissa

Since I share affiliate marketing strategies with amazing Mamas like you, naturally my content may contain affiliate links for products I use and love. If you take action (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I'll earn some coffee money ☕️ which I promise to drink while creating more helpful content like this!