Fine Motor Skills

The Benefits of Therapeutic Putty

Therapeutic putty is a pediatric occupational therapist approved tool and provides an effective and simple resistance-based training that helps children develop strong grips. Just by forming and shaping the non-toxic, non-flammable putty, your child will be engaging their hands in an easy and safe exercise that will deliver good results.

Occupational therapists have been favoring therapeutic for years. Kids enjoy working with the putty, therefore it’s an easy way for them to develop their fine motor skills while they work with various resistance levels. Therapeutic putty is a brightly-colored, non-oily, non-sticky and non-toxic putty that’s fun for children to stretch and mold, play hide and seek or hide small toys or coins.

Children can use therapeutic putty for many purposes. For instance, they can use them to:

  • Improve grip.
  • Increase finger strength.
  • Improve fine motor skills.
  • Increase thumb strength.
  • Calm them if they have a sensory processing disorder.

You can start your child off with a soft therapeutic level and gradually work up to a medium strength.

A few fun exercises and activities your child can do with therapeutic are:

  1.  Squeezing: This is deep pressure work where your child squeezes and manipulates the putty, helping them to remain focused or de-stress.
  2.  Retrieve small objects: Your child can hide small objects in the putty like a marble or bead and then attempt to retrieve the object. By doing this, they’re building hand coordination, strength and developing their fine motor skills.
  3.  Making confetti: Have your child use their thumb and index finger to break the therapeutic apart into little “confetti” pieces. Once done, have them use the last piece for picking up other pieces and rolling them into balls.

The functionality and variety of therapeutic exercises are perfect for children with Autism or sensory processing disorders.

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