Fine motor skills secure an independent living. If we stop for one second and think: Why do I do without using my hands? We inmideatly know the answer. We do pretty much everything with our hands. Being proactive is the best way I have chosen to secure my son's independent living when he becomes an adult. Because of the Hypotonia (low muscle tone), we know he may struggle with some tasks for pre-schoolers such as, cutting with scissors. Therefore, we are currently working on Pre-scissors Skills to strengthen his fine muscles. We have set a new goal for Tommy, we would like him to cut with scissor by the age of three.
According to Karey Fleming, Occupational Therapist and founder of
Fine Motor Skills For Children, the Hand Skills Required to use Scissors are:
- Open web space...
- Hand separation (the right and left sides of the hand can function separately meaning they can do different things at the same time such as in writing, the left side of the hand and last 2 fingers are tucked away while the right side of the hand complete the task.
- Bilateral hand use (use of 2 hands together)
We have classify some toys for our son, thinking in the pre-scissors skills based on Open Web, Hand Separation and Bilateral Hand Usage.
Toys for working on Open Web
- Light-Up Glitter Water Ball. This is a heavy ball that adds pressure to the joins.
- Different sizes balls
- Different tongs sizes
- Bulb crayons by Alex Toys
- Knob bushes by Chenille Kraft Company
- Magnetic Chalkboard/Dry-Erase Board by Melissa & Dog
Toys for hand Separation
- Rice sensory box (Home made toy)
- Sand toys
- Home made playdogh
- Hand paint (Use chocolate pudding or foam soap)
We got already his first scissor just to be ready for the momemnt his muscle will be ready to snip a piece of paper for the first time.
To download a free handout about Pre-scissors Skills, go to www.finemotorskillsdevelopment.com.
It is very helpful website that offers online classes (webinars)
for parents, therapist, or any person interested in fine motor skills.
3 comments:
What a great link to share! Thanks!!!
you are so on the ball! thanks for sharing this. i'm always looking for new toys to help maya build her fine motor skills. where did you get the tongs? what do you do with the little wooden bottles? i will have to get to reading the link you posted. thanks again!
I found the tongs on http://www.therapyshoppe.com/therapy/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=11_1056&products_id=378&sort=20a&page=2. This website has great toys and therapeutic tools at a reasonable price. We use the wooden bottles to match by color and bilateral coordination because the kids have to use both hands, one hold the bottle the other one put the cap on. This bottle can be use to pretend play such "do groceries or go to a picnic." Thank you to visit my website.
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