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Occupational Therapy

Proximal Stability Equals Distal Mobility

In order to have adequate fine motor control, children need to have adequate stability (strength and control) in their trunk and shoulders. This is known as Proximal Stability, which is developed through weight bearing activities such as crawling, being on hands and knees, or animal walks and movements against gravity/resistance. Proximal stability, core strength, and gross motor skills are necessary for high level fine motor skill development. Remember that play is the best way to strengthen these skills!

 

Activities to facilitate Proximal Stability and Control:

1. Animal walks: have the child pretend they are a crab, bear, elephant, rabbit, etc. They can do this while completing an obstacle course or playing a game.

2. Scooter board activities: have the child lie on their stomach on the scooter board and complete different tasks. Here's a link for some ideas (http://therapyfunzone.net/blog/10-activities-to-do-on-a-scooter-board).

3. Pushing toys such as shopping carts or baby carriages; add heavier toys for resistance (ex: bean bags, books).

4. Positioning: have child lay on their stomach and lean on elbows while playing, reading, or completing a task.

5. Drawing/erasing on a chalk board. You can also use squirt bottles to spray the board to work on hand strengthening as well.

6. Wheelbarrow walks.

7. Building with large blocks - adding beans to the inside of blocks to increase the weight.

8. Play while seated or on stomach over exercise ball - always supervise for safety.

9. Superman - have the child lay on their stomach and reach out arms and legs to lift them off the ground like they are flying.

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