Try: Give the cr a piece of clothing with a lot of buttons or snaps like a shirt ask the cr to button snap it several times each day this might also be a fun activity to do with grand kids to teach them how to button or snap clothing

Materials: Clothes that require buttoning snapping

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from activities to promote hand development for pencil use and other tasks by jennifer dodge

Keywords: Weak hands and fingers hand grip grip strength

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: The cr should get plenty of outdoor exercise walking on different surfaces like gravel sand grass and pavement can help build strength and balance climbing on playground equipment with the grand kids is great for developing large motor skills the cr can also try running and jumping playing hopscotch with the grandkids or caregiver (cg) teaches control and coordination as do the use of swings and merry-go-round toys

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from how to improve large motor skills melinda l secor 2009 available at

Keywords: Poor balance weak muscles exercise lifting posture reaching

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr enroll in dance lessons dancing can be a great way to improve gross motor skills dance lessons can provide exercise for all of the large muscles dancing is also helpful in improving muscle control and coordination

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from how to improve large motor skills by melinda l secor 2009 available at

Keywords: Poor balance weak muscles exercise lifting posture reaching

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr go swimming and do other water activities these activities are good for the development of gross motor skills it provides exercise of the large muscles the additional resistance of water builds muscle strength and improves balance

Materials: Swimsuit

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from how to improve large motor skills by melinda l secor 2009 available at

Keywords: Poor balance weak muscles exercise lifting posture reaching

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr go bike riding with the grand kids or the caregiver (cg) riding a bicycle is great for the development and exercise of those large muscles as well as for balance and coordination

Materials: Bicycle helmet

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: Adapted from how to improve large motor skills by melinda l secor 2009 available at

References: Adapted from how to improve large motor skills by melinda l secor 2009 available at

Keywords: Adapted from how to improve large motor skills by melinda l secor 2009 available at

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr make some bread dough and knead it thoroughly each day keep the dough in the refrigerator suggest that the cr make some pie crust and roll it out with a rolling pin several times each day keep the pie crust dough in the refrigerator

Materials: Bread making supplies or pie crust making supplies rolling pin

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from activities to promote hand development for pencil use and other tasks by jennifer dodge

Keywords: Weak hands and fingers hand grip grip strength

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr make crafts that require using a glue bottle puffy paint fabric paint glitter glue in squeeze bottles so he gets some hand exercise

Materials: Glue bottles puffy paint fabric paint glitter glue in squeeze bottles

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from activities to promote hand development for pencil use and other tasks by jennifer dodge

Keywords: Weak hands and fingers hand grip grip strength

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr squeeze a clothespin or tongs several times each day this will help build strength in the hands and make it easier for the cr to hold onto things

Materials: Clothespins or large tongs

Categories: Medical Physical, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from the internet website www school-ot com actvities to promote hand development for pencil use and other tasks by jennifer dodge no date

Keywords: Weak hands and fingers hand grip grip strength

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr squeeze a squirt gun or spray bottle several times each day this might also be a fun exercise to do with you grandkids and others just add water

Materials: Large squirt gun or spray bottle

Categories: Medical Physical, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from the internet website www school-ot com development for pencil use and other tasks by jennifer dodge no date

Keywords: Weak hands and fingers hand grip grip strength

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Suggest that the cr close a ziplok bag several times each day make sure the cr keeps his thumbtip and fingertip together as he closes the bag rather than using a key grip lateral pinch

Materials: Ziplok bag

Categories: Sage, Topic, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from activities to promote hand development for pencil use and other tasks by jennifer dodge

Keywords: Weak hands and fingers hand grip grip strength

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed