Summer Fun by Abby McKenzie, MOT, OTR/L

Gross Motor/Core Strengthening Activities:

A strong core and foundation is needed to help fine motor and visual motor skills develop.

• Crab Walk Soccer
• Wheelbarrow Races
• Hungry HungryHippos on Scooter Boards
• Swinging
• Trampoline
• Jumping Jacks
• Hopscotch

Fine Motor Activities/Bilateral Coordination:

It’s always great to incorporate activities that encourage crossing midline, using two hands, palm to finger translation, manual dexterity, grip strength, pincer skills, etc.

• Piggy Banks – Start with picking up and putting in one coin at a time. As your child becomes more skilled with this, have them pick up multiple coins at once, storing them in their palm and sliding them to their fingers one at a time to place them in the piggy bank. DIY Piggy Bank

• Play-Doh – Use two hands to roll into “snakes” or “meatballs” to develop the small muscles of the hand and encourage bilateral hand use!

• Tongs – Use tongs to drop soft fuzzy pom-poms down paper towel rolls or match them by color in muffin tins. Fill a tub of water with magnetic letters, shapes, etc., have your child “fish” for them using tongs! Pinterest Tong Ideas

• Washing Windows – You will be surprised how much kids actually enjoy this activity! Spray bottles are a great way to incorporate fine motor strengthening. Washing windows is a great way to strengthen a child’s shoulder joint. Encourage them to reach up high and use both hands on the towel at one time. Similar Activities

• Peeling stickers, using clothespins, hand clapping games, Cats Cradle, icing cookies, origami, Etch-A-Sketch, squeeze fruits (fresh juice or when helping in the kitchen), wring out rags, stir batter in a bowl, use a hole punch, etc. – All of these activities target fine motor skills and/or bilateral hand use. Pinterest Fine Motor Ideas

Visual Motor Activities:

Using the visual and motor system together.

• Mazes , Dot To Dots ,  Cutting
• Lego’s
• Bingo
• Pinterest Visual Motor Activities

If you have any questions about how to modify these suggestions for your child, contact an occupational therapist at Kid Power Therapy Services, Inc. kptherapyservices@gmail.com