Health & Fitness
Pima County Public Library Share Stretching Those Finger Muscles
When children are given a chance to explore scribbling, draw pictures, and tell stories, they are learning reading skills.
February 11, 2021
Finger and hand dexterity are essential to writing! This means that your little one needs to work on building those hand muscles. There are many ways to strengthen these muscles with everyday activities. No need for tiny dumbbells for finger exercise!
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Baby
- Encourage your baby to grab objects of interest. Plush toys are great for squeezing and shaking.
- Point at interesting objects and try to get your baby to mirror your behavior. Pointing is an important dexterous activity.
- Provide opportunities for weight bearing on hands. Place a pillow under baby during tummy time so they need to push themselves up with their hands.
- Hand games like ‘Open, Shut Them’ and waving bye bye will build finger and wrist strength.
Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands
Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands
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Board Book, 2018Available View detailsView details for Ten Little Fingers, Two Small Hands, Board Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Ten Little Fingers, Two Small HandsBoard Book by Dempsey, Kristy to your for later shelfAdd Ten Little Fingers, Two Small HandsBoard Book by Dempsey, Kristy to a different shelf
Clap Hands Clap Hands
Oxenbury, HelenOxenbury, Helen
Board Book, 1999Available View detailsView details for Clap Hands, Board Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Clap HandsBoard Book by Oxenbury, Helen to your for later shelfAdd Clap HandsBoard Book by Oxenbury, Helen to a different shelf
Little Baby's Playtime Little Baby's Playtime
Board Book, 2020Available View detailsView details for Little Baby's Playtime, Board Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Little Baby's PlaytimeBoard Book by Symes, Sally to your for later shelfAdd Little Baby's PlaytimeBoard Book by Symes, Sally to a different shelf
Toddler
- While reading a book together, pass the page to your toddler to turn the page.
- Play in a sandbox.
- Take two bowls (alternatives will work, such as old microwave meal trays or pie tins). Add water to one bowl and a small sponge (you can cut a sponge into small pieces as well). Let your toddler transfer water from the one bowl to the other by squeezing the sponge.
- Draw and color with crayons or finger painting is a great way to be creative and build hand muscles.
- Let your toddler help with chores around the house and in the garden (supervised, of course). Children can help pull weeds or water plants in the garden. Inside, they can help with dusting, picking up toys, putting away laundry, or any other safe activity.
- Play with zippers, snaps, and laces. If you have an old bag with a zipper, you can pretend you are getting groceries or packing for a trip.
A Little Bit of Dirt A Little Bit of Dirt
55+ Science and Art Activities to Reconnect Children With NatureCitro, AsiaCitro, Asia
Book, 2015Available View detailsView details for A Little Bit of Dirt, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd A Little Bit of DirtBook by Citro, Asia to your for later shelfAdd A Little Bit of DirtBook by Citro, Asia to a different shelf
I Love to Finger Paint I Love to Finger Paint
Lipsey, JenniferLipsey, Jennifer
Book, 2006Available View detailsView details for I Love to Finger Paint, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd I Love to Finger PaintBook by Lipsey, Jennifer to your for later shelfAdd I Love to Finger PaintBook by Lipsey, Jennifer to a different shelf
ChopChop ChopChop
the Kids' Guide to Cooking Real Food With Your FamilySampson, Sally, 1955-Sampson, Sally, 1955-
Book, 2013Available View detailsView details for ChopChop, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd ChopChopBook by Sampson, Sally to your for later shelfAdd ChopChopBook by Sampson, Sally to a different shelf
Preschooler
- Play catch with any soft toys at hand. This could be a stuffed animal, bean bag, or even a pillow.
- Thread beads onto a string. Making patterns with colors and shapes will also engage your child’s analytical thinking.
- An edible version of this activity is to use circular cereal (example: Fruit Loops, Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple Jacks, etc.) and licorice laces to make an edible necklace or bracelet. Yum!
- Cook together in the kitchen. Make sandwiches or have your preschooler use a cookie cutter. Have fun together!
- Make salt dough or use store bought dough to sculpt.
- Use child-safe scissors and a glue stick to make a collage.
The Complete Diy Cookbook for Young Chefs
The Complete Diy Cookbook for Young Chefs The Complete Diy Cookbook for Young Chefs
100+ Simple Recipes for Making Absolutely Everything From Scratch
Book, 2020All copies in useView detailsView details for The Complete Diy Cookbook for Young Chefs, Book, All copies in useHolds: 0 on 12 copiesPlace holdFor LaterAdd The Complete Diy Cookbook for Young ChefsBook to your for later shelfAdd The Complete Diy Cookbook for Young ChefsBook to a different shelf
The Nitty-gritty Gardening Book
The Nitty-gritty Gardening Book The Nitty-gritty Gardening Book
Fun Projects for All SeasonsCornell, Kari A.Cornell, Kari A.
Book, 2015Available View detailsView details for The Nitty-gritty Gardening Book, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd The Nitty-gritty Gardening BookBook by Cornell, Kari A. to your for later shelfAdd The Nitty-gritty Gardening BookBook by Cornell, Kari A. to a different shelf
Clay Lab for Kids Clay Lab for Kids
52 Projects to Make, Model, and Mold With Air-dry, Polymer, and Homemade ClayStephens, CassieStephens, Cassie
Book, 2017Available View detailsView details for Clay Lab for Kids, Book, Available Place holdFor LaterAdd Clay Lab for KidsBook by Stephens, Cassie to your for later shelfAdd Clay Lab for KidsBook by Stephens, Cassie to a different shelf
- Megan Hellwig, Children’s Services Team, Kirk-Bear Canyon Library
Sources:
- Hand and Finger Skills of Your Preschooler
- Developing Dexterity
- Your child’s development of finger dexterity
Read, Write, Talk, Sing, Play!
When children are given a chance to explore scribbling, draw pictures, and tell stories, they are learning reading skills. Being an active participant in writing helps keep children excited about reading stories.
Read more about early literacy and how you can make a difference in your child's life.
This press release was produced by the Pima County Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.