Benefits:
- When the push pin is held correctly, the muscles required for grasping a pencil are strengthened.
- Both hands are used, thereby building the habit to use two hands while working.
- Visual attention is required to make sure the pin is exactly on the line.
- Dots should be close together, so simple spatial planning/reasoning is required.
- If the child lies on a carpet, trunk and limb muscles get stronger too.
Directions:
- Draw a simple pumpkin to be “pushed” out.
- If working at a table, place a pot holder under the piece of paper. If working on a carpet- the paper can be placed directly on the carpet.
- The non-dominant hand holds the paper down. The dominant hand holds the pin in a tripod grasp.
- The picture below illustrates EXACTLY the way the pin should be held. If it is not held this way then the correct muscles are not getting strengthened. For children with very weak hands, I give support to the thumb by placing my finger gently in the web space (between the thumb and index finger).
- The pin pricks small holes along the designated line(s). 1/8-1/16 inch spacing is ideal.
- After the design is fully “pinned,” an adult should then complete pushing the shape or design out along the perforated line.
- Additional shapes can be drawn and pushed out to glue on, creating a Jack-o-lantern.
