Therapy Putty Exercises to Support Fine Motor Skills

Does your child struggle with buttons and zips, tying their shoelaces, or holding a pencil? These everyday tasks can be challenging for children who need a bit more support with their fine motor skills. 

Fine motor skills involve the coordination of small muscles in the hands and fingers, and they are necessary for many daily activities. One effective and fun way to help improve these abilities is by using therapy putty. 

What is Therapy Putty?

Therapy putty is a specially designed, non-toxic material similar to play dough but with some key differences. Unlike regular play dough, therapy putty maintains its consistency and doesn't dry out, making it perfect for repeated use. It's also clean and doesn't leave residue on hands or surfaces. When manipulated, it provides resistance, which helps their range of motion and strengthens the small muscles in the hands and fingers. Studies have shown that regular exercises with therapy putty can significantly improve grip strength, making it a valuable tool for hand function. 

Hand Therapy Putty Exercises to Try at Home 

Therapy putty exercises can be tailored to each child's needs and abilities, making it an excellent tool for supporting various levels of fine motor skill development. Plus, many children find working with putty to be fun and engaging, which can make therapy sessions feel more like playtime!

Here are some fun and practical therapy putty exercises you can do with your child to develop their fine motor skills. Remember, always supervise your child during these exercises and adjust the difficulty based on their abilities and comfort level. 

Putty Pinch

1. Roll the putty into a ball.
   
   
2. Have your child fingertip pinch small pieces of putty using their thumb and index finger.
   
   
3. Encourage them to place the pinched pieces on a flat surface.
   
   
4. Repeat 10-15 times.

The putty can be used to improve pincer grasp, finger strength, and hand-eye coordination.

Finger Imprints

1. Flatten the putty into a pancake shape.
   
   
2. Ask your child to press each fingertip into the putty one at a time or to press their middle finger and index fingers together and use two fingers to press down.
   
   
3. Encourage them to press deeply enough to leave clear imprints.
   
   
4. Repeat with both hands.

This activity enhances individual finger strength and finger isolation.

Finger Extension 

1. Have your child roll out the putty into a cylindrical long snake shape using both hands.
   
   
2. Once they've made a snake, ask them to pinch along its length using their fingers and thumb.
   
   
3. Repeat the process, making the snake thinner each time.

This exercise develops palm strength, finger dexterity, and bilateral coordination.

Hidden Treasure Hunt

1. Place the putty on the table and hide small objects (like beads or coins) inside a ball of putty.
   
   
2. Ask your child to find and remove each object using only their thumb and index finger.
   
   
3. Count how many objects they can find in one minute.

This activity improves fine motor control, tactile discrimination, and visual-motor abilities.

Putty Scissors

1. Shape the putty into a thick snake shape.
   
   
2. Have your child hold child-safe scissors and cut the putty into small pieces.
   
   
3. Encourage them to cut the entire snake into as many pieces as possible.

This exercise enhances hand strength, bilateral coordination, and scissor coordination. You can also use the fine motor tool set to work on these skills. 

Putty Squeeze

1. Roll the putty into a ball about the size of your child's palm.
   
   
2. Place the ball of putty in your child's hand.
   
   
3. Encourage them to squeeze the putty as hard as they can for 5 seconds.
   
   
4. Relax the hand for 5 seconds.
   
   
5. Repeat this squeeze-and-relax process 10 times with each hand.

This activity builds overall hand strength and grip endurance.

Putty Stretch

1. Roll the putty into a thick, short snake shape.
   
   
2. Ask your child to hold one end of the putty snake in each hand.
   
   
3. Encourage them to pull their hands apart, stretching the putty slowly.
   
   
4. See how far they can stretch the putty before it breaks.
   
   
5. Roll the putty back into a snake and repeat 5-10 times.

This exercise improves hand strength, bilateral coordination, and motor planning.

Putty Doughnut Squeeze

1. Help your child roll the putty into a thick snake shape.
   
   
2. Connect the ends of the snake to form a doughnut or ring shape.
   
   
3. Ask your child to place the putty doughnut on a flat surface.
   
   
4. Encourage them to extend and push their fingers into the centre of the doughnut, stretching it outwards.
   
   
5. Then, have them squeeze the putty back into its original doughnut shape.
   
   
6. Repeat this process 10-15 times, alternating hands if desired.

This activity enhances finger strength, hand arch development, and fine motor control.

Putty Twist

1. Roll the putty into a thick cylinder shape, about 4-5 inches long.
   
   
2. Ask your child to hold one end of the putty cylinder in each hand.
   
   
3. Encourage them to twist the putty by rotating their wrists in opposite directions, as if wringing out a wet towel.
   
   
4. Have them twist the putty until it's tightly coiled.
   
   
5. Then, ask them to untwist it by rotating their wrists in the opposite direction.
   
   
6. Repeat this twisting and untwisting process 5-10 times.

This exercise helps strengthen the wrists and forearms while also working on coordination and bilateral hand dexterity.

Free Play

Free play encourages creativity and problem-solving and can help your child develop a positive association with the therapy putty. It also gives them a chance to naturally practice the skills they've been working on in a more relaxed setting. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to play during this time – the goal is simply to enjoy manipulating the putty. They might create shapes, pretend it's food in a play kitchen, or come up with their own unique games! 

Support Your Child's Fine Motor Skills with Everyday OT

Now that you've learned about these engaging therapy putty exercises, you're well on your way to encouraging your child's motor skill development. But why stop there? At Everyday OT, we're committed to providing you with the tools and resources you need to help your child thrive. 

Browse our collection of fine motor skills tools, with specially designed products that make developing these techniques fun and engaging for children. You can also sign up for our newsletter for expert tips and exclusive offers or join our supportive community of parents and caregivers on Instagram. 

Visit Everyday OT today and discover how we can support your child's development, one skill at a time!