do you know any exercises besides playdoh and clay, ripping thick paper into tiny pieces, and actually writing. Thanks
Stringing beads onto string. To start - you might start with larger beads and use a pipe cleaner instead of string. As he gets better, you can change over to smaller beads and actual string.
Legos probably help with this as well (building something together).
-L.
Buy a big book of connect the dots. It may be too juevenile for him but drawing small lines from one point to another is what you are after and connect the dots can help in that area. Have him aim to write straight lines and aim for the middle of the dot before going to the next number.
My 12 year old son goes to an OT and part of his diagnosis is Dysgraphia. A lot of what they work on are core strengthening skills as well, to help with being able to sit comfortably for long periods of time, weaker muscle tone contributes to the "messy" handwriting. Also, skills that deal with hand eye coordination to help the ability to comprehend what you see and transition to the activity of writing.
As far as fine motor skills, some of the activities he has done are things like picking up pennies off a flat surface and putting in a jar. He uses a special putty they gave that is more silicone based than play doh (I think) and does exercises with that....as he gets stronger they have putty that has more "resistance" that he progress to.
Sitting position is important and they recommend an elevated surface, something like a 3 ring binder that has an incline (they make clipboards like this, but you can improvise). He also use Meads Redispace Transitional Notebook paper.
My insurance does cover his OT by the way. We had to get a referral and assessment...but it is covered.
Some of my students that had trouble with fine motor skills and had occupational therapy services through the school were given a penny to hold (in the same hand as the pencil) and somehow this helped them have better control over the pencil. You could also call your local school district and see if they can give you any other tips to try.
A.
I broke my hand about ten years ago - badly - and saw an OT for a year, and among other things, she helped me find quite a few things that I could use every day that helped me regain most of the fine motor skills in that hand.
-Picking up quarters from a flat surface, using just the forefinger and thumb.
-Typing practice. (Any cheap software program will do.)
-There are hand exercise devices in sporting goods stores, that sort of look like a coiled wire with a squeeze handle. They have different tension ratings, and they are for increasing hand strength.
Also, you've already gotten suggestions for dot-to-dot books, but maze books are good, too.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Write Out of The Box site. The lady is an OT and is SOOO passionate. I actually have asked her a question on Facebook and she has replied. I bought the Write out of the Box for my classroom and the students love it (they are five) but she has tons of ideas that work every area needed for fine motor skills........check her out. She also sends a newsletter if you sign up for it and shares ideas frequently that way too.
Yup, Video Games! The long-term dexterity tests and studies show a vast improvement in hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity in adults who played them as children. Try to pick educational games, of course, but they really do help (and I am no proponent of games, by any means).
Also, typing/music lessons. Using the keyboard on a computer, piano or organ will also improve finger movements (or even guitar lessons!). And learning a musical instrument increases brain synapses and IQ. So a huge bonus there.
Lastly, learning sign language, which can be done online, or through local schools or libraries, and which will build the language sections of the brain, while improving hand dexterity. PLUS this is a useful second language in the school/job environment. Good Luck!
Personally, I would discourage video games because they are NOT good for the eyes. When my daughter was in therapy, they had her tracing. Do you remember the coloring books way back when that had the opaque paper between the pages to be colored? Well, that was actually developing fine motor, as well as eye/hand skills. Take tissue paper and put over the page of a coloring book. Same thing. Another "old-timey" game that developed those skills is playing Jacks. Kids didn't have fancy electronic toys way back when, but kids also had less reading problems and handwriting was much better. I know. I taught school.
Hello:
I am a certified Handwriting specialist and work with children with thier handwriting skills including fine motor skills and Handwriting.Feel free to send me a message and I will be happy to help.
Handwriting therapy is not covered by insurance even if you go to a OT.
S. P.
Certified Handwriting Tutor
Handwriting Without Tears Certification
www.writetoshine.weebly.com
www.facebook.com/write2shine
My child has had OT therapy and here's the things our OT has suggested:
1.) use tongs for strengthening the hands. Make it a game, either get cotton balls or buy some squishy type bugs or something he likes that is squishy and have an empty egg carton. Have your child use the tongs to pick up one by one the cotton ball or squishy bug and place 1 in each of the slots and then take them out.
2.) Buy theraputty. It is a therapy grade putty-strengthening putty and there are exercises that go along with it. You can put pennies or other small items and then your child has to dig and find the items in there.
3.) use pencil grips or pen grips to help with the grip on the pencil. Get a special pen.
4.) Games- Topple and Perfection. Both of these games have little handles on the pieces, so you have to pick up the pieces with your thumb and first finger. This is something fun that you all could do together.
Catalogs- 1.) fun and function- has great products for fine motor skills.
2.) mayer-johnson.com - Dynavox has a few things for fine motor in there also.
After all of this, if it doesn't get better, schedule to see an OT at school or in private practice.
the teacher store sells therapy balls in different shapes and sizes the child squeezes.
We got a weaving loom for my son - he enjoyed it, and it helped. A little. Mostly it was practicing writing that helped him, and he loved cursive. Once they started cursive he was away, because it's much more loopy and free.
He will be 9 in October, he has never had very good fine, or gross motor skills, I don't make a big deal out of it, but I do try and get him to do things to help it. Like the loom, drawing letters in shaving foam, he loved that.
I would get in touch with the Occupational Therapist that works for your school district, they would have several exercises to help.
To help strengthen his hand muscles, give him a spray bottle of water with a trigger and have water your plants. For fine motor practice, give him an eyedropper, a bowl of water and a penny. Have him drip drops of water on the penny until it overflows the coin. Also, he could use tweesers to transfer beads from one container to another.
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Squeezing clothes pins & picking up small objects with kitchen tongs.
