Post by @mindfulmilesot

Friendly PSA: Broken crayons color too! Don't get me wrong... there is nothing quite like opening a brand new box of crayons. But as an OT? Broken crayons are one of my favorite —and more importantly, FREE—intervention tools. They make great tier 1 and tier 2 classroom supports. Simple to implement, easy to access, and an effortless way to encourage a more functional grasp during everyday coloring and writing activities. Every school year, I collect the broken crayons teachers are about to toss... and regift them to little hands that can still put them to good use. One of the biggest things I hear at the beginning of every school year—especially in kindergarten—is: "I'm concerned about their grasp." And I get it. But here's the thing... kids don't need a perfect grasp. They need a functional one. Can they color without their hand getting tired? Can they write without it hurting? Can they keep up with what they're doing in the classroom? That's what we're after. Odds are, if you looked at how 30 adults held a pencil, you'd probably see 30 different grasp patterns. Not all of them would be "textbook"... but most of them still get the job done. (Where you at, @Taylor Swift ) Function over perfection. The takeaway here is simple: little tools for little hands. The bigger the tool, the easier it is to let the whole hand do the work. Smaller tools—like broken crayons, golf pencils, Pip-Squeak markers, and rock crayons (yes... I convince kids I dug them up from the dirt myself )—encourage little fingers to take over instead. And don't be surprised if a child says, "But it's broken!" I actually love those moments. They're a chance to practice flexible thinking and realize that sometimes things can look different... and still work really well. Sometimes it's not about reinventing the wheel. It's about looking at everyday materials with a little more intention. So before you toss those broken crayons... Give them another life. Because broken crayons color too! OTs... I know I'm not alone here. Who else is saving their broken crayons and how are you using them? #occupationaltherapy #development #teacher #education #mindfulmilesot