Fun Activities to Develop Fine Motor Skills at Home Presented by Anne Owens, OT Keyport Central School November 12, 2014

HAND STRENGTH The intrinsic muscles are the small muscles of the hand that help us coordinate our fingers to do things such as pick up small items and manipulate toys or objects. We use these muscles especially to when we use the thumb, index finger, and middle finger together. The muscles are important when we cut with scissors, or learn to hold our pencil with a tripod grasp.

activities O Crayola Model Magic, Playdoh, or Theraputty Role small balls with the thumb, index and middle fingers to make a caterpillar. Press cookie cutters into it. Squeeze playdoh through a garlic press. Push pegs into it to make a pattern. O Crumple Paper Crumple paper into a ball before throwing it out. This is best done with one hand held in the air and not against the table or torso. Put a small basketball hoop over the trash can to make it into a game. Crumple small balls, then try to ping them off the table into a target.

ACTIVITIES O Clothespins and Clips Squeezing these can help strengthen the hands. Use them to hang art work. Play a game of race to see who can use the clothespin to pick up 10 beans and put them into a container first. O Clay Tray Spread some clay onto a tupperware lid. Use a golf tee to draw or write in the clay. The resistance from the clay can help to strengthening the hands.

OT’S TOP TEN LIST FOR PRE- HANDWRITING EXERCISES 1. Mickey Mouse Ears – Place fists next to ears, squeeze, fingers open and close times. 2. Desk Push-Ups – Hands flat on desks, thumbs and pointer tips facing each other (creating a triangle), bend elbows, nose into a triangle created between hands, then up to times. 3. Windshield Wipers – Arms above head, cross straight arms 10 times then put bottom arm over top hand and do 10 more. 4. Scissors Cuts – Same as above only arms are pointed straight down with palms up. 5. Shoulder Shrugs – Called the “I Don’t Know” palms up shoulder shrugs towards ears, release, times. 6. Throw Aways – Elbows bent, fisted hands in front of shoulders, extend arms in a throwing motion, times. 7. Door Know Turns – Arms in front of you, elbows slightly bent, four fingers right next to each other, thumbs open, turn both hands toward thumbs at wrist, turn and return to mid position ( not towards little finger) times. 8. Good Morning America – Hands hold opposite elbows, lift in a single motion over the head, return to waist and repeat, times. 9. Finger Opposition – Hold fingers next to ears, have child touch thumb to each finger (i.e. pointer, middle, ring, pinkie)and back again, times. 10. Butterflies – Hold arms straight in front of body, make an X with thumbs, palms facting out, make small circles 10 times to the right, then 10 times to the left.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING FINE MOTOR SKILLS O Tape large pieces of paper to the wall, above eye level, for the kids to draw or paint on. O Tape a piece of paper underneath the table and let the kids lie on their backs and color upside down. O Let students color outside with sidewalk chalk. O Press play dough onto a vertical surface and let the child hide treasures in it. (coins, beats, etc.) O Use a variety of utensils while playing with play dough to improve utensil skills – pizza cutters, plastic knives, cookie cutters. O Make a “cake” out of play dough and let the child place birthday candles in it. With one hand have them pick up the candle and turn it over in the same hand and put the wick end into back into the play dough. See if they can do this without using their other hand, their body, or the table to help them turn the candle over. O Let students water the plants with a plant sprayer pulling the trigger with the index finger and middle fingers only. O Let the students write and draw with chalk outside and then use water in a plant sprayer to wash it off. O Use tweezers, tongs, strawberry hullers, olive pickers to pick up and transport small objects. Start with easy objects like cotton balls and marshmallows and move to smaller objects like beans and beads. O Use ink stamps on a vertical surface.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING FINE MOTOR SKILLS O Have child place hands on floor while you pick up their legs and then they “wheelbarrow” walk across the room. O Large mural painting and coloring can be done with the child on his hands and knees to improve upper body strength and stability. O Let children help you cook. Cooking activities that require them to pour and stir provide great upper body strengthening. O Use a foam bat to hit suspended ball. O Arrange dominoes on their narrow end about ¼” apart. Have kids flick the dominoes using their thumb and index finger to cause a chain reaction. O Hold a coffee stirrer in the pads of the thumb and index finger, play tug- o-war with an opponent. O Put paper on top of different textures (window screen, aluminum foil, sandpaper, paint filled baggies, etc.) and draw on it with crayons.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING FINE MOTOR SKILLS O Have children paint on the table or an easel with shaving cream. They can use paintbrushes to paint or their fingers to “draw” on these surfaces. O Have children cut straws into inch long pieces and then have him/her string them. O Provide various adult clothes and have a relay race. The kids have to run to their pile of clothes and put on every item and then run back. This can be done in teams. O Frozen statue game – the adult quickly assumes a “statue position” and the child has to imitate the position. Continue to assume different positions and have the child follow. O Set up an obstacle course for the kids to maneuver through. Crawl under the table, jump over lines on floor, hop on one foot, circle around a trash can, crawl through a tunnel, jump rope. O Make a tape path on the floor and have kids walk on it staying as close to the line as they can. O Play balloon volleyball, trying to keep a balloon from touching the ground. O Make a path of stepping stones using paper or foam squares or shoebox lids. Vary the amount of space between each stone. For more difficulty have the kids step to the beat of your clapping or to music.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING FINE MOTOR SKILLS O Have kids pretend that they are a piece of popcorn. They crunch down and “pop” up when they hear you clap. O Attach crepe paper streamers to their wrists and have the kids move their arms to make different designs. O Have kids “skate” using shoeboxes, shoe box lids, bread pans, or squares of waxed paper on their feet. O Draw shapes, letters, or numbers on child’s back with your fingers and have them identify or draw what you drew. O Draw shape and letters in a variety of textures ( shaving cream, pudding, flour, sand). This can be done on a cookie sheet or outside on the sidewalk. O String buttons on pipe cleaners.