Fidget Tools and Fine Motor Support
A fidget toy not only supports self-regulation, it supports fine motor development!
Sensory Benefits of a Fidget Tool:
- Supports self-regulation
- Improves attention to task
- Supports thinking and reasoning skills
- Provides proprioceptive input to the hands which is organizing and soothing to the nervous system
- Can help avoid fight or flight or sensory overload
- Helps a child from sensory seeking via others (such as pinching, squeezing, hitting)
Fine Motor Benefits of a Fidget Tool and/or Pencil Grip:
- Improves grip and pinch strength
- Supports and develops thumb opposition and development of the thenar eminence
- Develops finger isolation
- Develops the intrinsic muscles of the hands which are necessary for handwriting skills
- A weighted pencil grip improves the proprioceptive feedback for the hand and arm to gauge the amount of pressure with the writing instrument
- Built up pencil grips help develop the tripod grasp and decrease substitution patterns for the hands
- Supports overall development of prehension patterns
- Provides proprioceptive input to the hands which increases body awareness of the muscles and joints of the hand
Choosing the Right Fidget Tool
Every child has specific sensory likes and dislikes, and a fidget tool needs to cater to these unique sensory preferences. The very best way to choose a fidget is to have the child try them out...when that is not possible, then be sure to ask yourself these questions...
Does the child crave a certain texture?
Is the child fearful of certain textures?
How much strength does the child have to manipulate the fidget?
Does the child crave and need something to squeeze?
Does the child enjoy the visual component?
Is the child an oral seeker? Are they going to likely chew and bite it? *Be careful on this one due to possible choking hazards and also quick destruction of the fidget.
Does the fidget make noise? *This is an important factor if you plan to send it to school with the child, you do not want a distracting fidget.
Does the child like to pull or pinch or squeeze?
Does the child crave vibration?
Does the child crave a certain texture?
Is the child fearful of certain textures?
How much strength does the child have to manipulate the fidget?
Does the child crave and need something to squeeze?
Does the child enjoy the visual component?
Is the child an oral seeker? Are they going to likely chew and bite it? *Be careful on this one due to possible choking hazards and also quick destruction of the fidget.
Does the fidget make noise? *This is an important factor if you plan to send it to school with the child, you do not want a distracting fidget.
Does the child like to pull or pinch or squeeze?
Does the child crave vibration?
