Any Occupational Therapists Out There??

Hi N.,
I'm an OT but haven't worked with kids in a while! Here are some ideas:
-give him very small pieces of crayon or pencil or chalk to write with (this forces him to use more of a tripod grasp since it's not big enough to fist grip)
-do some hand weight-bearing activities like wheelbarrow races
-try to interest him in play-doh/clay
-give him alternative ways to write/express himself (using finger in shaving cream or fingerpaint to make letters, typing on computer, etc.) so he doesn't equate self-expression with something that's always HARD

Hope this helps! :)

I am not an OT but am a computer teacher. I've noted that many children that struggle with fine motor benefit from some computer time. My website I used with my students has some great activities, just do little bits at a time. He is still young for typing, but with my kindergarten students, I would have them do JUST 5-10 minutes of typing (more of a keyboard famililiarity). Take a look at www.rocketlaunchers.org/launchpad.html. The menu choice Mouse skills will help a lot (put a sticker on the left mouse button for him so he knows which one to click, and if still difficult, purchase a track ball mouse). Under Typing Skills, start with Caillou's Keyboard and Elmo's Keyboard-A-Rama, then move into Dance Mat Typing (keep this short unless he is enjoying it). Also under Social Studies, there is a great drag/drop Puzzled States game which I use with the 4th graders to learn their states. Under Free Choice, try Orisinal. Any game with drag/drop will help with his motor skills. Keep in mind it may take a few months. I had one kindergartner that was all over the place at the beginning of the year (in fact had 2 computers set aside for him as he'd click all over the place!) but by the end of the year he was motoring around like a duck in water, and this from 2x/week. Best of luck to you!

throw a bunch of pennies on the floor and have him pick them up one at a time with only his thumb and pointer finger.

Have him help you with things that involve holding, gripping, etc...like putting clothes in the dryer, picking up toys, etc. Make sure to take him to the park or back yard to SWING where he has to hold onto the rope or chain. Take small steps here.

If you find something he WANTS to do that involves gripping, etc., then he'll be more likely to want to do the exercises. Do not overlook these exercises. NOW is the time to start teaching priorities. Remind him that this is something he'll need every day for the rest of his life and you want to help him be as strong as you can. Make a game out of things, if you have to. BE CREATIVE. There are TONS of everyday little tasks that require grip.......NO! DO NOT JUST OVERLOOK THIS. Otherwise, you'll be creating a dependent child rather than an independent one. You don't want to be doing things for him at 8 or 10 that she should have learned at 5 or 6. Muscles have to be overloaded/fatigued in order for them to become stronger. It's amazing how quickly the body will respond when given the right stimulus AND you're persistent and consistent.

If he wants to watch a movie or play w/ something, remind him that his exercises are a priority and these exercises will help him every day for the rest of his life. He can watch a movie or play later.

It's one thing to be behind or struggle w/ skills, but it's another to allow it to create even more problems and or dependence down the road. Do everythig you can to help him become strong, confident and independent.

Clay (not play-doh). Beading. drawing using "golf" pencils. Decorating cookies/cupcakes with those tiny decorations. Hiding tiny candies in whipped cream. Mud-pies in the back yard. Poking sunflower seeds into the dirt (plant a garden). Stickers. Let Elmers Glue dry on his fingertips, and let him peel it off.

"Play" rather than "activities" will motivate him the most (the essential rule of OT). Find toys, games, or let him help in the kitchen or around the house: the more he *does* with his hands every day, the stronger they will get.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!
t

Check with your pediatrician and the school system. I know in Indiana you can go through the schools for free or reduced-cost OT, PT, and speech therapy.

I am a former Kindergarten/primary teacher and mother of six and grandmother of 11, who wants all children to have legible handwriting!
Encourage him to play with clay or play dough....you play too...also get a chalkboard and or easel on which he can make lots of big circles, zigzags, swirls,etc., and eventually letters.
Do the same outside on the driveway with big chalk.
Play a counting or sorting game with some dried lentils and/ or beads or beans, where he must pick them up individually and put them into clear containers.
He might like to squeeze water out of those soft balls that are fun in the pool or bathtub.
Teach him how to wring out a soft wash cloth.
Are you using Primary Crayons that are bigger around?
Color with him.
Also bigger primary pencils are good for his grip.
Encourage him to hold these correctly, it is so important for good penmanship.
If you work these into your daily activities, it will be fun and help to strengthen his grip and coordination.

Use eyebrow tweezers and let him pick up and move a pile of cotton balls one at a time. When he gets good at that, move on to smaller items.

Also, use a spray bottle of water to spray-write his name, make designs and patterns, etc.on the driveway or sidewalk.