At POTS we are always looking for fun ways to practice handwriting within the context of a game or daily activity. What better opportunity than Valentine’s Day! This valentine marshmallow snack, from The Decorated Cookie is adorable and can easily be adapted to various skill levels. Materials: marshmallows baker’s twine tapestry needle shortening scissors red cardstock stapler edible markers Instructions for marshmallows-on-a-string (to dunk in hot cocoa or tea) can be found

Coloring in the lines is an excellent activity for developing pencil control, and contrary to popular opinion it does not stifle creativity.  To develop a proper crayon grasp avoid engaging your child in a dialogue about how to hold a crayon correctly and the virtue of coloring in the lines.  A better strategy is to adapt your child’s environment (e.g., drawing implements, position, image quality and drawing implements) and facilitate coloring skills by choosing appropriate m

Your Questions Answered! POTS hosted an exciting and dynamic handwriting workshop focusing on readying children’s hands for writing, for pre-k through first grade. Below are answers to some great questions asked at the workshop. Q. By what age should my child have a mature dynamic tripod grasp? A. By 4½ years of age children should be writing with their elbows down and their fingers consistently holding a crayon with the thumb and index finger, and resting on the third finger

Pre-schoolers can often identify their letters and attempt to form them with manipulatives such as sticks before their small hands are ready to control a pencil and paper, and they should not be expected to. Listed below are several activities for practicing how to form letters without having to place a writing tool into your child’s hands. Sequencing the formation of the letter is the key here, for example, and 'O' should be formed counter-clockwise, and 'D' should start wit

In the era of ever-advancing technology and computers, it may seem as though handwriting can take a back seat. On the contrary, computer skills and keyboarding- while important- do not replace the need for handwriting entirely, especially for children under 12, for whom handwriting remains faster than keyboarding. Writing remains a critical form of portable communication for note taking, test taking, completion of classroom work and homework, and as prerequisite job skill. Wh

Peeling potatoes to add to any dish is an excellent activity to work on bimanual coordination, using the two hands together skillfully. When using a peeler, one hand has to hold the potato firmly to allow the peeler to work. Naturally engaging the non-dominant hand to stabilize the potato allows the preferred hand to peel. To start, peel hand-over-hand with your child. If the non-dominant hand is a strong stabilizer, focus on strengthening the preferred hand’s “pressure modul

Professional athletes, international speakers and anyone who wants to improve performance has access to video critiquing, a highly effective tool for self-improvement. The users film themselves either at practice or when performing live, and then watch the video, either by themselves or with others, to analyze and fine tune their performance. Are they throwing the correctly? Are they speaking clearly and slowly? They may make small critical changes, or perhaps catch a fundame

Stickers develop fine motor skills! Peeling stickers from a sticker sheet promotes a pincer grasp and ulnar-radial separation (separation of the two sides of the hand). Sticking stickers to a surface requires a child to stabilize with the pinky side of the hand (ulnar stability) while controlling the sticker with the thumb and index finger (radial mobility). These skills are essential for grasping and controlling a pencil or crayon to write and draw. Stickers are motivating!

We are frequently asked by parents which tongs they should purchase for their child. Below you will find some of our favorite tongs from least challenging to most challenging. Each of the tongs is good for overall hand strengthening; fine motor coordination, and improving pre-writing and pre-scissors skills by eliciting/strengthening a static or dynamic tripod grasp. These products can be purchased from therapy websites, such as www.pfot.com or www.therapyshoppe.com. Strawber