As parents, we often celebrate our children’s creativity when they reach for markers, crayons, or paintbrushes. But sometimes, a child’s tool preference can reveal more than we realize. I recently noticed my son preferred using markers over crayons. At first, I thought nothing of it, but I soon realized he struggled to press the crayons down and couldn’t make visible markings. It became clear that he was facing difficulties with his fine motor skills, particularly hand strength and coordination.
Why Dexterity Matters
Dexterity refers to the skill and ease with which a person uses their hands and fingers. It’s vital for activities like feeding, writing, and dressing. Children need strong fine motor skills to perform daily tasks independently, and struggling with hand control can sometimes lead them to prefer easier-to-use tools, like markers.
How Occupational Therapy Helps
Occupational therapy (OT) plays a key role in helping children develop these skills. An OT can assess a child’s motor abilities and work with them to improve hand strength, grip, and coordination. Activities such as play-based exercises, hand strengthening with putty, or tasks requiring varied grips can all help improve dexterity.
Supporting Dexterity with the Right Tools
For my son, introducing stackable crayons made a huge difference. These crayons come in different shapes and sizes, encouraging him to adjust his grip and improve his hand coordination. The result? He now is more confident to try using crayons, leaving clearer, more defined marks in his drawings. Tools like these provide children with an opportunity to develop hand strength while having fun. We just knew including tools like this in our Buggy Bags could help other families.
Tips for Parents
As parents, it’s important to stay observant. If your child struggles with tasks like coloring or using utensils, they might benefit from extra support. Here are a few tips to help:
- Offer a variety of tools, like markers, crayons, and pencils, to encourage practice with different grips.
- Provide activities like playdough or building blocks to strengthen hand muscles.
- If needed, consult with an occupational therapist or your child’s school/teacher for personalized support.
Building Confidence
Since using the stackable crayons, I’ve seen a noticeable improvement in my son’s ability to use crayons with more control. His coordination and hand strength are growing, which has made a big difference in his confidence and creativity. We hope they help you too!