In Hand Manipulation: Defined-Activities: 20% off Special

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What Are In Hand Manipulation Skills?

What are they and why are they important?  

In-Hand Manipulation is the ability to adjust and position objects around in your hand, without assistance from the other hand.

 5 Basic components to in-hand manipulation skills are: 

1. Finger to Palm Translation: picking up an item with your fingers then moving it to your palm.  For example, pick up one coin at a time and hold in your palm. 

2. Palm to Finger Translation: moving an object from the palm of your hand to your fingertips. For example, now take each coin one at a time, moving it to your fingertips to place in a soda machine. 

3. Shift: Refers to linear movement of an object on the finger surface to allow repositioning of the object on the pads of the fingers. For example, picking up an eraser and moving it to hold in your fingertips to erase. 

4. Simple Rotation: Refers to the turning or rolling of an object with finger pads no more than approximately 90 degrees.  For example, taking your pencil in one hand and turning it to erase an error on the paper. 

5. Complex Rotation: Refers to the turning or rolling of an object with finger pads between180-360 degrees.  For example, turning a wind up toy

In Hand Manipulation Activities

How many different objects can you use to work on in hand manipulation?

* Pegs, small popbeads, stringing beads, mini erasers, math counters, small pieces of paper, string, M&M's!  The list can go on and on.  You can practice translating almost any small object from your fingertips to palms and back to fingertips. 

* Write the alphabet on bingo chips and have your students pick up letters, then place one at a time down, spelling a word. 

* Practice placing different coins in a bank now ask your child to hand you a certain denomination to be placed in a bank or can with a slit on top cover, hold a few pegs in your palm while making a pattern in pegboard, or beads while stringing.

* Combine manipulation skills with sterognosis.  Place 5 buttons in your palm, then match them to another one on the table without looking. 

* Hold small beads in your palm, now one at a time place them in therapy putty or make a pattern.

* Write numbers on the barrel of a pencil, starting at one, how fast can you shift your fingers to the last number?

Thumbs Up

Race to stack colored rings on your thumb in the correct order! Try using only one hand for a real manipulation challenge!

Pick up rings one at a time and place all rings in your palm, then pick a pattern.  Now identify what order the rings need to be in (cards can be visually confusing).  Then quickly move the rings onto your thumb using only one hand and translation skills.  

In Hand Manipulation Kit

"Therapist designed box of finger fun! Includes tasks to work on small muscle control of the fingers. Start by manipulating three small balls around the palm. Next use the unique adjustable butterfly device for placing washers. Third task places chips into hand held container and last uses the pencil-like magnet device to pick-up, retrieve and retain as many washers as possible in one hand. Unusual and motivating devices challenges the hands and encourages hard work from the finger muscles needed for writing

Did you enter the 6-16-16 Give-Away Contest Yet?

pfot gift certificate

We are giving away 6 gift certificates. 5 certificates worth $16.16 and a Grand prize certificate for $61.16. How do you enter? Take our 2 question - 1 minute survey and you'll be in it to win it!  (entries must be recieved by sunday at midnite. Winners will be posted.) 

So got a minute? Click here to start!