Righty tighty, lefty loosey

After Christmas we ended up with a lot of empty containers and tins. We try to recycle what we can but I also didn't want a bunch of containers lying around that weren't being used.

Well, after Christmas we also had toys spread all over the house. Gavin had so many new cars and vehicles and toys with different pieces. It was great, he was loving it! But I was not loving picking everything up off the floor at the end of the day.

So can you see where I'm going with this? I decided to organize Gavin's smaller toys (that we were constantly stepping on!) into the containers. Exciting, right? It was for me, who loves to organize!

All the random Happy Meal toys (those are usually the worst to step on!) went into a big empty ice cream tub. His little cars got put into the smaller ice cream container. Plastic animals into the big Boy Scouts Caramel Corn tin. The Little People into an empty dark chocolate wafer sticks tin (Ohh how I wish THAT one was refillable with its original contents!!). And finally, stickers in the red plastic wine gums container

His room instantly became much more oganized and easier to clean because he is less likely to have everything out at the same time. (I say less likely because it still does happen of course!) But he enjoys opening the containers and taking things out and then putting them back in and closing the lid! (He is still at that age where this is entertaining).

Using all these different containers has really helped him because he has had lots of practise with opening/closing the lids. Some snap on and off, some you can just pull off, some you have to twist (he needs help with those). But I've realized that this is a great exercise for young children with arm differences!

Gavin has it down pat by holding the container in the crook (is that a word?) of his left arm. He squeezes it tight with his arm and then untwists the lid with his right hand. Works like a charm. That seems to be the norm for people with amputations below the elbow. Above the elbow is a lot more challenging. But that's the great thing about practising! No matter how hard they may find it at first, they will get better.

Now I challenge you to try to open a jar or container with one hand and then comment with how you did! Feel free to use Gavin's method!