Positioned for Scissoring Success by Dr. Mari

By, Marianne Gibbs, EdD, OTR/L

www.writeoutofthebox.com

Facilitating appropriate arm and hand positioning is critical when children are developing their scissor skills. “Positioned for Scissoring Success” means the thumb is facing up on the hand holding the scissors and that the arm is moving away from the body when cutting instead of toward it. Try these positional strategies when the hand or arm is curved or being used in an unorthodox position:

Get Rid of the Table: Some students perform cutting practice better when they are seated away from the desktop or table surface. Often, scooting the chair back from the table will improve positioning and holding of scissors and/or paper automatically.

Fringy Fun: Tape paper to edge of desk or middle of easel so student can cut upwardly and make “fringe.” This is a great technique to correctly position the arm for cutting.

Hold Tight: Have the child “hold” a small roll of paper towel or newspaper between the underarm and torso of the cutting arm to ensure that the arm stays in the correct position. This is a gem of a tip!

Tummy Time: Lying on tummy to practice cutting will often correct arm positioning automatically!

Color-Coding: Clarify scissor grasp and build independence by color-coding thumbhole on scissors. Simply wrap thumbhole with tape in a contrasting color. Electrical tapes works well.

Documenting Scissor Skill Progress with Lollipop Friends™

                  

We hope you love scissor skill assessment tool – Lollipop Friends! Educators can use this assessment tool to document progress and engage in productive conversations with a parent about his/her child's scissor skill progress and goals. The Lollipop Friends Assessment Booklet integrates perfectly into a student's cutting project portfolio to capture multiple reflections of the student's journey to cutting skill proficiency!

Lollipop Friends Assessment Booklet is available as a single booklet for use with one child or in a reproducible format for easy and cost-effective duplication. Full instructions for implementation of Lollipop Friends are located in the Lollipop Friends Assessment Booklet. For more information on this product please visit www.writeoutofthebox.com.

         

*** Note from the editor. There are terrific photos that go with this article. They are in a technological blackhole known as my laptop, that just crashed, big time. Twill work with Dr. Mari to get a new set and get them uploaded for your further insight, just ASAP. Ahhhhhhh. Technology. ~~ Debbie 

"W" Sitting Alternatives: Needs + Rationale

What is “W” sitting?

Marianne Gibbs, EdD, OTR/L

Gibbs Consulting, Inc.

“W” sitting occurs when children sit on the floor with their legs bent in the shape of a “W”. Observe your students today and see how they sit on the floor at school and home. Do they sit in the “W” position?

            

Why do children “W” sit?

Children may develop a habit for “W” sitting as a way to establish increased stability in their bodies when they cannot assume and maintain the criss-cross (tailor) sitting position. Unfortunately, “W” sitting compromises knee and hip joint positioning, inhibits trunk stability needed for sitting, and may impact the development of proficient hand skills. 

What should teachers and parents do when a child is a “W” sitter?

Teachers and parents should gently, but firmly discourage “W” sitting. I recommend allowing a variety of sitting positions especially if kiddos are struggling or have pain sitting in the criss-cross position. All of the following positions support healthy joint development and learning.

Recommended Sitting Positions:

1.      Long Sit (legs straight out in front of torso)

2.      Side Sit (legs bent and tucked to one side)

3.      Lying on Tummy (propped up on elbows) 

            
4.      Lying on Back (propped up on elbows)

5.      Sitting on a small to medium-sized ball with feet connected firmly with the ground is a fun way to sit and gain coordination at the same time.

We should expect young children to move in and out of positions when sitting on the floor - that is natural and the way kids stay alert and learn to manage their bodies in space. Just as one size does NOT fit all, one sitting position will never accommodate the sitting needs of all children. Young children learn best when their bodies are safely and comfortably positioned. When you support a variety of appropriate sitting positions, you are setting all children up for success!

Marianne Gibbs, EdD, OTR/L

Write Out of the Box

Note-from-the-editor: This is very significant insight and often "unknown" by parents. Would you please help pass the word by 'pinning' from this post? Your pin is the most direct way to circulate this information to a wider group. Please share directly with those that you have the opportunity to impact. Thanks for your support of behalf of developing children everywhere. ~~ Debbie 

Fine Motor Skills..... Write Out of the Box

Fine Motor Skills..... Write Out of the Box with Dr. Marianne Gibbs

Last month we discussed the definition and development of the tripod pencil grasp in young children – super important in the age window of 3-6 years old! This month I want to encourage the expansion of the writing center…Write Out of the Box!

Give Your Writing Station a Little Punch!

A Mini Hole Punch, that is! Children LOVE to play "Office", which is a perfect play-based activity to build hand skills for future handwriting and writing. A Mini Hole Punch is an especially beloved item by young children - it is tiny and punches with purpose! This gem is not only a super fun "office" supply in the Writing Station, but also serves to develop the tripod grasp.

Tool Time: Mini-Hole Punch

When children hold the Mini Hole Punch with their Busy Fingers they reinforce the tripod grasp position, which is helpful to holding a pencil comfortably and efficiently. As children are expected to write longer sentences, paragraphs, and stories in the primary grades - they need a comfortable, positionally-efficient pencil grasp to support lengthy writing production.

So add Mini Hole Punches to a great assortment of thick, colorful papers, stickers, envelopes, paperclips, rulers, folders and file holders to organize it all! This is Play with a great Purpose!

Mini Hole Punch Activity Ideas:

• Practice sequencing skills according to alpha or numeric patterns on thick paper to create design
• Create their own lacing cards (laminate for longevity)
• Create mosaic art projects with the punched chads
• Have punched chad races with Squishy Fish

Squishy Fish 

Punch it Up....Write Out of the Box!

Dr. Marianne Gibbs, EdD, OTR/L

www.writeoutofthebox.com

Fine Motor Skills..... Write Out of the Box

I am Marianne Gibbs (Dr. Mari) and thrilled to be a new contributing author to PreK and K Sharing!  As an occupational therapist, national early childhood educational speaker, and creator of Fine Motor Skills…Write Out of the Box, I address fine motor development of young children via keynotes, once-in-a-lifetime workshops, resource materials, and consultation in the Early Childhood community. In addition, I am a contributing author to the Frog Street Press Pre-K curriculum, Benson Handwriting programs, and the owner of Gibbs Consulting, Incorporated. My passion is supporting the appropriate development of young children and elevating educational practices and life-long outcomes for children beyond expectations! 

It is my pleasure to be communicating with you on the 18^th of each month regarding fine motor development and its critical role to future handwriting efficiency in young children. Please leave any questions you may have in the comment section below so I may address them in future articles.

Let the sharing begin…Write Out of the Box!

Have you ever found yourself saying, “Hold it right” to a young child who is trying to hold a pencil? If you have, you know these words alone simply do not work. Acquisition of an efficient pencil grasp is a process of pattern development. An efficient pencil grasp involves three fingers holding the pencil: Thumbkin, Pointer, and Middleman. I call these the Busy Fingers and they make up the tripod grasp. When Ringman and Pinky hold a Pillow (cotton ball or pom pom) and "go to sleep," the Busy Fingers are ready to play! The Busy Fingers can effectively hold and move a pencil, crayon, or tool while the Sleeping Fingers help to stabilize and support the child's hand and grasp.

                   

I love to use singing to convey this simple strategy for holding a pencil correctly. Check out my “Fingers and Pillows” song, which is available in English and Spanish to help teachers and parents teach proper positioning for pencil grasp. By adding in simple hand movements (sing the song and you'll see what I mean) we can teach children about Busy Fingers, Sleeping Fingers, and Pillows. This is a fun way to teach students how to hold a pencil efficiently in a child-friendly way!

Follow these links to receive a FREE Pdf version of my piggy-back song lyrics: 

English Version of "Fingers and Pillows" Song Lyrics 
Spanish Version of "Fingers and Pillows" Song Lyrics

I'm already looking forward to my sharing next month! 

Marianne Gibbs, EdD, OTR/L

Write Out of the Box