Let’s Learn About In-Hand Manipulation

What is in hand manipulation?

In hand manipulation is when you handle and move an object within your hand. These skills will typically start forming around preschool age, but by 5 years old these skills should be utilized consistently. In order for a child to accurately handle an object within their hand they will need fine motor skills, strength, and coordination. These skills consist of the ability to shift, rotate, and translate.

Shift
- The ability to shift can be explained through moving an object with the fingertips
  - Ex: Moving a pencil down closer to the fingertips
- How to work on shifting
  - Pencil walking

Rotation
- Complex rotation
  - When an object is turned from end to end
- Simple rotation
  - When the object is turned within the pads of the fingers (including the thumb)
- How to work on rotation
  - Shape sorters
    - Amazon: Shape sorter
Translate
- Fingertip to palm translation
  - Picking up coins off a table and holding them in your palm
- Palm to fingertip translation
  - Placing coins into a piggy bank
- How to work on translation
  - Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Count & Rumble Piggy Bank – Walmart

What do we use in hand manipulation skills for?

Writing
Cutting
Playing with toys or games
Eating
Dressing
Money into a piggy bank or money into a vending machine
Flipping a pencil from writing to erasing
Spinning a top

How OTs can help

When it comes to in hand manipulation, the role of occupational therapy is to engage the child in an activity that targets the skills of shift, rotate and translate in a way that is engaging and meaningful to the child. Some examples include: