My 6 year old needs to strengthen his fingers. He is having a hard time writing. He hates to draw and color?

Question

He is just a typical buy that would rather just run around. Any thing that you guys can think of

Answer 1

Typing!  Does he like to play computer games?  It may not be quite as fun as something on the Playstation but some kid's typing games are pretty enjoyable.  It would strengthen his fingers in a fun way and he'd start learning to type!  

Here's a website that is specifically geared toward finger exercise: http://www.nimblefingers.com/a_exer.htm

Here's another one:  http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/typing...

Good luck!

Answer 2

Try making it fun for him.  Have him draw lines on a piece of paper and then practice cutting on the line with the kiddie scissors.  Believe it or not but this will help his handwriting.

Answer 3

Clay is the best thing for hand strengthening.  It is a little tougher to mold than just regular Play Dough.  You can get real clay at many craft stores, but if you have the time, a pottery class would probably be fun for him and he wouldn't even know he were working.  They do a lot of kids pottery classes and the children get to use a wheel and glaze their creations.   I'd Google pottery classes in your area and see what comes up, or contact your local high school art department.  They can usually refer you to someone.

Answer 4

Get him one of those rubber balls used for exercising your hands and have him sqeeze it while watching TV.

Answer 5

I know all about typical boys.  I have had five.  

Here are some ideas for strengthening his grip:

1)Have him practice pinching a clothes pin to strenthen his picher grip.

2)Give him a hand excerciser for his whole fist.

3)Give him plastic clay.  That kind will not dry out and is stickier and harder to manipulate than regular play dough.  Older kids tend to think it is more fun than the playdough anyway.

4)Let him cut up a pair of old blue jeans with your sewing scissors.  You can use the squares for patches or use them to stuff a cushion for your dog or cat.

5)Let him cut out cupons of products he would like you to buy or just give him the whole job if you are big on cupon clipping.

6) If you have a dog or cat, you can also teach him how to trim its nails.

7) Teach him how to trim his own nails.

Lastly, ask his teacher if he can have permission to write on wipe-off surfaces with either a wet erase marker or a dry erase marker.  The marker on a slippery surface will help his writing glide more so that he does not push as hard and tire his hand as quickly.  If she has hand-outs for him, you can put the hand-outs into sheet protectors. He can write with the dry erase markers and they will not erase without a rag and some rubbing alcohol.  That way she can still grade them.  However, I preferred wet erase at that age for boys who had handwriting issues.  The wet erase can also be better if your son is a bit of a perfectionist since he can quickly and completely erase any mistakes he makes so that they will not trouble him.

Answer 6

let him play with a ball of silly putty. it is almost the same stuff they give physical therapy patients to strengthen there hands and fingers.

Answer 7

a therapeutic stress ball :D they are soft and fun to squish and it gives small kids a good workout for their hands. hope this helps.

Answer 8

http://www.cleansweepsupply.com/pages/it...

I think you need to use pencil grips. I have used these kinds of grips with the kids I watch.  They are called Pencil Grips by Moon. It helps kids to put the fingers exactly were they need to go. These can fit on crayons, markers and color pencils. Just about anything.

Please keep in mind that sometimes when they are beginning to first write it is very hard for them to use a pencil. Some children it is very difficult. I would try skinny washable markers. I wouldn't be so concerned with perfecting letters. I would sit down with him and draw lines, circles and anything he wants to. Make it fun then slowly ad letters. If you do it all at one time it will be frustrating and he may not want to try.

You can find them many places.But I highly recommend the moon ones. They fit in those small hands just right. I go mine at Kmart.

Answer 9

Clothes pins are awesome for this. let him clip them everywhere.  Writing in sand or salt or even flour.  (put it on a large four sided cookie sheet)

Picking up change from the carpet.  Quarters with the first finger and thumb and nickels with the second and thumb and so on.  just do 2 different coins at a time as not to confuse.

Moon Sand is good and clay is awesome.

Answer 10

Play dough is excellent for this and most kids enjoy playing with it.  It's soft enough he can knead/mold it, but tough enough that it'll help strengthen his fingers.

Answer 11

Totally just a question - but have you ever had his hands checked for motor skill ability?  

My friend just put her son in a new (better) school.  She thought she had the same problem as you .. that he didn't like it and his hands werent strong... but it turned out that there is an actual treatable problem about it.  The new school recognized it right away.

Just a thought.

Answer 12

my 5 yr. old daughter was having problems cutting she's very tiny and her teacher suggested getting like a stress ball and when she's just sittin around have them squeeze the ball, it will help strengthin his hand.

Answer 13

You could get him childrens typing games for the computer so he could type and strengthen his lil fingers! =)

Answer 14

you can try play dough or maybe let him learn an instrument.

Answer 15

It's hard to make a child so something if they really don't want too.. as you probably know!

all I can is leave some suggestions.. and hope they are helpful.

Finger Painting - this is very good, however if your child just likes to run around I'm not sure how well it would work! hehe!

But anything that involves a child picking up small items and using their fingers will help with strength.

for example playing with small cars and trains - guiding them around a track.

Singing finger rhymes like 'tommy thumb' '2 little dicky birds' - It may be easy to sing these at bedtime.

also touching the thumb with each finger on the same hand is a very good one and does work. Maybe a sweet at the end of the activity will help ;)

Also, playing 'peanuts' will help, getting him to squeeze your hand.

I'm sure if you search online though you may find some other ideas.

Good Luck!