Hand strength allows kids to perform many everyday tasks, including using cutlery, opening containers, doing buttons, brushing their hair, playing with Lego and writing.⠀
⠀
Some kids may have poor hand strength due to joint hypermobility or low muscle tone (which they are born with), or simply due to a lack of use of the muscles in their hands (not enough play time).⠀
⠀
Here are some of my favourite go-to hand strengthening activities:⠀
⠀
• “Pacman" (cut open a tennis ball, squeeze and feed!)⠀
• Squeezing pegs⠀
• Squeezing stress balls⠀
• Picking up small items with tongs or tweezers⠀
• Hammering activities⠀
• Theraputty or playdough⠀
• Construction games like Lego⠀
• Squeezing a spray bottle⠀
• Baking (stirring, rolling, kneading)
• Digging/gardening⠀
• Opening and closing jars⠀
• Tearing and scrunching paper⠀
• Cutting construction paper⠀
• Crab walking⠀
• Bear walking⠀ ⠀
• Monkey bars
• Weight-bearing yoga poses⠀
• Climbing⠀
• Crawling⠀
• Wheelbarrow walking
• Tug-o-war⠀
You can find a handout with pictures of these activities for quick reference here: pcot.com.au/resources
Comments