Pallanguzhi

Pallanguzhi is an ancient indoor game, mostly played by the women of older times, who were mostly tied upto the inside of their homes. So natuarally kids learnt from them.

My grandmother had a very old Pallanguzhi made in teak wood I beleive and also a set of Manjadi kuru and a set of chozhi (small shells). Now I regret that didnt realize the value of the game and preserve it. We also used pulliyam kottai, beads etc. During summer holiday afternoons, we are not allowed to play under sun, and we will have countless rounds of pallanguzhi!

When Abhi's physiotherapist suggested playing pallanguzhi for his fine finger movement and his hand and eye coordination, I literally searched many toy shops in chennai to find a suitable one made in wood. But I still didnt get the old type of board. I specifically wanted wood, because the of its natural feeling. I use manjadi, white channa, dried peas, beads etc. This will give a variety to the game as well as for finger movements.

Another important aspect of this game is you get more skilled in mental arithmatic. When i play with Abhi, i even play with only 2 seeds in a hole, so that it is easy for him to calculate mentally. The more both players calculate and play, the more interesting the game will turn out.

If we analyse our ancient games, we will find the good reasoning behind each, which improves our body and mind.

Wet clothes and sponges.

Wet clothes and sponges give a good exercise and massaging to the fingers. Keep aside one or two new table wipes, big sponges or cotton clothes in different colours for the children to use. Make sure that the cloth or sponge is bigger than their palm.!

How to :

• Request them to help you in wiping the table, wash the car, wipe the mirrors etc.
• After each wipe ask them to dip the sponge in the water and squeeze the water out.
• For the car wash, add little soap and I am sure they will enjoy!
• Ask them to help you in washing their socks, handkerchiefs etc while you are washing their uniform.
• Tip them with small gifts, story books or coins for their piggy banks, once they are done with helping and squeezing the sponge.

Other ideas

• Give them water colours, sponge and charts. Show them how to dip and use sponge to make pictures on the chart, like leaves of trees, water, sea, sky etc
• Ask them to imagine and do pictures of their own. Do not tell rules that you have to paint like this, let them use their own imagination.

Note: Many times children's imagintion is very wild. It may not match ours, as we think more towards reality. They may paint the leaves red, flowers blue. But try not to restrict their imagination.

Making Paper rolls

Making paper rolls from used paper or news paper is a very good activity to improve the finer motor movements of the fingers.

Initially Abhi found it ver difficult to use his right hand thumb and index fingers to roll. So I used alter with right and left hands. Also I gave him pencils or straws to start the roll. Soon he picked up on the rolling. Slowly do rolls with papers of different thickness.

This activity can be made interesting for the kids, if it is done as a creative project or art. Visit the below link to check how to make a vase from the paper rolls.

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/08/paper-roll-flower-vase.html

Fun with Clay

Using clay is a very good activity for improving finger movements. Olden days children used to play with mud and clay outside our home. Now a days we are more worried about hygiene, cleanliness etc!

Artificial clay which is available in any stationary shop can be used and reused for a longer time. Usual activities done using clay includes:

• Making balls of different sizes with finger tips, palm etc
• Making strings, flattening the balls with thumb, flatting with rolling pin etc
• Make different shapes of different sizes and colors.

Alternate ideas which may interest the child to do the activity:

When dough is made for preparing roti, ask to help by making balls and also for making rotis using the rolling pins. The round mouth of a glass or other shapes can be cut to form different shaped rotis.

Buy M-seal available in hardware shop. Make small balls and arrange to form flowers, make leaf shapes, twines etc. This can be used to decorate pots etc. This requires adult attention. The work has to be done faster as the m-seal dries up faster. Also care should be taken so that the children don’t put it into mouth. Wash hands thoroughly once completed.

See the below post for a similar m-seal art work

http://homecraftideas.blogspot.com/2007/07/m-seal-art.html

Occupational Therapy

Physio therapy is generally like doing rigorous exercises, which will improve the muscles, flexibility of the body etc, catering to the overall structure of the body.
Occupational Therapy is more specialized therapy designed to enable/improve the individual to work with their arms and hands and achieve to function as independently as possible in their daily living activities. Generally it focuses on developing functional skills related to sensory-motor integration; coordination of movement; fine motor skills; self-help skills (dressing, self-feeding, etc.); learning alternative methods like using computers. The trained occupational therapist will be able to guide depending on the person’s abilities.

I have noticed with pain, it is so difficult for Abhi to do many activities which most of us do quite naturally. And the most difficult part for the other members of the family is the test of patience. We need to give more time for them to do by themselves. Also restrict ourselves from doing it for them, when we see them struggle to do.

Working out with a OT therapist is required. Many of the activities can be things we do with out much awareness or effort. So initially it did not even cross my mind that I will have to train Abhi or make him to practice doing these activities separately. In this aspect, the therapist will have many ideas and suggestions to guide. Going to V-Excel for OT has been very helpful.

Coming blogs, I will write some of the activities which we do and which I believe has improved Abhi’s motor skills and his daily activities.