Category Archives: Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development

Explore tools, games, and activities that support fine motor skill development including grasp, dexterity, hand strength, and coordination essential for functional tasks.

Analyzing Activities for Improving Student Hand Function

Events & Conferences, Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development,

Marcia Bridgeman presenting on hand development stages at Therapro seminar.Not even an anticipated nor’easter kept 30 hardy New Englanders from attending last Saturday’s seminar at Therapro, Analyzing Activities for Improving Student Hand Function! Marcia Bridgeman, MHA, OTR/L presented an interesting, well paced seminar that engaged her audience fully as she seamlessly mapped hand development from birth to elementary school age, linking the development of hands to functional skills.

Marcia is the author of the newly revised Fine Motor Olympics (2016) that includes a Manual and 64 beautiful color photo cards of children’s hands performing fine motor tasks with instructions on the reverse side of the cards. A Guide to Hand Function, Quick Screening Form, Fine Motor Observation Checklist, Record Form, and In-Service Training Program are included in the Manual. She currently has a private practice through which she provides consultation and direct service to several Massachusetts school systems.

Interspersed within a comprehensive review of motor development and hand function from newborn to age 6, Marcia discussed functional fine motor activities expected at the corresponding developmental stages. For example, around the age of 7 months, many essential new fine motor skills are emerging including finger isolation, open web space, opposition, and thumb isolation.  She matched simple activities to this developmental level, such as tearing paper, turning knobs on an Etch-a-Sketch, and spinning a top, to name a few!

Fine Motor Olympics kit with manual and photo cards for hand function activities.Seminar attendees thoroughly enjoyed breaking into groups and trying out 8 original fine motor activities that Marcia created that are not included in the 64 activity cards included in Fine Motor Olympics.  The activities included activities like creating a spider web in a plastic basket and moving the spider in the web, using a variety of tongs to hunt tiny dinosaurs, balancing marbles on golf tees, and threading straws into toilet paper cardboard rolls punched with holes. The groups engaged in activity analysis and shared their comments with the rest of the group.  Attendees took away new, inexpensive ideas to engage the entire classroom and facilitate development of hand musculature and arches of the hand for optimal function. In addition to the new activities Marcia introduced today, she highlighted a number of fine motor Therapro products she loved, including Froggy Feeding Fun, Wind Up Walking Robots, Boinks, Tall Stacker Pegboard Set, Get A Grip Pegboard, and Magnetic Marbles.  She discussed conventional uses for the materials and also adapted the materials creatively and adeptly to help develop muscles of the hand. Some activities incorporated use of intrinsic muscles in translation activities, for example: moving a small single object fingers to the palm (1.5 – 2 years) and from palm to fingers (2.0 – 2.4).

We couldn’t think of a more fun way of spending a snowy Saturday morning than analyzing both innovative and familiar fine motor activities, and sharing thoughts on how to help develop better hand function in the classroom setting in a fun way.

Take a look at the glowing comments Marcia’s seminar generated:

“Great combination of visuals, interactive experiences & developmental stages. Great workshop for OT rookies or vets!” Karen D., Occupational Therapist

“As a teacher, I’m certainly not an expert on OT issues students may be experiencing. This seminar helped to raise my awareness and sensitivity to these issues. Great suggestions for how I can help these students in easy, quick, fun ways.”  Maura M., Teacher

“This seminar revisited & reviewed a lot of what I learned in school (great refresher) however I’ve had colleagues who did not have pediatric courses regarding this!”  Kelly V., Occupational Therapist

“Very informative; great to be interactive & experience/explore activities!”  Caitlyn D. COTA

“Such meaty well organized info on hand development, screening, and activities to help hand function.”  Alice T., Occupational Therapist

Thank you, Marcia!

Filomena Connor, MS, OTR/L

Marble Painting: Therapro’s Free Activity of the Month

Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development, Therapist Resources, , ,

Marble painting combines abstract art and bilateral coordination—a winning combination!  Bilateral coordination refers to the action of using the right and left sides of your body together in a smooth and efficient manner. Babies develop bilateral coordination first by stabilizing an object such as a pail while filling it with sand (From Rattles to Writing: A Parent’s Guide to Hand Skills by Barbara A. Smith, MS, OTR/L).  When someone has difficulty with bilateral coordination, they can have difficulty with daily tasks. Think of everything you do using both sides of your body together; Dressing, tying shoes, buttoning, drawing, writing, catching and throwing, even crawling and walking.  Therapro’s free marble painting activity challenges participants to guide marbles across the page, building bilateral coordination, fine motor control, and sensory integration through vibrant, hands-on play.  See below for all the steps.

You will need:

  1. Finger-paints
  2. Paper
  3. Marbles
  4. Cardboard Box top, Large Shoe Box, or back of frame.

Process

  1. Tape the paper to the inside of the box, or frame.
    Free Marble Painting Activity- Step 1
  2. Place a dollop of paint on either side of the paper. I used 4 colors.
    Free Marble Painting Activity- Step 2
  3. Place a marble on each dollop of paint.
    Step 3
  4. Using both hand hold the box and move the marbles over the paper.
    Step 4
  5. Continue to move the marbles until the paper is covered with paint or you are satisfied with the design.
    step 5
  6. Remove paper and set aside to dry.
    Free Marble Painting Activity- Step 6
  7. Start all over again- See how many marbles you can use.

Other Ideas

  1. This is a great activity for anyone who does not like to get messy, as they really don’t have to finger paint. They are just moving marbles around in a box.
  2. Have 2 children do the activity, each child holds one side of the box.
  3. Use different-sized marbles.
  4. Use more or fewer colors.
  5. Change the placement of the paint.

Example of the Free Marble Painting Activity

Example 2 Free Marble Painting Activity
Send us a picture of your Marble Painting, or post it on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter with the hashtag #Therapro

Ready to elevate hand skills and bilateral coordination even further? Explore Therapro’s Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development page for a comprehensive collection of tools, activities, and resources designed to support therapy goals and empower learners of all ages. Discover more at Therapro Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development.

Guest Blogger: Diana V. Mendez-Hohmann

Hoot Fine Motor Skills Activity

Have a Hoot with Fine Motor Skills: Therapro’s Activity of the Month

Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development, ,

Looking for a fun and purposeful activity? This simple owl-themed craft is a great way to enhance fine motor skills while sparking creativity. Children will enjoy cutting, tracing, and gluing as they bring their owl to life—building important coordination skills along the way. It’s an ideal hands-on activity for therapists, educators, or parents supporting motor development at home or in the classroom.

With this easy craft, your child will:

  • Practice scissor skills
  • Trace different shapes
  • Use both hands (bilateral coordination)
  • Cross the midline

Materials

  • 2 Sticky Back Foam Sheets or Felt
  • 2 Buttons
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • White Paper for the pattern
  • Markers

Step 1

Draw the pattern on white paper.

Cut the pattern shapes.

Place the shapes on the sticky-back foam sheets. Use at least 2 different colors.
Hoot Fine Motor Activity pattern example    Hoot Fine Motor Activity additional pattern examples

Step 2

Cut the foam shapes
Hoot Fine Motor Activity- cut out examples

Step 3

Peel the back of the wings and place wings on the belly.
Hoot Fine Motor Activity body example

Step 4

Peel the back of the behind the eyes area and place on the top part of the belly.
Hoot Fine Motor Activity- body with head example

Step 5

Peel the back of the large eyes and center on the top.
haveahoot06

Step 6

Peel the back of the small eyes and center on the top.
haveahoot07

Step 7

Peel the back of the nose and place it under the eyes.
haveahoot08

Step 8

Glue the buttons to the center of the eyes.
Owl- Blue and green

Step 9

Decorate using the markers.
Finished Owl craft example

Don’t forget to make it a multi-sensory experience.

  • What sound does the owl make?
  • Sing songs about owls or birds.
  • Have your child feel a feather.
  • Use different textures; combine foam and felt, or decorate with glitter.

Here is a felt owl we made using a heart for a nose. Send us a picture of your owl, or post it on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #Therapro
Have a Hoot Finished Product

Looking for more ways to build hand skills through creativity? Explore Therapro’s Art & Creative Activities for a wide range of engaging tools and ideas designed to support fine motor development in fun and meaningful ways.

Guest Blogger: Diana V. Mendez-Hohmann