EXERCISES TO REDUCE HAND FLAPPING OF CHILD IN AUTISM/HAND GRIP DEVELOPING ACTIVITY/POOR PENCIL GRIP

Hand Flapping

Of all the stimming behaviors, hand flapping is perhaps one that is most noticeable in children with ASD. It is a type of repetitive behavior that can occur for short or long durations.

Hand flapping can present itself as a stimming behavior in many ways, including:

• Moving fingers vigorously

• Clicking fingers

• Moving arms

Most of the time, hand flapping is nothing to worry about and the behavior can be triggered by any of the following:

• Excitement

• Nervousness

• Fidgeting

• Decreased body movements

Strategies to Replace Hand Flapping

As I mentioned in my previous blog, hand flapping behavior from a child can occur for many different reasons and not only in children with Autism. It is important to keep in mind that every child is unique and reacts to various situations in a different manner as well as with different mannerisms. Children may use hand flapping when they are overly excited, nervous or if they are demonstrating increased fidgeting.

Below are a few strategies which can be used to decrease hand flapping across environments, at home, school, and in the therapy setting:

• Squeezing a ball or small fidget toy

• Squeezing “theraputty”, playdough or clay

• Pressing hands together firmly (in a prayer position)

• Pressing hands firmly against another person’s hands, such as a long sustained high five

• Wall push-ups

• Give self a “bear hug” or ask an adult for a “bear hug”

• Wash hands or rub-in lotion or hand sanitizer (this will provide deep pressure into the hands and provide increased body awareness as to what your hands are doing)

• Verbal re-direction from adult (e.g. “It looks like your body is feeling really excited; instead of waving your hands, can you try squishing some putty or give yourself a bear hug?”)

To summarize, it is important to help your child to identify when the hand flapping behavior is occurring and what he/she can do to replace this behavior so that he does not become self-conscious or stand out from his peers. It is also important to provide consistent strategies across different environments so that the child does not become confused. These strategies can become concrete for the child. If you have any concerns regarding hand flapping and your child, please reach out to your occupational therapist to find an individualized plan that will work for you and your entire family.

Improving Your Child’s Pencil Grip

As occupational therapists, teachers and parents often approach us about their children’s awkward pencil grasp. Left unaddressed, pencil grip problems can end up affecting a child’s academic performance at school. And when children can see they’re not keeping up, it can lead to anxiety, frustration and low self-esteem, which can see them fall further behind.

The most efficient way to hold a pencil is the dynamic tripod grasp (similar to that in the image below) where the pencil is positioned between the thumb and index finger with the pencil resting on the middle finger. Another option is the quadrupod grasp, where the pencil is positioned between the thumb, index and middle fingers, the fourth finger stabilises the pencil and the fifth finger is curled in towards the palm. 

If your child isn’t using one of these pencil grips yet, fine motor activities can help them develop the skills they need to hold their pencil functionally, and write more easily.

Fine Motor Strength

Kids need strong hands and fingers for a whole range of day-to-day activities for school and play. Having strong wrists, hands and fingers helps children hold their pencil functionally, as well as helping them write with endurance and fluency.

Some great exercises to help build your child’s fine motor strength include:

Paper Crumpling: Have your child crumple up sheets of newspaper or scrap paper into the smallest, tightest ball possible. Increase the challenge by only letting them use one hand to crumple the

In-Hand Manipulation

In-hand manipulation is the ability to move small objects around in your hand without using the other hand to help. This is, perhaps, the most complex fine motor skill as it involves three components:

1. Translation: Using your fingers to move or ‘squirrel’ a small item from your palm to your fingertips. (E.g. When you hold a coin in your palm and move it to your fingertips to push it into a piggy bank or vending machine).

2. Shift: Moving an object using the pads of your fingers. (E.g. Adjusting your pencil grip, or manipulating a button or a zipper with the fingertips).

therapy for pencil grips for autistic child / occupational therapy for pencil grips / how to reduce hand flapping in autism/ therapy for hand flapping/ how to reduce hand flapping/ therapy to stop hand flapping of autistic child/ therapy to stop hand flapping in autism

#handflapping #handgrips #sensory #sensorytherapy #therapyforadhdchild #autismchild #autismmom #autismsymptoms #asd #adhd #autism #autisticchild #therapy

[s.n]

My child is holding water bottle all the time. How to control it