These are activities taken from the Home Teaching Kit developed for parents by the Chapel Hill TEACCH Center. They are easy to make and are great structured activities for the home or classroom.

Thanks to the Chapel Hill TEACCH Center for sharing these ideas.

		Matching Pictures Folder/Lotto Match This activity relies on visual discrimination skills. Take duplicate pictures from magazines, stickers or family photographs and have your child match the pictures. The pictures can be on index cards and the cards can be attached to each other using Velcro or paper clips. You can also use the pictures to work on turn taking and play a lotto game.
		Number and Letter Matching This activity works on matching and identifying numbers and letters. Have your child match number and letter cards to pockets attached to folders or pieces of cardboard. You can also work on having your child match the letters and numbers as you name them or have them verbally identify the letter or number and then put it in the correct pocket. The pockets can be made from envelopes or library card pockets obtained from a school or office supply store.
		Colored Blocks, Plastic Eggs and Egg Carton Using these materials you can work on a variety of skills including: matching and identifying colors and organization and fine motor skills. Divide the blocks and eggs into separate containers (you may want to also separate the two parts of the plastic eggs). Arrange the containers in left to right order. Demonstrate how to match a colored block with the coordinating egg, placing it inside half of the egg and then snapping on the other half and then put in the egg carton. This activity can be simplified by having your child snap the eggs together or put already assembled eggs in the carton. It can also be made into a game by picking a colored block and finding the correct color egg, putting everything together and then into the carton. You could do an egg or block "hunt" and have your child find (on the table, rug or in the room) the color egg or block that goes with the mate that you show them, (e.g. hold up a blue block and say "find the blue egg that goes with this blue block") they find the requested object and put the block in the egg and then in the carton. Substitute other familiar objects for the blocks, for example, colored buttons, plastic counting bears or anything that would fit into the eggs and hold your child's interest. Be careful about what materials you choose if your child has a tendency to put things in their mouth.
		Clothespins on Can with Stickers To work on fine motor and eye-hand integration try putting stickers around the top of a plastic or metal can without sharp edges that could cause cuts. Have your child place the clothespins around the can where the stickers are. Use stickers that are favorite characters and your child can either finds the one you call out or they can name the characters as they squeeze on the clothespins. Depending on your child's manual strength, look for clothespins that are easier to squeeze open.