Occupational Therapy

Our Top 5 Fine Motor Posts of 2012

Colleen Beck OTR/L

Colleen Beck, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist and the owner and author of The OT Toolbox website. She manages all of The OT Toolbox social media accounts and runs the popular newsletter. Colleen created The OT Toolbox in 2011 and since then has written thousands of blog posts designed to support therapy providers, educators, parents, counselors, admin, and caregivers in promoting the healthy development of kids. Check out Colleen's blog posts below:

by Colleen Beck OTR/L
December 30, 2012

As part of an end-of year review, we wanted to share a few of our favorite posts in different areas of kids activities (Baby Play, Fine Motor, Sensory Play)

This is a collection of our favorite FINE MOTOR posts since our beginning Sugar Aunts almost four months ago…

Golf Tees and a Hammer: This one was one of Little Guy’s FAVORITE activities He still asks all the time to do the “golf tee game”. In fact, he even picked golf tees for his Daddy’s Christmas gift at his preschool Secret Santa shop. Not so he can go golfing…”So you can hit them into egg cartons, Dad”!

Golf Tees and a Hammer

Magnet Play: This was a fun one. My kids ask if they can play with the corn bin constantly. They love it! This activity was a fun one and really strengthens the small muscles of the hands. It could be done with any theme…

Magnet Play: Apple Theme

Christmas Math: This was part of our 25 Days of Christmas Play and such an easy activity to set up. Big Sister loved using the pinch pins to do some beginning math. Using the pinch clothes pins strengthens the intrinsic muscles of the hands and develops their tripod grasp. This is a good one for those kids that complain of their hands being tired when they are coloring. Use close pins on any cardboard/index cards/paper and it can go along with any theme or season!

Christmas Math

Snowman Play Dough: This one was really fun. Play Dough is so great for developing fine motor skills. Rolling, pinching, molding, poking…it works those small muscles! You can use play dough in so many ways and with unlimited colors, scents, and going along with different themes. Little Guy loved using his construction vehicles to play with this dough and we all had a blast making snowmen with this glittery, scented recipe.

Scented Snowman Play Dough

Process Vs. Product Art: This project is so great for developing mine motor skills in kids because the whole activity is based on the process of creating, using materials, managing tools (scissors, squeezing glue, peeling stickers…), and developing fine motor dexterity to grasp small beads/thread/bits of glitter…There are no expectations on the child, only exploration and creativity!