But today we needed something to do indoors and out of the heat. So I busted out the glitter paint pens. Those are fine ... fine motor skill practice, that is!
It was time to get back in gear with motor skill activities anyway. I have grown increasingly worried over Noah's grasp. He still holds pencils/crayons like he's 2 yrs old - he uses all five fingers, basically guiding the pencil with his thumb and pinky first. I'm concerned that he will have a hard time re-learning the right way to hold a pencil when school starts next month. So it's back to the book of Mighty Fine Motor Fun for awhile, specifically activities relating to grasp. And today, Noah took right to the correct "tripod grasp" and I couldn't have been more excited about it! Since this activity develops hand strength, it makes sense that with all the squeezing of the paint Noah quickly realized how much stronger his thumb and index and middle fingers were. Once I showed him again the right way to hold the glitter pens, he didn't automatically revert back to his caveman grasp like he does with pencils and crayons. I hooted and hollered and praised him like a crazy woman. Look at the tripod grasp in action!
What's really neat this time around is how Anna is capable enough to participate in these activities, too. I keep forgetting she is NOT a baby anymore! Anyway, by the time this art session was over, Anna had sacrificed one shirt to the cause (soaking in Spray 'n Wash right now, thankyouverymuch) and went to nap all glittery and naked. I COULD NOT get the stuff to come off her arms, fingers, face, belly, hands, etc. We both giggled and called her a glitter fairy. We'll let Daddy take care of that mess at bath time ...
...because, for the record, I do still hate glitter.
4 comments:
I would NEVER have brought glitter into my house....you are a brave mother.
Glitter is from the devil!
However, glad it's helping Noah to build some finger strength there.
For a mom who hates glitter, you tolerate it well. :)
And the teacher in me can't help but be excited for your Noah and his improving tripod grasp!
Oy - he goes right back to his monkey grasp when he holds a pencil still. I shape his fingers how they should go and as soon as he starts to write, WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT, he flips back to the monkey hold. So frustrating. I am hoping kindergarten teachers have some tricks up their sleeves for correcting incorrect grasp. In the meantime, I'll keep trying finger strengthening and grasp activities at home. Tomorrow is a project using pipettes...
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