How to Improve Fine Motor Translation Skills

By: Josh MacDonald

The Basics – I lay a pile of small objects on the table and an open container for the client to put them into. What object I use depends on the client’s level. We’ll get to that later. Then, they use a 2-point pincer grasp to pick up one and shift it finger-to-palm.  They do this 3-4 more times. Each time, shifting it fully to the palm. Then the objects are taken, one at a time, from palm to pincer grasp and dropped into the container.  

“Using translation gives me a task to work on fine motor skills and dexterity that is gradable and functional.”

Special Rules –  To keep the client from cheating and to meet the purpose of the task we have a few special rules.

  1. No using momentum to ‘throw’ the object from palm to finger. They need to use finger and thumb motion to advance the object.
  2. No using gravity to let the object fall from palm to fingers. AKA: no cheating
  3. Take it all of the way to the tips of index and thumb. It’s harder but it matters.

Make it fit –  This task is highly scalable to meet the client’s needs and the ‘just right challenge’. Here is the sequence I use as the client improves:

  1. Slow foam squares cut into ¾” squares
  2. Squares mixed with marbles (pick up 2 of each) and sorting them for sensation work.
  3. Mancala pieces or just plain marbles
  4. Coins – Pick them up off a towel if flat on a table is too much

Bonus!! –  Aside from the obvious benefits there are a few other added extras that pop up. Sometimes I even use these as the primary reason for picking this task.

Supination/pronation – The forearm is pretty darn active during this whole process

Tactile work – Stereognosis and discrimination skills can be refined with this task

Thumb work – When done right, the thumb is getting a solid workout (e.g. Joint stiffness work)

Whatever you want…

This task can be converted into whatever you want it to be. Use dice to play a game. Use grapes or other food for a self-feeding goal. Use small beads and work on ‘storing’ the extras in the ulnar side of the palm while stringing the bead.  The options are ENDLESS! This is one of my favorite tasks and I can’t wait for you to try it and tell us what you think.

1 Comments

  1. Robin Kanagy on January 18, 2022 at 4:51 am

    When I worked in pediatrics in the school system, I cut aslit in a tennis ball, drew a face on it, called it Mr. Hungry. I had students translate pennies and fed Mr. Hungry. This was one of their favorite activities!

Leave a Comment






More To Read

Splinting Options for Stiff Finger Joints

October 19, 2022

Following an injury to the proximal interphalangeal joint, there is often a loss of range of motion, typically in both the flexion and extension planes. Therefore, we have compiled a list of helpful splinting options for stiff finger joints. To Improve PIP Joint Flexion  Flexion Wrap with Elastic Tape (Coban): This is a very easy…

Read More

How to Get Started in Hand Therapy

March 5, 2019

I started OT school knowing that I wanted to do pediatrics. I set up everything to build up my resume for my first therapy job to be in pediatrics. Along the way I had a 3 month clinical rotation in hand therapy at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. That experience peaked my interest in hands. 13…

Read More

The 4 Stages of Simple Wound Care in Hand Therapy

September 5, 2021

Wound care is messy. It can be intimidating and scary. With so many variations of wounds (for example, white skin around wound) and so many products out there it is hard to know what to use, when to use it, and how to use it. If you go to a wound care conference, you’ll spend most…

Read More
Envelope_1

Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!

Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.