Why are finger isolation skills so important for functional development?! Today we are going to discuss the answer to that question!
- Finger isolation is the ability to move one finger at a time and is important for the development of fine motor skills , dexterity, and precision.
- Finger isolation typically begins to develop around 6 months of age as they begin to pick up small foods (cereal) or objects.
- The skill progresses to pointing and separation of the two sides of the hand. Around 8-9 months the baby will begin pointing to objects in the environment in order to get their parents attention.
Functionally finger isolation helps children:
- Develop a mature/efficient pencil grasp
- Typing on a keyboard
- Playing musical instruments
- Buttoning/unbuttoning clothing
- Tying shoe laces
- Communicating their needs
Games to assist with this developmental skill:
- Finger print art
- Finger games with bubble wrap
- Finger strengthening with theraputty
- Pipe cleaners
- Button games
- Guiding a baby to press buttons on games, ringing the doorbell, turning on /off a light
- Finger puppet
- Modeling pointing to letters or items in a book when reading and have the child follow your example
- Placing and peeling stickers on different surfaces
