Inclusive Resource on Sensorimotor Child Development for Parents and Teachers

Play Dough for Hand Strengthening

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Play dough is a favorite of many children.  This time tested activity strengthen the hands and is a great entrée into touch exploration.

Benefits:

  •  Hand strengthening occurs when the fingers are fully extended (straight) and used to press down and roll the dough back and forth to make coils.   Children, typically call these “snakes” or “hot dogs.”
  • Isolating or pointing the index or “pointer” finger is also a critical component to fine motor dexterity.
  • Pinching the play dough to make bowls helps strengthen thumb to finger tip opposition.
  • Play dough has texture and provides tactile (touch) stimulation.

Directions:

1.  The child rolls out a coil. Encourage straight fingers.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

2.  Then point the index finger and poke holes into the dough.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

3. By starting on the left and working towards the right, the left-right directional concept necessary for reading and writing begins to form.

4. Older preschoolers and Kindergarten children place small stones (such as used in the game Mancala), marbles or simply stones collected outside and rinsed off, on top of the coil in a left to right fashion as described above. Once placed, the objects are pushed into the dough with the extended index finger while counting.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

4.  To add a more specific academic demand, have number cards for the child to determine how many stones to put in each time.

5.  After the stones are placed, the child pulls the stones back out using a pincer grasp (pinched between the thumb and index finger tip.  Pulling the stones out should have some resistance, thereby strengthening this all important grasping pattern.

6.  Older students can follow the same pattern but work with more complex concepts or creating patterns. Along with strengthening, pattern sequencing and spatial skills can be nurtured. For example:   A-BB-C-A-BB-C pattern with colored stones.

7. Consider using flash cards to add and subtract stones.

8.  Second grade and on can use chips (like bingo or poker) instead of stones.  This requires more strength  in the pincer grasp for placing in and out of the clay.

Special Considerations:

  • Early preschoolers should use play dough as it is softer and easier to use.
  • Homemade playdough* has a softer, better consistency than store bought. Better, easy to make and cheaper!
  • Kindergarten and elementary students can substitute modeling clay.  This will provide more resistance for even greater hand strengthening. The clay should be warmed in their hands before rolling it out.

*Home-made PLAY DOUGH Recipe:

  • 4 CUPS FLOUR
  • 4 CUPS WATER
  • 1 CUPS SALT
  • 3 TBS CREAM OF TARTAR
  • 4 TBS OIL

 

Similar posts
  • A Shining Star! In our youth oriented culture, getting older tends to herald the decline of bodily functions and a wistful outlook, with memories of good times receding in the past. The silver lining of growing older, is that you get to witness how things turn out. In my case, I get to hear about the kids I [...]
  • Holiday Sponge Art Ten days ’til Christmas!  Planning simple holiday themed activities helps to channel some of that palpable energy.  The trick is to keep the projects simple. When kids’ sensory systems are overloaded with multi-colored lights, never-ending Christmas music and constantly changing routines, they don’t need any motor planning challenges. Activities that incorporate easy to do steps [...]
  • Gingerbread Houses I have been making gingerbread houses as a holiday celebration activity with the students for many years and it has become almost legendary. The children are thrilled. While it looks like all fun (and is!), I glean a great deal of information from this holiday activity. Benefits: I use the activity as an assessment of each [...]
  • Travel We are approaching the most heavily traveled season on the year.  Along with the joys of visiting family and friends, we often struggle through traffic jams of mammoth proportions.  Whether facing flying delays or miles of crawling traffic, when kids are in tow, the frustration and anxiety can multiply. No matter whether you take a [...]
  • Lasagna Gardening It’s time to Tuck in the Garden.  As Daylight Savings ends and temperatures plummet, the days of growing delicious food at the Truro Community Children’s Garden is ending for the season.  We’ll still be able to snitch kale and mint leaves for smoothie snacks, but our big job right now is preparing the garden beds [...]

No Comments Yet

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *