IT'S AROUND THE CORNER

Here it comes....
Yes, August and returning to school is just around the corner.  Here are some ideas to get started for today.

Fine motor practice
 Developing the correct pincer grasp is important for a lifetime of stable pencil grasp.  I cringe when I see a sales person with the thumbwrap over the index finger grasp.

Yes, they adapt but the strain they will experience.  Practice developing specific finger strength by doing: 

Finger plays

"Where is thumbkin?" helps with individual finger control.

"I Have Ten Little Fingers"
I have 10 little fingers    (hold both hands spread and wiggling fingers)
And they all belong to me.  (touch fingers to chest like saying "Mine")
I can make them do things
Would you like to see?
I can make them jump high   (wiggle them above your head, make your voice higher pitch)
I can make them go low   (wiggle them below knees, make voice lower pitch)
I can fold them so quietly  (fold hands together)
And hold them just so.   (sit crisscross with hands in lap)

Counting with fingers one at a time.  It is a big deal to me.  The children have many variations.
1 show with the dominant pointer finger.  (never just thumb)  
*and thumb holds other fingers down.

 
2 is bunny ears using index with tall finger *and thumb holds other fingers down.  NOT index and thumb.

3 is index, tall with ring finger *and thumb holds pinkie  down.

4 is all fingers up while thumb is still crossing palm

5 all fingers

6 all dominant fingers and pointer on non-dominant hand
7 all dominant fingers and bunny ears on non-dominant hand
8 all dominant fingers and index, tall and ring finger on non-dominant
9 all dominant fingers and fingers on non-dominant with thumb crossing palm
10  all fingers on both hands.
Make up a quick game, Put both hands behind your back or in your lap.   Teacher says: "Show me....2....4....8" This sounds easy but is more difficult at the beginning of the year.  Practice quantity 0-5 so they can do it quickly without needing to count fingers.  Advance to include 0-10 randomly.
Roll a number cube or die for number selection and connecting numeral and quantity.

Tongs and ice cube trays

Demonstrate how to hold the tongs with the first two fingers on top of tongs and thumb under tongs.  The students must use the tongs to pickup the porcupine balls from the tub and put them in and out of the ice cube trays.  They are NOT to touch the porcupine balls with their hands.  They may select specific colors or make a pattern.  The kids love this!

Pegboards and pegs

This used to be a staple activity in kindergarten classrooms.  Bring it out again.  There are so many variations of boards and pegs.  I have straight wooden pegs.  Make sure they are picking up and holding the pegs with their fingertips (index and tall fingertips and thumb) not their thumb against the side of their index finger.  The children can match the pegs along a drawn shape or makeup their own design.  At first, they just love to fill the board with pegs in every hole.

Toothpicks and Pickup Sticks 

Use thumb and pointer to pinch when picking up.  Allow time (days) to free exploring. 

Then teach them how to play pickup sticks.  Hold all sticks (or begin with 10 sticks) over play area and let them drop all at once.  Take turns picking up one at a time, WITHOUT moving the other sticks.  If another stick is moved, the next person gets a turn.  

FUN FRIDAY ACTIVITY

Scratch pictures with a toothpick

You can buy these premade  through Oriental Trading Company (my favorite) or make your own.  Here's how to make your own.  I take out the extra colors in boxes of 16 pack crayons such as red-orange, yellow-orange etc and use these as 'fancy colors.'  Use these extra colors to fill up a card. The children will want to stand and make their strokes from their shoulder.  Let them fill up the card using their whole body movement.

AH, yes, coloring is an excellent finger strengthening activity in itself.  

Now paint over the entire card with black paint.  

When it is dry, use a toothpick or nail cuticle stick to scratch off paint to reveal colors.  You DO NOT need to SCRATCH all the black paint off,  write a name or make a shape or squiggles.   

So have a little fun and wiggle those fingers.  Pretend you are playing the piano or trumpet.  Pretend your fingers have magic sprinkles and sprinkle some magic!  

Please leave a comment so I know what you like or don't like.  If we can take away at least one new idea or try something old in a new way, we are making a difference together.