Watching feathers and blowing feathers can be mesmerizing for little ones. I am a play therapist and I know the importance of these simple games (especially with my children with speech and attention delays).
GOALS:
Taking turns
Hand-eye coordination
Breath Control
Visual input
Vestibular input
Materials:
Small feathers
GAME Directions:
Get in a circle and try to blow the feather from one person to the next. It can’t land on the ground or that person has to sit out. (You could just let everyone stay in)
EARLY INTERVENTION directions:
Stand opposite from the child and blog the feather back and forth to one another. Let the child arch it. Take turns being the blower and the catcher.
Other ideas:
-Try to blow it into a bucket
-See how far you can blow it (set a goal)
-See how high you can blow it
-Can you blow it straight to another person
-Practice blowing strongly and then softly (this is helpful for breath control- for children with the inability to speak in long sentences)
What is being taught:
Controlled breathing
Calming acts
Modulate their breath
Control their volume (indoor/outdoor voice)
Balance (moving to get the feather)
Attention and focus
If a child is having trouble with this, move to a balloon instead of a feather.
You could even practice with a dandelion (like our son!):
It’s amazing the things that you can do with a feather!I bet my guy with delays would love activities like this.
My boys LOVE feathers, but I am not sure we’ve ever tried any of these! Maybe we will!