Rehabilitation
At Home Rehabilitation Exercises
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10- Spatial / Writing Skills
LEVEL 1 - Draw different shapes on paper with pencil or brightly colored markers. (For people having difficulty using the hand they write with or their arm and hand muscles in general, it is easier for them to hold a big marker and it is easier to see). Draw shapes, one at a time, and ask the student to copy the shape. Have them copy straight lines, curvy lines, circles, squares and triangles. Try different letters of the alphabet as well. Ask the student to copy 2 shapes one after another.
LEVEL 2 - Draw a straight line on the paper and ask the student to mark each end of the line with a pencil or marker. Correct any errors. Then ask the student to mark the center of the line. Provide feedback and repeat, varying the length of the lines. Draw an enclosed figure (for example: a circle, square, triangle, etc.) and ask the student to place a dot in the center of the figure. Repeat with varying figures of different sizes.
LEVEL 3 - Create an entire page of different sized lines scattered all over the paper. The lines should be laid out in any and all directions, for instance, horizontal, vertical and horizontal. Ask the student too quickly draw a line in the middle of each line.
LEVEL 4 - Have two pieces of paper with multiple nine-dot squares (3 rows of dots - 3 dots per row and 3 dots per column
- Draw a line connecting two dots in one of the squares. Using another sheet, ask the student to copy the line on a nine-dot square. Repeat several times using a new square each time.
- Next, connect 2 dots and then a 3rd in a continuous line. Ask the student to copy this on his/her paper. Repeat using a different square each time.
- When this is done successfully on 3 consecutive trials, connect four dots. Do not let the lines cross. As the student is more successful, keep connecting more dots but without crossing lines.
- Cross lines while connecting multiple dots and ask the student to duplicate the pattern.
- Increase the number of dots from 9 to 16 (4 X 4 square), eventually reaching 36 dots (a 6 X 6 square). Cross lines while connecting multiple dots and ask the student to duplicate the pattern.
LEVEL 5 - Have the student copy or write 3- to 4-letter words. Don’t expect letters or words to be any smaller than one-inch in size. You may draw one-inch guidelines on the paper to help the student “stay on the line” and write straight and more legibly.
LEVEL 6 - Give the student sheets of paper with one-inch guidelines on the paper and ask the student to practice writing different letter of the alphabet.
LEVEL 7 - Write brief “thank you” notes to friends and relatives.
Taken from Tasks for Home-Based Cognitive Stimulation Program, the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dept. of P M & R, Birmingham, AL. © 1998-2003 University of Alabama at Birmingham