Craft Aids

In this section we look at commercial products or materials to ensure all students participate in routine classroom activities. These are some of the advantages:

• Standard tasks become easier to do, so students with special needs can keep better pace with their peers.
• By practicing skills independently, students reinforce what they already know how to do.
• Materials that combine basic tasks (e.g., glitter glue) provide more efficient ways to work.
• Students' creativity is enhanced when they have easier access to a wide variety of materials.

Here are just a few suggestions for products. Visiting a teaching or office supply store may help you identify many more.

Scissors & Cutters

"Mary Benbow" Scissors (OT Ideas) These scissors feature small finger loops coated in vinyl to help scissors stay on the child's fingers for a better grip.
Softgrip® Pointed-Tip Scissors (Fiskars) This model opens effortlessly and cuts cleanly to its pointed tip. It can cut felt, fabric, ribbon, yarn, string and construction paper. The finger loops are roomy. Recommended for second through fourth grade.
Loop Spring Scissors (Sammons Preston) These self-opening scissors require half the effort of regular scissors. For students with limited hand movement, these scissors offers a wide loop for an easy grip. Right and Left handed: $8.95

Squeezzers (Pocket Full of Therapy)
These are ideal scissors for students with limited finger mobility and coordination. You close the short metal blades by squeezing the coated loop handles. When you ease the grasp, the blades open automatically. This product helps to reinforce a basic open and close pattern.

Paper Punch (Fiskars)
This paper punch features a large, non-stick button for "whole hand" use. It punches paper, construction paper, self-adhesive labels and many other paper materials. It offers 13 different "punch" shapes. Use it upside down for greater accuracy.

Personal Paper Trimmer
A small, good quality paper cutter can take the frustration out of cut-and-paste projects for children with weak fine-motor skills. It's great for cutting different sized cards and papers. Cost: Approximately $15 - $25 at school/office supply stores.

Markers & Stamps

Washable and Permanent Tempera Paint Markers (Fiskars)
A variety of sizes, shapes and containers makes it easier-and more fun--to paint or draw.

Rubber Stamps
Rubber stamps are amazing tools. They can be used instead of pen and pencil for creative projects and for reading and writing activities. Many of their handles can be built up, making them even easier to grip.

Mounting Options

Sticky Tack
Sticky Tack can take the frustration out of mounting cut-and-paste projects. Children can move items around on poster board projects until the items are placed "just right." Sticky Tack is a reusable pliable putty-like substance, manufactured under many different brand names. You can find it at stationery and teacher stores.

Contact Paper
Use contact paper instead of glue to create collages, etc. A child can simply select materials and release them over the surface of the paper to make her design.

Contact Magnet Paper
This is contact paper with an "extra" - turn any surface into a magnetic board. With the wide variety of magnets available, you can design many pre-literacy and pre-math activities.