Looking for toy/game suggestions to help with an OT concern?

One thing that you can try is having him put clothes pins around a piece of cardboard. I took a piece of cardboard and cut it in a circle small enough for my kid to hold. I picked up some cheap plastic clothes pins that were different colors and had him pinch the clothes pin and place them all around the circle. We made a game of it. We separated out the different colors and I did the yellow and red and he did the blue and green. You participating makes it more of a social activity and you can spend some quality time together while practicing an important fine motor skill. Operation may frustrate him. My kid did not like the sound it made when he missed. We had to take the batteries out so he wouldn't get upset. I don't know how hold your son is but having him eat finger foods like cheerios, etc. will also help. There is an excellent website called www.do2learn.com that has some great ideas too. Good luck! I totally understand what you are going through.

How about Pick-Up Sticks. It's a good game for grasp work I should think. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pick-up_sticks just in case you don't know what I am talking about. Chequers and chess both require mental and physical dexterity. Even a simple jigsaw or scrabble perhaps. There are lots of games that require things to be picked up and grasped and then put down in particular places and sequences. Hope that those idea help.

Hi wiccania! I have the same problem with my son. His OT suggested getting those Crayola Early Beginnings TaDoodle crayons. The reason is because they have to use a open grasp and it will open up his hand so he won't have such a closed fisted grasp. I have noticed a difference with my son and I will continue to use them for therapy.Good Luck!

Beading toys is what they are doing with Rowan now (at 2.5) Also fill and dump using tools like a scoop and play tweezers that are over size. putting coins (real or fake) into a piggy bank. I made one with an old thick it container (or formula, drink mix) cut a hole or slit in the top, We used poker chips because they are bigger and we picked them at the $1 store.

Clothes pins, puzzles, even the puzzles with the handles to put them in place, bigger pencils and crayons, and possibly putting crafts together that he will need to pick up off of the table. My son has that problem, but actually a lot of children go through this when they first learn to write and color. My daughter did, but she has never been diagnosed with anything. My son is the one that is autistic. They can't seem to get him interested in coloring yet.

The practical way to have the available resources, like pick beads or even beans. The child needs to have colorful things that can bring the interest from them. But we need to look at them having the activity.

Chip Clips is what my sons OT used with him. All you have to do is get sometihng like a shoe box, color it, paint it, or however you want to fancy the box up & then get some chip clips. Maybe like 4 or even 8 should do. We ended up getting the bigger kind because our son is still having problems with the small ones, but its a start. It will help him learn to grasp, plus help with other things like muscle tone in the hands. I don't know about your son, but my son, has weak muscle tone & this helps alot if you stick with it. Try it once a day.. Just show him how to clip them on the box & he might not show any interest in it, but it might work for you guys.. plus its cheap... :) Make it a game the best you can & have fun!