We learn by DOING :) My young learners (grades K-1) are working on improving their hand strength, bilateral coordination, and fine motor skills. These skills are essential for educational activities such as coloring, writing, and cutting, in addition to Activities of Daily Living including getting dressed, feeding themselves, and manipulating zippers and buttons.
Practice, practice, practice! We need to continuously provide these students with opportunities to use these skills to strengthen their muscles and coordination for independence and success. My students come to therapy exciting to play "games" not realizing how many skills they are working on. We want to carry this over into the home.
For example, using tongs to pick up small erasers works on the intrinsic muscles of the hand. These muscles are the same muscles we use to manipulate scissors and pencils. Encouraging them to use the three fingers to effectively use tongs is really showing them how to use three fingers to grasp the pencil and scissors.
Some of these students have difficulty using child safety scissors however are very successful when presented with loop scissors. Eventually, this translates to using regular child safety scissors however using the loop scissors provides practice, strengthening, and coordination. It allows them to PARTICIPATE in an activity they would otherwise not be able to complete.
Providing young learners the opportunity to participate in appropriate, educational, and fun activities is important. I often hear "I did it!" and see the pride in their faces when they are successful.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to provide these young learners with supplies they can use at home. During this period of virtual distance learning and hybrid learning students need additional materials at home to grow, learn, and succeed. THANK YOU for reading :)
About my class
We learn by DOING :) My young learners (grades K-1) are working on improving their hand strength, bilateral coordination, and fine motor skills. These skills are essential for educational activities such as coloring, writing, and cutting, in addition to Activities of Daily Living including getting dressed, feeding themselves, and manipulating zippers and buttons.
Practice, practice, practice! We need to continuously provide these students with opportunities to use these skills to strengthen their muscles and coordination for independence and success. My students come to therapy exciting to play "games" not realizing how many skills they are working on. We want to carry this over into the home.
For example, using tongs to pick up small erasers works on the intrinsic muscles of the hand. These muscles are the same muscles we use to manipulate scissors and pencils. Encouraging them to use the three fingers to effectively use tongs is really showing them how to use three fingers to grasp the pencil and scissors.
Some of these students have difficulty using child safety scissors however are very successful when presented with loop scissors. Eventually, this translates to using regular child safety scissors however using the loop scissors provides practice, strengthening, and coordination. It allows them to PARTICIPATE in an activity they would otherwise not be able to complete.
Providing young learners the opportunity to participate in appropriate, educational, and fun activities is important. I often hear "I did it!" and see the pride in their faces when they are successful.
I am looking forward to the opportunity to provide these young learners with supplies they can use at home. During this period of virtual distance learning and hybrid learning students need additional materials at home to grow, learn, and succeed. THANK YOU for reading :)
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