When a child is diagnosed with autism, the focus often shifts to fitting them into predefined norms, leaving parents feeling like they’re in a never-ending race to meet developmental milestones.
It’s important to remember that life isn’t about checking off boxes on an Individualized Education Program (IEP); it’s about embracing each child’s individuality and celebrating their progress.
To help shift this perspective, here’s a fun lesson plan designed to enhance fine and gross motor skills while encouraging creativity and critical thinking. These activities be adapted to meet the specific needs of your child, providing a valuable and enjoyable way to support their development.
1. The spider web lesson
The spider web lesson is a great activity for improving fine and gross motor skills in autism. Here’s how to implement it with your child.
Step one: Use tape to create a large spider web on the floor. If your child struggles with fine and gross motor skills, make the lines of the spider web thicker. Thicker lines are suitable for beginners, while thinner lines can be introduced as skills improve.
Step two: Place random bean bags all over the spider web where horizontal and vertical lines meet. These bean bags serve as targets for the child to reach.
Game rules: The child and you will stand at the bottom of the spider web, choosing a vertical line as your starting point. You will point to a bean bag the child has to obtain. Here is where creativity and critical thinking take place.
It is a maze. There are many ways to get to that bean bag, but the child gets to choose what route they want to take. There is no one-way answer. This allows the child freedom to think.
To get to the bean bag, the child must walk one foot in front of the other or try to. This will help with balance and fine and gross motor skills. At first, you will have to prompt, asking where we should go next, or you may need to redirect.
When the child reaches a bean bag, they should pick it up and throw it to the center of the spider web, which helps develop their fine and gross motor skills. After all the bean bags are in the middle, give them a reward!
Advancements
Room to build and grow is the best kind of lesson plan. This game allows lots of room for creativity for the parent/teacher just as much as for the child. Here are some ideas:
- Spelling: Put letters on the bean bags and say the word you want them to spell. Let them spell it by taking spelling letters chronologically.
- Math: Put the answers to simple mathematical equations on the bean bags. Show the child the math problem and prompt them to obtain the answer to the mathematical problem.
- Daily living: Put pictures (PECS) on the beanbags. Start the game with a question: What do you do first when you wake up in the morning? This is a good test to know if your child has learned how to complete the task or just follows prompts.
- Competition and waiting: Form teams by getting two sets of colored bean bags and playing competitively against each other.
This game allows autistic children to acquire knowledge, express it, and advance it without saying a single word. Although communication is needed and can be incorporated into this game, we can advance/test knowledge by hand-to-mind thinking.
2. Sensory bin exploration
Setup: Fill a large container or bin with sensory materials such as rice, beans, sand, or water beads. Hide small toys, letters, numbers, or objects within the sensory material. The texture and materials can be varied based on the child’s sensory preferences and needs.
Activity: The child uses their hands to dig, sift, and search through the sensory bin to find hidden objects. This tactile experience enhances fine motor skills through gripping, scooping, and pinching.
Sensory bins and sensory boxes also support sensory exploration and can be calming, providing a multi-sensory experience.
Advancements:
- Sorting and matching: Introduce different colored or shaped objects. Ask the child to sort or match items based on color or shape, integrating cognitive skills with fine motor activity.
- Letter or number hunt: Include objects with letters or numbers. Prompt the child to find and identify specific items, blending literacy or numeracy practice with sensory play.
3. Playdough creations
Setup: Provide the child with playdough and various tools, such as cookie cutters, rolling pins, and plastic knives. To make the activity more engaging, use different colors and types of playdough.
Activity: The child manipulates the playdough to create shapes, animals, or other objects. Rolling, squishing, and cutting the dough strengthen hand muscles and improve dexterity. This activity also promotes creativity and allows for open-ended exploration.
Advancements:
- Letter and shape formation: Use playdough to form letters or shapes. Provide stencils or guides to help the child create specific letters or shapes, integrating literacy and geometry skills.
- Fine motor challenges: Increase difficulty by using smaller tools or creating more intricate designs. Encourage the child to use precise movements and control.
4. Threading beads
Setup: Provide a selection of beads in various colors and shapes, along with a string or shoelace.
Activity: The child threads beads onto the string to make necklaces or bracelets. This task requires careful hand-eye coordination and fine motor control as they pick up and position small beads. It also enhances hand strength and dexterity.
Advancements:
- Pattern creation: Use beads of different colors or shapes to create patterns. Ask the child to replicate or design patterns, teaching sequencing and pattern recognition.
- Complex stringing: Challenge the child with smaller beads or more complex threading tasks to refine their fine motor skills and focus.
Warning: Be cautious with small beads and threading materials. Always supervise children during this activity to prevent choking hazards or potential injury from sharp edges.
5. Cutting and pasting
Setup: Provide safety scissors, paper, and glue. Include various types of paper, such as colored construction paper, magazines, or textured paper.
Activity: The child uses scissors to cut out shapes, pictures, or patterns from paper. They then glue these cutouts onto a separate sheet to create a collage or picture. This activity helps develop scissor skills, hand strength, and hand-eye coordination.
Advancements:
- Shape cutting: Provide templates or stencils for the child to cut out specific shapes. This helps with accuracy and control.
- Collage themes: Create collages based on specific themes (e.g., animals, seasons) to integrate creativity and thematic learning.
Warning: Always supervise children when using scissors. Ensure they use safety scissors appropriate for their age and skill level to avoid accidents. Provide guidance and assistance as needed to ensure safe cutting practices.
6. Sensory bottles
Setup: Fill clear plastic bottles with various sensory materials such as water, glitter, beads, or oil. Seal the bottles tightly.
Activity: The child shakes, rolls, or tilts the bottles to observe the movement of the materials inside. This activity supports visual tracking and fine motor control while providing a calming sensory experience.
Advancements:
- Interactive elements: Add items that produce different textures or sounds to enhance sensory exploration.
- DIY bottles: Allow the child to create their own sensory bottles by choosing materials and decorating the bottles, integrating personal preferences and creativity.
Embracing creativity and growth through play
Engaging in fine motor skills activities not only fosters your child’s development but also creates meaningful moments of connection and fun. By incorporating these creative and educational games into your routine, you support your child’s growth in a way that is both enjoyable and effective.
Remember, every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Embrace the journey, celebrate the progress, and cherish the unique ways your child learns and interacts with the world.
This article was featured in Issue 72 – Sensory Solutions For Life
FAQs
Q: What are fine motor skills activities for autism?
A: Fine motor skills activities for autism include tasks like using playdough, drawing, or engaging in puzzles to help improve hand-eye coordination and dexterity. These activities can enhance fine motor skills and support daily living skills.
Q: What are fine motor skills in ABA?
99A: In ABA, fine motor skills refer to the precise movements involving the small muscles of the hands and fingers, crucial for tasks like writing or buttoning a shirt. ABA techniques may focus on teaching and reinforcing these skills through structured practices and positive reinforcement.
Q: Which behavior is an example of a fine motor skill?
A: An example of a fine motor skill is the ability to grasp a pencil correctly and write legibly. This skill involves the precise control of hand and finger movements.
References
Ohara, R., Kanejima, Y., Kitamura, M., & P. Izawa, K. (2019). Association between social skills and motor skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 10(1), 276-296. https://www.mdpi.com/2254-9625/10/1/22
Liu, T., Capistran, J., & ElGarhy, S. (2021). Fine and gross motor competence in children with autism spectrum disorder. Physical Educator, 78(3), 227-241. https://search.proquest.com/openview/5fe2b96440496b2f72d699ef1cef9113/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=35035
Cai, S., Zhu, G., Wu, Y. T., Liu, E., & Hu, X. (2018). A case study of gesture-based games in enhancing the fine motor skills and recognition of children with autism. Interactive Learning Environments, 26(8), 1039-1052. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10494820.2018.1437048
Busti Ceccarelli, S., Ferrante, C., Gazzola, E., Marzocchi, G. M., Nobile, M., Molteni, M., & Crippa, A. (2020). Fundamental motor skills intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: A 10-year narrative review. Children, 7(11), 250. https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/7/11/250
Ruggeri, A., Dancel, A., Johnson, R., & Sargent, B. (2020). The effect of motor and physical activity intervention on motor outcomes of children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review. Autism, 24(3), 544-568. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361319885215
