https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 14:12:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678516 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 00:21:41 +0000 PinkElephant 2678516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JGMom: thanks! That sounds like a fun exercise, and it's easy to do a little bit at once - I think she will feel more successful than trying to cut something large.</p> <p>@MrsSRS: I never would have thought of it, but that totally makes sense. She actually loves hanging/climbing, and oddly given the fine motor weakness, she's really good at the hanging/ swinging part (super upper body strength). We will have to give her more opportunities for that physical play. Thanks!</p> <p>@Cole: more good ideas, and all very doable. Thank you. We've just started having the easel in the playroom on a regular basis (DD1 and DD2 can finally be trusted not to color on each other's faces with markers after a long stint of running their own toddler tattoo parlor and subsequently being banned from marker use, haha) - I'll get out the stubby crayons and let her go to town. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678379 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 20:15:09 +0000 MrsSRS 2678379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: oh Legos are a great idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678367 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 20:06:51 +0000 Cole 2678367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>See if you can find puzzles with knobs, those are awesome for building have strength. Also chalk or pencils made to be very tiny so she's forced to use a tripod grip- plus tiny pencils are fun! Regular Legos are another great hand strengthener. Drawing on easels is good too. </p> <p>Check mamaot.com for other ideas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678345 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 19:19:20 +0000 MrsSRS 2678345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Believe it or not, the absolute best way to develop those muscles is monkey bars and climbing.<br /> But a regular balloon filled with a quarter cup of sand is probably more what you're thinking of. Fun to play with, but you won't see a fast change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678336 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 18:59:44 +0000 JGMom 2678336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant</p> <p>In a Montessori primary classroom, the children are given thin strips of paper to practice using scissors. They cut the strip into small squares -- like making confetti. My daughter loved doing it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678316 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 18:22:03 +0000 Bao 2678316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: DH snagged them from work, they must have set them out for the employees or something, but it really is just a balloon with flour...and it has a smiley face on it with yarn hair lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678315 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 18:20:31 +0000 PinkElephant 2678315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bao: Yup, that's exactly along the lines of what I was thinking - did you make yours, or buy it? I think I'd prefer to buy in hopes that it'd be less likely to tear and cover my area rugs in flour :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678306 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 18:06:28 +0000 Bao 2678306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: what about something simple like a balloon filled with sand or flour? We have a flour one and the girls love them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ot-toys-for-fine-motor-strength#post-2678299 Wed, 11 Jan 2017 17:57:50 +0000 PinkElephant 2678299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone have suggestions of some sort of squishy ball/fidget toy that might appeal to a 4.5 year old who is having difficulty with pencil grip &amp; cutting with scissors? I know there are exercises she can do with playdoh, but I'm hoping to also find some kind of squishy ball/toy that she can also just mess with when she's being read to/watching a TV show as well (to build strength in her hand).</p> <p>Her teacher gave me a pair of wooden trainer chopsticks to help with the pencil grip, but pointed out that DD is really struggling with the strength she needs to manipulate a pair of scissors. The teacher told me just to have DD1 practice at home, but honestly, after trying that, I can see she's lacking the strength she needs for practice sessions to be successful. </p>