Did you know basket weaving used to be a mandatory course for Occupational Therapists? It made sense because our job as occupational therapists is to help people master the jobs of daily living and for that you need strong and agile hands. In recent years the OT degree has moved more and more to an emphasis on science and research. I sometimes think we need to go back to our roots.
Parents often ask how they can motivate their children to “work” on printing and fine motor skills. Many struggle to find the time for one on one printing sessions and find their child loses interest quickly. What I hope to help parents appreciate is how arts and crafts provide great opportunities to build hand strength and dexterity and better yet, foster independence and creativity in children.
Our reliance on television and computer games for entertainment has unfortunately meant a shortage of crayons and crafts at home. Children benefit greatly from creative expression and remember art is an activity where there is no right or wrong. Craft time is cross generational and something everyone in the family can do for fun together.
I encourage parents to look back at their childhood and remember some of the crafts that kept them engaged when there was no TV. and computers in the home or at the cottage.
- Baking
- Macramé
- Light Brite
- Beading
- Journaling
- Puzzles
- Rug hooking
- Lego
- Finger painting
- Knitting
- Paint by numbers
This month why not consider doing some “Handiwork” instead of “Homework”. When is the last time you sat at a table with your child to colour? When did you last bake cookies together? When is the last time your child made a card for grandma or grandpa?
In ECS and early grades arts and crafts are more prevalent. Re-introduce crafts to children in higher grades and they may develop a hobby that they can excel in and have as a life long leisure pursuit.
If you want your child to improve his printing skills – turn off the TV. and start up a craft cupboard. Consider art classes on a Saturday morning. Even a once weekly craft night can help children improve their printing skills. Turn on some background music and enjoy watching your child work away to create his or her masterpiece. Join in and you may relish finding your inner child!
For more ideas about crafts that address your child’s fine motor needs, email gina@prepprog.org.
By Gina Gagnon, OT, The PREP Program
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