Occupational therapy: Developing Fine Motor Skills through Window Washing

THIS ACTIVITY IS FOR CHILDREN WITH A COGNITIVE AGE OF 5 AND ABOVE.  MUST BE SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT.

This activity works to develop strength and fine motor control in the hands, to develop the stabilization muscles in the arms and to a lesser degree visual motor and bilateral integration skills.  All of these skills are important in performing fine motor and handwriting tasks. 

Have your child watch the video, then print the instructions in a form they can understand and have them follow the instructions to complete.

Click here to download the instructions in written form.

Click here to download the instructions in picture form.

Strengthening the fine motor skills and coordination through; squirting the window washing fluid on the window, coordinating the squirting and aiming the nozzle of the bottle. 

• Providing neuromuscular feedback, which means sending messages to the brain about where the hands are in space.  This is important for developing neural pathways in the brain to assist in developing coordinated muscle movements.  Activities that provide resistance are essential in providing neuromuscular feedback.   Large and small motor movements, squirting the glass cleaner provides resistance and requires coordinating the flexors and extensor of the hands, which provides the brain with neuromuscular feedback.

•  Promoting stabilization of the wrist and upper arm are vital in developing functional fine motor and hand skills.  The stabilization muscles of the arms/hands provide the base on which coordinated fine motor movements can develop.  Working on a vertical surface helps to develop the stabilization muscles of the arms/hands which is essential for writing, buttoning, and many other fine motor activities.   Wiping the vertical surfaces of the window assists with developing the stabilization muscles of the arm.

• Bilateral integration skills help both sides of the body to work together.  Bilateral integration is vital for being able to carry out two-handed skills like buttoning, cutting with scissors, and zipping.  Bilateral integration is also important for crossing the midline when reading or writing.  Activities that require the child to cross midline visually or with their arms or legs assists with the development of bilateral integration.  Crossing midline while wiping the window assists in developing bilateral integration.  Be sure to ask your child to wipe the window with the right hand and the left hand.

Your child may resist crossing midline and utilize their whole body to wipe the window.  This could be because it is difficult to cross midline or due to low tone or weakness.  Kids who have low muscle tone (Down Syndrome kids are an example), may try to utilize their whole body as a unit to recruit more muscle groups due to weakness.

• Life skills that can be used throughout their lives, possibly be used to make money, and to give the child a role in the family, they can help with washing windows.