- Incorporate hand and finger strengthening exercises into everyday activities
- Use a variety of containers to build up finger muscle strength
In the first few years since his ASD diagnosis, my son struggled with weak hand grip and poor finger strength. So his OT taught us ways to incorporate hand and finger strengthening exercises into our everyday routine and play.
Here’s what we did.
Put everyday items in containers
Simply, put your child’s everyday items and toys in various containers. Here are some examples of what we did in our house:
TV remote — zipper case
Lego bricks — tupperware (with various types of lid)
iPad pen — button-up bear
picture cards — wooden latches board
Use kitchen jars and takeaway boxes
I kept back any container I could and tried to put something in them. The more varied the container, the better.
I also tie the top of the bag of my son’s morning cereal with a rubber band, so that at breakfast my son could practise taking it off. I started with the band tied very loose, and gradually tightened it over months and years.
Motivation is key
As with the Lego building or responding to questions, my son is naturally more motivated when effort leads to getting something he wants.
So I used everyday items so that he could practise multiple times a day, and made sure that the containers weren’t so hard to open that he got too frustrated and walked away.
Each time, I put my hands over his and guided his fingers to show him how to do it. We built up gradually over months and years, to a point where my son could open the containers independently.
The idea is to make tiny progress each time, without disrupting the flow of the day or causing too much stress for you or your child.
Summary
Use containers with pull-open lids, screw tops, zippers, buttons, locks.
Put in everyday items so that the exercises seem natural and practical.
Autism Hacks 