Shuswap Therapy

Mess-free finger painting bags are simple and effective therapy tools. This tool provides opportunity to practice visual-motor integration skills with reduced fine motor demands. To make your own mess-free finger painting bag, add 250ml of tempera paint to a large sized Ziploc bag. Carefully remove all the air and seal the bag. Use the bag on a flat surface for mess-free finger painting.

Rotating a die between fingertips and thumb builds rotation in-hand manipulation skills. #occupationaltherapy #finemotorskills #finemotordevelopment #inhandmanipulation

In-hand manipulation allows us to move or reposition small objects using just one hand. Translation incorporates moving objects from palm to fingertips. For example, moving pennies from palm to fingertips before inserting them into a piggy bank. Translation also incorporates moving objects from fingers to palm. For example, moving rocks, coins, tokens, or beads from fingertips to palm to make a fistful. #occupationaltherapy #finemotorskills #finemotordevelopment #inhandmanipulation

In-hand manipulation incorporates simple rotation, which is turning an object up to 90 degrees using the fingers, and incorporates complex rotation, turning an object more than 90 degrees using only finger and thumb movements. For example, grasping a die or cube between the tips of fingers and thumb, and then rotating the die or cube to see all sides. Or fastening and unfastening nuts and bolts. Activity ideas to promote rotation in-hand manipulation skills: - Practice twisti...ng caps on and off bottles - Practice fastening and unfastening nuts and bolts - Build interlocking puzzles - Play dice games - Build with Lego building blocks. To develop these skills, it is best to practice activities regularly. Please do not hesitate to talk to your occupational therapist should you have questions. #occupationaltherapy #finemotorskills #finemotordevelopment #inhandmanipulation

In-hand manipulation incorporates shifting, which is sliding an object along the pad of the finger. For example, linear shifting or repositioning a pencil or fanning cards within your hand. Shifting with stabilization is moving an object between index and middle fingers and thumb, while holding another object in the palm with the ring and pinky fingers. Activity ideas to promote shift in-hand manipulation skills: - Practice turning pages in a book - Play card games... - Practice pencil walks. Hold the pencil in one hand and try moving the fingers up and down the pencil shaft, remembering to only use one hand. To develop these skills, it is best to practice activities regularly. Please do not hesitate to talk to your occupational therapist should you have questions. #occupationaltherapy #inhandmanipulation #finemotorskills #finemotordevelopment