Mini Bird Houses

The patients enjoys painting mini wooden bird houses. They were donated to us and allowed the patients a manageable canvas and lots of good discussions. We watched birds on you tube as we worked.

Lobby Love

In our lobby I used a patient's painting to create a sign explaining the shelf with our patients' most recent art projects.

Also, I think it's important to keep track of some of our memories, so I take pictures of dress up days and completed art projects and caption them in a scrapbook for visitors. Hopefully it gives family and friends something to look at while preparing for their visits and helps assure them that each activity day is full of purposeful groups to aid in their treatment.

Ants Invited To The Picnic

For a craft this summer, patients chose a background paper, glued a swath of red gingham to it, and decorated it with three black dots as ants. Some added googly eyes and legs to their insects, leaving us reminiscing about meals taken outside on a blanket.

Independence Sam

One month for the patient birthday we decorated cupcakes with M&M's of choice. We also discussed trivia about Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty. If only we could get white M&M's back in stock.

Hoosier Crafter?

When the receptionist offered me page protectors she was otherwise going to throw out, I said yes. I think all activity directors enjoy the challenge of thinking up a use for free materials.

In the end, I put an outline of our state in the sleeve and let the patients mold modeling clay around the perimeter or to decorate as they liked.

This is an activity we should do again, as the clay was great exercise for their hands and it dries hard without heating.