All Mums out there - how can I encourage 2yo mindee to develop a pincer grip??

[chel86]

I'm tackling things one at a time and decided that the pincer grip is as good as any of the other issues.

So, how can I encourage mindee's pincer grip? He cannot/will not hold cutlery, or a pen, or pick up food with his fingers, but with food he will dive in and grab with both hands.

I've tried putting small objects in front of him to pick up, but he's not interested.

Maybe as a snack you could give him carrot sticks or something similar and just leave it in front of him and walk away. He might want to be able to eat it and so will learn to pick it up?

Do you have to teach pincer grip to some children? Mine just did it themselves.

threading beads onto a lace or something? presumably he has a pincer grip, they usually get one at 8 mos, but he just doesn't like close work? is he madly long-sighted, maybe?

Raisins?
Grapes?
Chocolate drops (not buttons the little drops)?

You can encourage hand/eye co-ordination, focus and pincer grip by getting children to thread beads, do jigsaws, move items from one tray to another, burying small items in the sandpit for them to find etc.
We had to help DS1 out with this kind of thing, as he is dyspraxic.
Although he was about 4 at the time, so obviously there would be choking issues with some of these activities for a 2-year old.

sorry, but you are looking after a 2 year old who is unable to do a pincer grip?

if you put a chocolate button or a raisin in front of him would he be able to pick it up or is he grabbing more with his palms

if by 2 he cannot do a pincer grip (which on ave comes around 6 - 9 months) I would have thought that he would need a developmental check

of course if it's just that he doesn't want to use cutlery but is happier using his fingers, that's just a choice

pincer is using finger and thumb together

other grips is kind of shuffling things between fingers and palm to grab hold

His development is a different issue, it seems. If I am not given the information I need then there is only so much I can work with. So, until I am given more information, which I hope will come in time, I have to work with him the best I can!!

Yes, you are right that the pincer grip is usually something the child develops themselves, but is not always the case and isn't the case now. He isn't picking things up with his fingers, it's all with his palms, more like a scooping (actually, imagine the toy grabbing machines in the arcades and you get the jist). So, it does look like I will be on my own trying to develop what I can, and then telling the parents what I am doing. Hard work but clearly very rewarding.

I will try carrot sticks or something similar. He does throw his food around, so I will probably be picking them up alot, but I suppose when he's hungry enough he will eat!! But then I think he will probably do the same as he is now - grab and hope for the best.

I don't understand your stance on this though? Presumably through my own ignorance .. but if a minded child is unable to do something this basic then I would be mentioning to the parents / carer and documenting that you have concerns over this delayed development and would suggest a visit to GP to rule out any underlying issues

until you know what the problem is it would not be advisable to just go for it surely?

can he pick up a single raisin?

Twiglett have a read here Chel86 is concerned & I think trying her best

yes, I didn't for one minute mean to intimate that you were doing less than your very best Chel.

I think the child needs referring to a developmental paed personally and the sooner the better.

There are obviously ways you can help and support but you can't go into this blind .. say for instance you decide to focus on the feeding and it turns out to be a motor deficiency and there are ways to encourage muscle control so he has to unlearn what you've been doing

that would be my concern really

It is hard in a new childminding relationship to get information across

If Chel does observations and trials stuff with the child she can write it up and pass it to the parents to talk about themselves

Then hopefully they will understand that an outside intervention is needed

But just on the say so of your new childminder you would (probably) say C/Mer doesn't know what she is talking about & dismiss her concerns

is it not rather surprising that this hasn't already been picked up on though ..it's a standard developmental phase isn't it?

Thanks Katy.

Twiglett - I do have my concerns and have noted these to parents and allowed/encouraged the parents to tell me everything they can about mindee's development, but with no luck. I cannot tell them exactly what I think is wrong, because I'm not qualified to do so. All I can do is keep a diary of his daily development/routine and my concerns and read this to the parents. But I would like to encourage him to develop when he's in my care as well. In fact I would not be doing my job the best I could if I did not encourage him to develop. As and when I am informed of any developmental problems by the parents then I will be able to work with any therapists and the parents.

well you sound like an excellent childminder, they are lucky to have you

I think anything you try is good Chel. You can only do so much and if the parents do not want to listen it's a hard one to call.

Good luck with the things you try. You are doing a fab job so well done

Thank you very much for your compliments!! That's the first time I've been described as an excellent cm!

maybe yoghurt coated raisins scattered over the plate?
also, wondering about those tubs from ELC full of coloured cotton thread reels and a chunky shoe lace to thread the reels onto? cost apx £5.

what is the mindee interested in?
you do sound like a very supportive and patient CM. Lucky them!

maybe yoghurt coated raisins scattered over the plate?
also, wondering about those tubs from ELC full of coloured cotton thread reels and a chunky shoe lace to thread the reels onto? cost apx £5.

what is the mindee interested in?
you do sound like a very supportive and patient CM. Lucky them!

oops x post with southernbelle
and pressed post twice!!
never hurts to get extra compliments though

I think it is great that you are trying to find out what might help your mindee develop his pincer grasp. However if it were my child I would be quite worried as his age is well out or the normative development range for learning the pincer grasp. The fact that he is still palming things at this age would make me want to get further medical checks done as well as eyesight checks.

If I need to go back to work will you be my childminder

I have a DS with co-ordination disorder.

The stuff I did with my DS started at age 3, so may not be suitable for your mindee: I used small food as others suggested (scattered raisins, cheerios, choc drops, etc). food is a good motivator.

Also threading (lace through cotton reels / buttons, or lacing cards - ELC do some lovely kits as mentioned) which is a v similar skill. Inset puzzles with little handles. He was less enthusiastic about things that didn't involve yummy food.

If you want to encourage drawing, you could ignore the 'holding a pencil' thing, and use finger tips in flour or sand.

Finger-rhymes (tommy thumb, two little dickie birds etc). Finger puppets.

Do make sure he's having fun and positive feedback / encoragement / praise.

Could go on for England on fine-motor-skill activities. These are the more pincer-grip type ones.

No, some kids don't just learn things, and no point sitting back and waiting for the appointments to come through (first referral to being suggested therapy exercises took about 6 mo for us). I was doing whatever I could think of while I was waiting.

putting clothes pegs on a line is good thing to do, easier with girls as you can motivate with hanging dolly clothes on a piece of string. maybe with i boy you could peg up bob the builder pictures or something similar?

Some ideas here for fine motor activities including pincer grip.
montessori activities