Children’s Occupational Therapy Advice
Developing Bi-manual Skills
Some children find it difficult to coordinate both sides of their body together
whilst others have a specific movement difficulty affecting one arm and hand
which limits two handed activities. Both benefit from being encouraged to
develop bi-manual skills from an early age.
1.Early
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activities 0-2 years
Clasping hands together
Taking both hands to mouth.
Holding soft toy with both hands.
Passing object from hand to hand.
Holding object in one hand whilst exploring
its properties with the other e.g. Playskool
Busy Elephant, ‘Flippy Fingers, Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Phone.
Holding object in each hand simultaneously and banging together e.g.
bricks, maracas.
Clapping hands
Tearing tissues
Cup with scarf inside. Hold cup with one hand, pull scarf out with the
other.
Pulling objects apart e.g. Duplo or Velcro, food, stickle bricks, Playskool
Clippo, Playskool Blockimals.
Soft activity books e.g. Blossom Farm Finger Puppet Book – ELC.
Push along toys/toddle truck/trike.
Driving wheels e.g. little roadster
My first light up camera – Vtech ELC.
Playskool Rattle and Roll Ball.
Popper beads, star links.
Early construction e.g. Fisher Price Stack n Surprise
Vtech Peek-a-boo Book
Russian Dolls, Hide Inside Teletubbies.
Musical instruments e.g. concertina, maracas, cymbals, triangle, toy
trumpet, magic flute.
Tomy Hide n Squeak Eggs
 Finger rhymes, action songs
 Picking up large ball
 Stacker hoops on arms which child has to remove e.g. Fisher Price
Rainforest Giraffe Ring Stacker.
 Containers with pull off plastic lids.
2. Pre
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School Activities 2-4 years
Sand and water play
Cooking or tool sets
Playdough e.g. rolling pin, cutters.
Threading beads, lacing cards
Plastic nuts and bolts.
Octons, popoids
Early construction e.g. duplo, meccano – “Kids Play Woof the Dog”, Peppa
Pig Wooden Train, Marble Run, Build Your Own Plane (Boots).
Dressing up or dolly play
Plastic containers with screw lids
Play scissors
Pump action water pistol
Tap-a-shape
Binoculars
Fastening toys e.g. buttons/laces
Peel off/stick on shapes
Toy guitar
Stencils and rubbing plates
Fishing Game
Letter posting boxes with spring door
Wind up toys
Climbing frames, tunnels, basket ball net
Remote control Roary the racing car
Jigsaws
Mr Potato Head- Disney
Viewmaster
Chad Valley Build a Ladybird
3. School Age Activities 4+ years
 Artstraws/construct-0-straws
 Weaving
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Sewing
Origami
Meccano, K-nex, Lego, Magnetix, Bionicle
Shake n go flyers – Argos
Harley Davidson Real Rider- Matchbox
Scooby Doo Stretch Scooby
Bop-it Extreme
Rubix cube
Tying laces, fastening tie
Knitting
Cats cradle
Yo-yo’s
Skipping ropes
Spirograph
Using ruler or set squares
Sharpening pencils
Using staples or hole punch
Climbing ropes or tug-o-war
Swimming, volleyball
Tennis or badminton serve
Etch-a-sketch
Transformers
Gladiator Pugil Sticks – Argos
ALWAYS CHECK AGE SUITABILITY ON T0YS BEFORE PURCHASE