The first official day of summer has finally arrived! Since school is out, your kids’ days look a little different–more time outside, less structure, and open-ended play. While necessary to your child’s development, it’s also important to practice handwriting and fine motor tasks during summer break to avoid setbacks once school starts again.
Handwriting ideas:
- Writing a letter or card to a family or friend
- Making lists (i.e. grocery shopping, what to pack, activities they would like to do or try, and favorites of any category)
- Journaling
- Mad Libs
- Alphabet hunt (You can be creative with your version of this!)
- Hide letters around the house and have your child check them off of a list as they find them.
- Idea for a child with more advanced handwriting skills: Have them find words in their everyday environment (such as in a magazine, books, on products, etc.) and copy a word beginning with each letter of the alphabet.
- Junior version of scattergories
- Decipher a code
- Make up a story, character, or map
Fine motor/hand strengthening ideas:
- Write or draw using sidewalk chalk
- Pop bubbles with index finger only
- Paint rocks or flower pots
- Play dress up (with clothes that have zippers, buttons, or snaps)
- Card games
- Jewelry making
- Use squirt guns for water fight
- Use clothespins to hang things (clothes, art, etc.) on a line
- Color using broken crayons (if working on improving pencil grasp)
Contact our office and our therapists can help identify strategies that work best for your family during summer break. Be sure to also check out our recent blog about why open-ended play matters.
