Toothpick Pincer Grasp Activity

Here is a super simple and super economical activity to encourage the pincer grasp.  Recycle and clean a Styrofoam tray.  Draw some simple shapes, letters, numbers or just let the child make a free form sculpture.  Put the toothpicks next to the tray in a container.  Poke the toothpicks into the tray around the shapes as pictured or anywhere.

Try using other objects to poke the tray like a dull pencil or the back of a paint brush.

This would make a nice sensory break as well that incorporates fine motor skills, proprioception and visual perceptual skills.

Want to add another element to your sculpture?  Put colored straws next to the tray.  The child can place the colored straws over the toothpicks to make the sculpture taller and colorful.  Be careful not to knock over the toothpicks as you put the straws on - takes a lot of graded muscle control. 

Pincer Grasp on iPad

Here is the tip of the day when using an iPad - use a mini sponge.  A regular cellulose sponge cut up into a small piece will encourage the child to use a pincer grasp when using the iPad.  In the pictures above, you can see the pincer grasp on the mini sponge.  Now you can "write" directly on the iPad using the sponge instead of just the fingertips.  This is wonderful for visual motor activities (ie Visual Motor Workbook in pdf format opened in an app that allows you to mark up pdf documents).  It works on regular apps as well.  Tested it out on Letter School and it worked perfectly.  Hopefully, encouraging the pincer grasp with the mini sponge when forming letters or visual motor tasks on the iPad will result in be better carry over to actual handwriting compared to just using pad of the index finger.  Thanks OT with Apps for the idea!

Shredded Paper Ball

Here is a simple activity made out of recycled materials.  Save a net bag from produce such as oranges, onions or avocados.  Place some shredded paper in the shape of a ball inside the net bag.  Twist the top of the bag and use painter's tape or duct tape to seal the top it.  Now give the shredded paper ball to the child.

You can play a game of catch with it.  Try kicking it with your foot and catching it.

When done playing with it, work on removing the shredded paper one piece at a time.

The activity encourages:

• coordination skills
• fine motor skills
• pincer grasp  

Stay tuned for more activities to create out of recycled produce bags.

Practicing Grasp Patterns

Practice different grasp patterns using recycled objects and small pictures.  Get all the details and watch the video at YourTherapySource.com.