Miniature erasers are one of my Occupational Therapy toolbox power tools. These little bits of rubber are the perfect manipulative for working on so many fine motor and developmental skills. Today, I’m sharing how we use them in learning and reviewing skills learned at school, like patterns with my Kindergarten -aged son.
Be sure to check out our resource on name practice in kindergarten for more hands-on activities for 5 and 6 year olds.
We’ve been sharing a few other of my favorite fine motor manipulatives recently, like chain links and LEGOS. It’s so much fun to use toys and OT tools in learning activities and I’m excited to continue this series as my kids learn!
Fine Motor Pattern Activity
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These mini erasersmhave been in my therapy bag for years. I’ve got a collection of mini erasers that I’ve found at Dollar Stores, Target, and teacher stores. But, my favorite place to get a variety of miniature erasers is here for the variety of animals and items.
We worked on a few fine motor skills with our mini erasers
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This math activity was so simple. I piled up a bunch of mini erasers
and asked my Kindergarten son to create an “ABB” pattern. He had to pick up the erasers using in-hand manipulation to squirrel away the eraser into his palm. Picking up the erasers works on translation from fingers to palm as well as separation of the two sides of the hand. Then, he had to hold on to the erasers in his palm as he placed the erasers one at a time onto the paper in a pattern order.
and asked my Kindergarten son to create an “ABB” pattern. He had to pick up the erasers using in-hand manipulation to squirrel away the eraser into his palm. Picking up the erasers works on translation from fingers to palm as well as separation of the two sides of the hand. Then, he had to hold on to the erasers in his palm as he placed the erasers one at a time onto the paper in a pattern order.
After he made the “ABB” pattern, I had him do a few other patterns like “AAB”, “ABA”, “BBA”, BAB”, and “AABB”.
Want to know more ways to work on fine motor skills with these mini-erasers? I’ve got ideas to share, and they will be up on the blog soon!
More fine motor activities you will love: