Pre-writing skills are so foundational for your little one. My mother in law is has been an early years professional for over 20 years and led Key Stage 1 for many years. As a result I've seen not just from her experiences at school, but also with her grand children and tutoring how important these skills are for children to develop.
One of the most shocking things to me is that through our daily activities with children and more screen time and screen play, as opposed to hands on games children's hands aren't developing which is putting them behind with writing. This is because their hands simply aren't strong enough. Shocking right?
I've created the Hand Gym Challenge to help your little one build their hand strength and prepare them for writing. That's why we call them "Pre Writing Skills". It's not just the hand gym challenge that will help your little one on this journey, but any of our games with this icon - our Pre-Writing Skills Icon - next to it is going to help them build those vital skills.
Here we have one of our all time favourites. The Playdoh game. Not only because it seems like every child absolutely loves Playdoh but because it has so many benefits to your little one. This is where the Hand Gym Challenge really comes in to it's own. Through a variety of movements that get your little ones hands moving in all sorts of ways and applying pressure through these movements. Your little ones hands will be getting all the exercise they need.
We have included in our Playdoh Game a number of cutters, a pot of travel sized Playdoh and a menu style card with all the moves your little one needs for the Hand Gym Challenge.
The science behind Playdoh and Hand Strengthening:
Rolling Play-Doh is a fantastic activity for developing children's fine motor skills in a fun and engaging way. Here are some of the key benefits:
Strengthens hand muscles:
Gripping and squeezing: Rolling the Play-Doh requires children to use their hand muscles to grasp and apply pressure. This strengthens the muscles in their fingers, palms, and wrists.
Pinching and twisting: Activities like creating shapes or adding decorative details involve smaller movements like pinching and twisting the Play-Doh, further strengthening and refining fine motor skills.
Improves hand-eye coordination:
Tracking movement: Rolling the Play-Doh requires children to visually track the movement of their hands and the dough as it rolls. This coordination between visual perception and motor skills is crucial for many everyday tasks.
Controlling pressure: Applying the right amount of pressure while rolling is essential to prevent the Play-Doh from breaking or becoming misshapen. This teaches children to control their hand movements with precision.
Develops dexterity and manipulation skills:
Small movements: Activities like rolling thin ropes or creating intricate designs require precise finger movements and manipulation skills. Play-Doh allows children to practice these skills in a playful and forgiving environment.
Tool use: Introducing tools like rolling pins, cookie cutters, or sculpting tools adds another layer of complexity, further challenging and refining children's fine motor skills.
Additional benefits:
Sensory stimulation: The texture of Play-Doh provides tactile stimulation, which can be calming and therapeutic for children.
Creative expression: Rolling Play-Doh allows children to express their creativity and imagination, fostering problem-solving skills and spatial reasoning.
Fun and engaging: The fun and engaging nature of playing with Play-Doh makes it a more enjoyable way for children to develop their fine motor skills compared to traditional exercises.
Overall, rolling Play-Doh is a simple yet effective way to promote children's fine motor skills development. It's a fun and accessible activity that offers numerous benefits for their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being.
Tips to maximise the benefits of playing with Play-Doh:
Incorporate different colors and textures: This adds variety and sensory stimulation to the activity.
Encourage exploration and experimentation: Let children roll the Play-Doh in different ways, create different shapes, and use various tools.
Make it social: Play with your child or encourage them to play with siblings or friends, fostering communication and collaboration.
Keep it fun and positive: Avoid putting pressure on your child or comparing their skills to others. Focus on the enjoyment and learning experience.
By incorporating rolling Play-Doh into your child's play routine, you can help them develop essential fine motor skills in a fun and engaging way, setting them up for success in other areas of their development.
I hope you've found the above helpful and if you have any questions or want some advice or tips just reach out to us through our socials or on our contact us page.
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