Developing hand and finger strength

Muscle strength of the hands and fingers increases as children grow. Everyday activities such as getting dressed, using cutlery, playing with toys or scribbling with crayons all help to develop and strengthen the muscles of the hands and fingers.

Try to encourage your child to carry out everyday tasks by themselves and only assist if necessary.

Activities to develop grip strength

Grip strength refers to whole hand strength. The following are ideas to help improve grip strength

• Play tug of war
• Play in a sand pit (digging using spades and rakes)
• Squeeze out sponges, play with water toys that require squeezing
• Ride a bike or scooter
• Tennis or other bat and ball games
• Stand opposite your child and place the palms of your hands against your child’s hands. Try pushing each other over
• Carry toolboxes, buckets of water
• Use a spray bottle to water plants
• Get dressed and undressed by yourself
• Cooking or baking activities
• Use your knife and fort at mealtimes
• Playdough or exercise putty
• Pop beads, Lego, Knex, construction toys
• Scrunch up newspaper then throw into a basket or at a target
• Craft activities

Activities to develop pinch strength

Pinch strength involves the thumb, index finger (and the middle finger if required). The following are ideas to help build up pinch strength which will help a child with other tasks such as writing.

• Do up buttons on clothing
• Do up zips on pencil cases, bags or clothes
• Squeeze toothpaste onto toothbrush
• Peel fruit (orange, satsuma)
• Open drinks bottles and lunch boxes
• Open yoghurts, crisp packets
• Use dropper to transfer water

Aim to complete an activity or activities for about 10 minutes each day. If your child finds one activity easy move on and try another.