By: Angela Peik Puzzle Adaption

Explanation A student with fine motor delays have difficulty grasping items and also manipulating items, so putting together a “normal” puzzle would be extremely difficult for them. Adapting the puzzle to be grasped easily, either with large knobs, velcro or magnets. Having this will help the children with manipulating the puzzle pieces as well.

Steps to Adapt In order to adapt the puzzle to meet the needs and delays of this student take a large piece wooden puzzle and attach small pieces of velcro or magnets to the face of the pieces (making sure not to cover any main parts of the puzzles picture). Then take a small strip of fabric or even a thin glove attach the other side of the velcro or magnet to the bottom of the fabric or glove. If using the piece of fabric, make a loop and attach the two ends together just big enough for the child to fit their hand through. Have the child put the glove or fabric on their hand and then they’ll be able to pick up and manipulate the puzzle pieces with the velcro or magnets

Sample

Book Adaptation

Explanation Grasping the pages of a book, no matter the thickness of the pages, can be just as difficult for a child with fine motor delays. Having to pinch the pages as well as picking them up to turn them can become quite difficult. Adapting the books pages to be easily grasped and turned is important for these children.

Steps to Adapt The book can actually be adapted using the same technique as the puzzle adaption, using velcro or a magnet on each page. Another way to adapt the book is by attaching tabs to the sides of the pages. The tabs should be either numbered or alternate colors so that the child will be able to determine which tab should be turned next.

Sample

Sources Adapting Puzzles | Tots N Tech."Welcome to Tots 'n Tech! | Tots N Tech. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013. <http://tnt.asu.edu/ideas/velcro- puzzle/adapting-puzzles>. Early Childhood Connection." Pacer Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013. <http://www.pacer.org/newsletters/ec/spring 07.asp >.