Developing Pincer Grip- Home Activities

 Forming the fingers in just the right way to hold a pencil can be a challenge for some children with fine motor issues or poor muscle tone.  Dr. Montessori recognized the need for the young child to build hand strength and to allow for the pincer grip to mature before offering the tool in an effort to prevent the student from developing poor and tiring form.  Many of the materials in the Montessori classroom from Practical Life to Geography or designed in a way that promotes strengthening the hand and developing a proper pincer grip.

Recently, Ms. Megan conferenced with an uprising Kindergarten student eager to begin his writing, yet still maturing in fine motor control and hand strength.  The family and teacher collaborate to assist the young child in this development- hereis what she shared:

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Thanks for your time and open communication on Monday.  I couldn’t find the list of fine motor activities compiled from years ago but thougth I’d send along some ideas off the top of my head and I’m sure you will come up with plenty of your own:

pennies in a jar

playdoh or clay

stringing beads

magnets on the refrigerator

knobbed puzzles

knobbed drawers

games with small pieces

games with cards

matchbox cars

little people/figures

lightbright

make a rubber band ball

stretching rubberbands on a peg board

opening the mailbox

feeding Bella with a small scoop or scoop with handle

finger food (grapes, veggie sticks, berries, peanuts, etc.)

dipping into sauces

small legos

lincoln logs

squeezing toothpaste

dialing a phone number

putting your earrings in/out

ziploc bags with zippers

buckles, snaps, buttons, etc.

manipulating shoelaces

combing hair

with pencils, crayons, etc. keep them thick and chunky or use grips

crayon rocks are great

Every opportunity he has to grip something small will help him strengthen the tiny muscles in his hand and give him more confidence with tools and eventually a pencil. 

Hope this is helpful!

Megan

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Taking the time to build upon proper technique and the process will allow this student the opportunity to mature further.  When his hand is prepared for the tool- in this case a  pencil-   we feel confident that the writing will unfold.  Yet, the child is not left to mature on his own.  Both parent and teacher collaborate to develop together activities at home and school which will assist him in building the skill.  When it comes, he will most certainly feel the pride of “I did it”- as will those involved scaffolding him on his road to mastery.