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Non-Slip Matting: Ten Tips for Using "Non-Skids" with Kids |
Synthetic textured or smooth matting has long been used by therapists and teachers for stabilizing toys, tools, and objects in daily routine settings. Different grades of this material can be found in therapy supply catalogs (such as Sammons Preston, 1-800-323-5547, for heavy-duty, durable, thicker matting) and in local stores (e.g., Walmart or K-Mart, for lightweight, inexpensive matting) in the kitchen supply area. The following 12 tips are from an article by Deborah Chen, et al in the November 2000 issue of OT Practice. Check out the complete article on pages 22 and 23 for lots more ideas!
Place the matting between a child's coloring book and the table to keep the book in place. This is especially useful for young children who use lots of arm movement in coloring motions.
Wrap textured, non-skid material around a training cup for better grip for small hands and as a texture cue for children with low vision issues.
Use non-skid material under plates and bowls as a placemat to keep eating dishes in place. This is a big help for young children just learning to use utensils. It eliminates the "moving target" issue for new spoon feeders!
Use the non-skid material on a child's chair to prevent it from slipping. Plastic molded chairs are particularly tricky for small people who tend to fidget.
Covering a smooth playground ball with textured matting adds grip for small hands and improves texture cues.
Put pieces of matting on children's toys to aid grip and to help children with visual challenges to differentiate between toys. For example, smooth matting goes on the fire truck and bumpy matting on the racecar.
Place a square of non-skid matting on a scooter board to prevent it from scooting away from a child.
Non-skid mat can be used under a toy construction site (e.g., LegoŽ building area), which is especially useful if classroom desktops are slanted and/or slick.
Use non-skid matting under a child's seat to maintain a good sitting position and to keep his or her feet in place for tabletop work and play.
New bike and tricycle riders may benefit from non-skid materials on handlebars for gripping and on seats for non-slipping. (Don't forget helmets on all children doing wheeled sport activities!)
As always with young children, be vigilant about materials that may go into the mouth! Also check the content of the matting material for rubber components if you are working with a child who has a latex allergy/sensitivity. For more information on this allergy issue, check out www.mayo.clinic.com and/or www.latexallergieshelp.com to increase your level of knowledge on this important child health and safety issue.