toby
09-06-2009, 10:01 PM
I thought that I would share some products that I have found for 4.5 year old DS to help him with his fine motor skills (these all focus on strengthening his pincer grasp). He has not been interested in using theraputty (finding beads in it etc.), clothespin games or using tongs (if you think that your DC might go for this, get some strawberry hullers or tongs, small foam shapes and "rubbery" beads from some place like Michaels and an empty parmesan cheese container. You can play a game taking turns picking up the objects and either putting them throught the large spot on the top of the parm container or the small holes). I thought that it was fun, but DS was not interested!!
But, he has liked:
Sculpey III Clay-- it is firm enough that he really has to pull to get a chunk off, but then he can roll it in his hands to make something. The selling point on this was that we could then bake the objects. We have been making dishes and miniature fruits and cookies for his playmobil castle people. We also have a lot of unidentifiable things adorning DS's dresser!
http://www.sculpey.com/
Lite Brite
Squeeze Rockets
http://www.kidsurplus.com/itemdetail.asp?item=74%20DLC%2020555#0022;srccode= WEB
(may be less expensive at amazon if you use the free super saver shipping).
Perler Beads
I got a bag of Big Beads (ages 3-5) which were very manageable for DS. Big Beads and Maxi Beads are the same size, just different companies. I also got the Big Bead clear board (the solid white one was cheaper, but you can lay the clear board over patterns) (http://www.koolstuff4kids.com/8281.htmland) and the Maxi Beads Inspiration Book (http://www.koolstuff4kids.com/399-09.html). It basically gives you a bunch of patterns of objects (elephants, faces, flowers...) that you can make. DS made a clown, but then he was happy making his own designs. I also found out that you can use parchment paper instead of buying more ironing paper. They sell the smaller perler beads in craft stores like Michaels.
Chinese Checkers Board Ours has colored pegs and DS moves them around to make patterns. I think that I got ours at Toys R Us.
Wind up toys
If you have a World Market Store, DS's Occupational Therapist clued me in to their great toys. So many of them are great for fine motor skill practice. I got a very small Checkers board that has little pegs.
HTH!!
But, he has liked:
Sculpey III Clay-- it is firm enough that he really has to pull to get a chunk off, but then he can roll it in his hands to make something. The selling point on this was that we could then bake the objects. We have been making dishes and miniature fruits and cookies for his playmobil castle people. We also have a lot of unidentifiable things adorning DS's dresser!
http://www.sculpey.com/
Lite Brite
Squeeze Rockets
http://www.kidsurplus.com/itemdetail.asp?item=74%20DLC%2020555#0022;srccode= WEB
(may be less expensive at amazon if you use the free super saver shipping).
Perler Beads
I got a bag of Big Beads (ages 3-5) which were very manageable for DS. Big Beads and Maxi Beads are the same size, just different companies. I also got the Big Bead clear board (the solid white one was cheaper, but you can lay the clear board over patterns) (http://www.koolstuff4kids.com/8281.htmland) and the Maxi Beads Inspiration Book (http://www.koolstuff4kids.com/399-09.html). It basically gives you a bunch of patterns of objects (elephants, faces, flowers...) that you can make. DS made a clown, but then he was happy making his own designs. I also found out that you can use parchment paper instead of buying more ironing paper. They sell the smaller perler beads in craft stores like Michaels.
Chinese Checkers Board Ours has colored pegs and DS moves them around to make patterns. I think that I got ours at Toys R Us.
Wind up toys
If you have a World Market Store, DS's Occupational Therapist clued me in to their great toys. So many of them are great for fine motor skill practice. I got a very small Checkers board that has little pegs.
HTH!!