Proprioceptive, Tactile and Fine Motor Painting Activity

Here is a simple activity that you can modify depending upon the skill level of the child. We chose to do a name but you could make this activity much more simple by just doing lines or random designs. It could also be done on a canvas bag to make a great tote bag gift for someone special.

Purpose of activity: Encourage fine motor skill development, upper extremity muscle strengthening and proprioceptive/tactile input.

Materials: painter's tape (low adhesion), paint and paper. Easel is optional or you could do the activity on the floor.

Activity:
Step 1: Put painter's tape (low adhesion) on a large piece of paper in a design or create a name.


Optional: If able have the child help to tear the tape to encourage fine motor skill development.


Step 2: When design is completed paint the palms of the child's hands. The child will then press hard on the picture with flat hands.




Step 3: When the paint has dried completely remove the painter's tape to reveal the design.


Looking for more sensory motor development ideas? Go to YourTherapySource.com for free activities, electronic books, monthly newsletter and more.

Research on a Collaborative Fine Motor Program

Ingrid King, OT, has written research on a collaborative fine motor program for 5 year old children in New Zealand.  A two phased mixed method design was utilized with 19 students in a 5 year old classroom (none of the students were receiving occupational therapy nor had a diagnosis).  To measure changes in fine motor skills a group pre- and post-test was performed.  A five year follow up study was completed to determine the teacher's perceptions.  The intervention consisted of a fine motor program for the entire class led by the occupational therapist (which were then repeated by the teaching staff) one time per week for 8 weeks.  Following the first 8 weeks, an additional fine motor program was completed for 12 weeks for only 6 of the students.  

The results indicated the following:

• a significant difference was found in the groups fine motor performance following the the collaborative teaching training


• the teacher continued to use the knowledge and activities after the training was complete.

You can read the entire study here http://docs.com/ZH6H.  Find out more about the fine motor program used for the study at www.myfantasticfingers.com

Reference:  King, I. Then and Now: Addressing Young Students' Fine Motor Needs Through a Collaborative Modelling Teacher Training Intervention.  Copyright 2014. Ingrid C. King www.myfantasticfingers.com

 



Need other ideas for a collaborative approach to school based occupational therapy?  Check out the Coleman Curriculum for School Based Occupational Therapy at http://yourtherapysource.com/coleman.html

 

Proprioceptive, Tactile and Fine Motor Painting Activity

Here is a simple activity that you can modify depending upon the skill level of the child. We chose to do a name but you could make this activity much more simple by just doing lines or random designs. It could also be done on a canvas bag to make a great tote bag gift for someone special.

Purpose of activity: Encourage fine motor skill development, upper extremity muscle strengthening and proprioceptive/tactile input.

Materials: painter's tape (low adhesion), paint and paper. Easel is optional or you could do the activity on the floor.

Activity:
Step 1: Put painter's tape (low adhesion) on a large piece of paper in a design or create a name.


Optional: If able have the child help to tear the tape to encourage fine motor skill development.


Step 2: When design is completed paint the palms of the child's hands. The child will then press hard on the picture with flat hands.




Step 3: When the paint has dried completely remove the painter's tape to reveal the design.


Looking for more sensory motor development ideas? Go to YourTherapySource.com for free activities, electronic books, monthly newsletter and more.

COORE - Cooperative of Occupation Related Evidence

Heard about this new venture on Twitter from @willwade. COORE (Co-operative of Occupational Related Evidence) is an open access journal for Occupational Therapy and Science evidence. The goal is to create a peer reviewed online, FREE journal to gain more evidence to support occupational therapy. The creators are looking for OT's to help out with peer reviews and submitting research. For more information regarding COORE check out the blog. Help to spread the word regarding this online journal - tell all your OT students, colleagues and professors.