DS has been invited to the "Finger Gym" at school

[cjt110]

We got a letter in DS' bag that he has been invited, with other classmates, to attend the finger gym. This is to work in small groups to assist his motor skills for writing.

He started school in Sept.

Is this something I should be worried about? A friend of mine, whose son is in the same class and same birth month, has also had the same letter.

It’s good news

1. The school are very proactive
2. They have spotted that he would benefit from extra help
3. He will have fun

Don’t worry, be happy 😃

Tell the class teacher how pleased you are. They hardly ever hear when parents are happy, only when they want to complain. Be That Parent who appreciates them.

My summer-born boy started doing “funky fingers” at a similar time. He’s fine, just needed a bit more fine motor skills practice.

My son (one of the oldest in the class) spent some time having small group lessons to work on his motor skills. It did seem to help. It's good that the school are proactive.

My son, now aged 25 and in a very good career, was assessed to have dyspraxia and ADHD, he didn't have finger gyms in those days but I was prompted by this thread to look it up and realise him learning the guitar probably helped immensely as its listed as one of the best ways to develop motor skills.

When my son was diagnosed I was really upset, kept thinking he would always struggle, but he overcame all the obstacles and went to Uni, he is now a senior business analyst and studying for a second degree via the Open Uni, so please don't worry that you son needs help, it wont label him or her for life :)

My DS 9 does this because his handwriting is rubbish. He's never had any problem with fine motor skills though in any other area. I very much doubt he'll ever be great at handwriting as I'm bloody appalling at it and he seems to take after me!

Its nothing to worry about.

@cjt110

I’m sorry-it was not my intention to be shitty or snarky.

I’m a teacher who runs this intervention regularly. I was joking-I apologise if it didn’t come across like that .

Nothing to be concerned about-it just means he’ll get some extra support with finger strengthening and pencil grip. Ring the senco if you are still worried though. We have interventions like this all the time-they are often pretty short term and very effective.

I would be pleased that the school have picked up on this at a young age and are doing something about it.

I was told in Reception that DD had poor pen control and that it would affect her all the way through school. Now in Year 6, she is part of a group who have been selected for extra handwriting lessons, so that it doesn't hold them back in tests etc.

It's just a shame that they didn't intervene earlier.

Plus it didn't help that every teacher each year, tells them to write differently to how they have been taught before!

Dd attend something similar for motor skills and coordination skills (but not just for writing), quite a few kids attended, hardly any of them were diagnosed with anything apart from my daughter who has Aspergers and dyspraxia. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, shows the school are doing extra to help kids out who maybe struggling a little.