Little Fingers Big Fun: Hand Strengthening Activities

We often hear people refer to the term "Fine Motor Skills". But what does that really mean??

Fine motor refers to the use of the small muscles that are located within the fingers and hands.  Fine motor skills are required to perform activities such as handwriting, eating, playing and manipulating smaller objects, self-care skills and skills required for success within academic settings.  When there is a lack of strength within these tiny muscles the ability to perform required tasks for prolonged periods of time become very difficult and frustrating for children.

Play is the number one way to engage a child and help them develop skills that they need or are having difficulty with.  Try some of these fun activities with your little one!

 

Play with Tongs or Tweezers

Tongs and tweezers use the three fingers required to grasp a pencil properly.  When used with the thumb, index and middle fingers, your child will be working on strengthening the muscles within those fingers as well as wrist extension when picking up items.  Here are some fun ways/ideas in which you can incorporate them:

·         Pom-poms and cotton balls can be an easy thing to start picking up.  You can work on sorting them into different colors, counting or placing on paper to make a picture.

·         Tongs and tweezers can be used when playing games to pick up and place the pieces.

·         Children love to help in the kitchen!  This is a great place to use tongs!

·         Make cleaning up toys fun with using tongs to pick items up.

·         Tweezers can be used to pick up coins and place into a piggy bank.

Clothespins

Clothespins are a great way to work those tiny muscles within the fingers with some resistance.  Using the thumb, index and middle finger or simply the thumb or index finger, have your child open the clothespins and place on an object. You can hang objects on a line like pictures or simple clothes.  Use colored clothespins to make patterns on a piece of paper.  Clothespins can also be used to pick up items.  Have your child pick up a cotton ball with a clothespin and dab into paint.  Maintaining the cotton ball in the clothespin have them create a work of art!

 

Playdoh

Playdoh provides your little one with some minimal resistance while crafting their next creation.  Roll into balls with their fingers, use shape cutters to push into the playdoh, cut with playdoh scissors, the possibilities are endless!

You can also make your own fun dough at home!  Many different crafty websites can provide you with some fun and easy recipes!

Sponges

What child does not like to play with water? Sponges are an item that force your little one to use their fingers and only their fingers to perform the task.  Have them get the sponges full of water and have them try and squeeze it all out.  Can they fill up a glass with water?  What about a bucket?