So... thoughts on working on the pincer grasp? Especially for eating?? I'm tired of full fisted eating and the mess that ensues, and I know that's a very important OT skill. We have a few things we're working on for it, but I'm always open to suggestions! Anyone? :)
Try putting a bunch of socks into an empty wipes container, then have the kids fish them out of the opening with their fingers. Also works well with the jar style baby food lids, they can insert them and fish them out of the container like an oversized piggy bank.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the cheap stretchy knit gloves with just the thumb and forefinger cut off?
ReplyDeleteTake an old peanut or cashew container that have a plastic lid. Put a slit in the plastic lid that is large enough for a uncooked kidney bean to fit through. Have the kid(s) pick up a dry bean using the pincer grasp and push it through the slit. Hope this will be helpful :)
ReplyDeletePatty Lococo
find an old sock and cut a hole in it for just thumb and first finger. Since the rest of their fingers will be encased in the sock they will have no choice but to use pinscer grasp
ReplyDeleteZech had great improvement with just putting pennies in a piggy bank and also different types and sizes of buttons in "slime" finding them with his fingers and pulling them out. He used short handled everything: pencil, crayons we broke in half, small silverware..everything short enough it wouldn't fit in his fist. He does great now!
ReplyDeletePut a single cheerio, blueberry, etc into each section of an ice cube tray. It is a natural way to encourage the use of pincher to get the item out of the tray to eat it.
ReplyDeleteThera-putty with beads or even pennies smushed in it and they have to pick it out. Tweezer work... Transferring small items from bowls using the tweezers. You can use wooden salad tongs to transfer cotton balls too. Pour liquid from a small creamer vase.. The kind with a handle like they have at restuarants. Ripping paper. Hmmm. I'll think of more tonight. My older kids were in OT for that very reason for years.. I think I have a suggestions sheet somewhere still. :)
ReplyDeleteOur OT suggested small spray bottles. Kids naturally hold them with the right grasp to strengthen the "pincers". Try letting them draw on the sliding glass door, then erasing with the spray bottle...fun!
ReplyDeleteDo you know those clothes pins that you pinch together? Have them play games seeing who can pick something up with it. Start with big things that are easy to pick up and work down.
ReplyDeleteTwo things come to mind that worked for Aidan...
ReplyDelete1) probably an unorthodox approach :) but I would turn off his favorite electronic toys and have him practice doing the on/off switch himself. Same thing with buttons on the tv remote b/c you have to isolate fingers to do those things. Though food is a big motivator, that didn't really work for us since he realizes he can get it without using the pincer
2) Another big thing that strengthened his hand and grip was pulling books out of our sling bookshelf. He never took to other "reach in/pull out" games but he liked pulling out books. Plus the big board ones are heavy and work muscles too.
one of the best things we've used is a game you can buy at the Cracker Barrel restaurants. It's a triangular wood piece with golf tees in it, and you hop the tees over each other (jumping like checkers) and remove the hopped-over piece. You play independently (if you're "typical" developing or an adult) but little kids (especially DD) love to pick them out and put them back in. You can use colored golf tees and teach colors/numbers/left & right with it as well.
ReplyDeleteAnother great trick- buy some mints from the store- look for Icebreakers if you can find them. Dump out the mints (they contain aspartame ugh) and then refill the container using the "share with group" open section with tiny "pinch-ready" foods- Cheerios, Puffs, M&M's, chocolate chips or a mixture of it all etc. Close the "share" open section of the lid and secure it down (I used duct tape lol) and then open the tiny little tab (it only has room for up to 2 little chubby baby fingers, or one adult finger). To keep them from shaking out the treats, you can also duct tape the entire container to the counter top (no furniture or you'll lose the varnish). Works like a charm- they'll be pinching in no time!
Other neat pincer grasp "games"- buy a cheap pillow from salvation army. Sew or use fabric binding tape to secure a random blend of zippers (small and large pull) to the pillow, only on one side. For your kids with sensory issues or perpetual movement energy, this pillow can entertain them while they're watching tv, getting ready for nap, etc all while teaching them great fine motor skills.
Threading wooden puzzles with shoelace strands are great too- I like the ones by Melissa & Doug's.