9+ At-Home Fine Motor Exercises Using Chopsticks
Are you looking for an easy set up, fine motor exercises using items typically found around the home? Then this project is for you. Here are 9+ ways to use chopsticks as a fine motor exercise plus additional fine motor challenges are included. Each exercise includes a fine motor task plus a fine motor challenge(s) and skill overview that explains which fine motor skills you are working on. Skills addressed include in-hand manipulation skills, the pincer grasp, fine motor strengthening, the use a functional tripod grasp, and bilateral coordination skills. Let’s get started!
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Hello Friends
I started making these fine motor chopstick tweezers (exercise #9) years and years ago as a new grad. I have made these many, many times for the families I’ve worked with over the years to take home and use as a part of their fine motor home exercise program. These handy little tweezers help to develop and strengthen the same muscles needed for when holding a pencil. They’re pretty awesome, and they’re made from items typically found around them home which of course is a double win.
I made a video to help guide you through the exercises listed below. It would have been super helpful over the years to have a video available to go along with the handmade tweezers that I could have recommended to families as a guide. Well, its finally here and I hope it’s helpful, make sure to check it out below.
What Are Fine Motor Skills?
Fine motor skills are referred to as the coordination of the small muscles in the hands to perform tasks such as writing, buttoning, preparing meals, and turning pages of a book.
From the time we wake up to the time we go to bed, our hands are constantly busy throughout the day. Our fine motor skills are being used throughout the day to get dressed in the morning, make breakfast, open and close doors, feed ourselves, participate in school or work, and just go about our day to day. Our hands are almost always at work.
When differences or limitations in fine motor skills are seen, it can impact everyday skills such as school-based skills, daily activities, and work skills. Let’s into some of the fine motor skill red flags next.
Fine Motor Skill Red Flags
Differences in fine motor skills can impact day to day activities. Challenges in fine motor skills may have an impact in some of the following areas:
- Buttoning clothing
- Picking up and maintaining a grasp on small items
- Handling or cutting with scissors (by 30 months)
- Self feeding
- Difficulties with daily life skills
- School-based activities
- Weak pencil grasp
- Using hands together during an activity
- Not clapping by 12 months of age
- Frequently drops objects
Check out this article by the Cleveland Clinic regarding fine motor developmental milestones for children.
If you have concerns regarding fine motor skill development, contact your personal occupational therapist or physician for a referral for an occupational therapy evaluation. Discuss your concerns or any red flags you may be seeing.
Today’s Fine Motor Project
For today’s fine motor project, we will be discussing a variety of ways you can use chopsticks to help improve and strengthen fine motor skills. As an occupational therapist, I love activities that use a variety of fine motor skills such as this one. Especially activities that are quick to set up and use only a few items often found around the home. Check out the video below as a guide.
Items Needed:
- One pair of chopsticks
- Playdough, putty, or modeling clay
- Pipe cleaner, cut in half
- Metal washers or beads with a large center hole, or rings made out of pipe cleaners
- 2-3 rubber bands
- 1” wide strip of paper, approximately 8” long
- Small items to pick up such as beads, cotton balls, pom poms, or small balls of crumpled paper
The Fine Motor Chopstick Exercises
Each chopstick exercise has 4 sections:
- Materials needed
- The fine motor chopstick exercises
- The challenge: Each exercise has an option for how to challenge it which is an additional more challenging exercise for that particular fine motor exercise.
- Skill overview: Each fine motor task also has a fine motor skill overview explaining the main fine motor skills addressed in that activity.
*Some of the fine motor skills being addressed will have links included so that you can read further about the topic. The links will also include an in depth list additional fine motor exercises.
Switch Hands When Completing The Exercises
When participating in each of these activities, make sure to switch hands so that you work on each skill with both hands. Provide assistance as needed to teach or participate in each activity.
Caution
Use caution when working with young children or individuals with motor control differences to avoid injuries when working with chopsticks. Of course, use caution when working with young children or anyone who chews on non-food items as some of these activities use small objects such as beads and may be a choking hazard.
As always, check with your personal occupational therapist before beginning any fine motor program to ensure the exercises are a good fit for you.
Check Out The Fine Motor Video Guide
Fine Motor Task #1: Shift An In-Hand Manipulation Skill
Materials: One chopstick
Fine Motor Task
To start off our fine motor activities using chopsticks, hold one chopstick between the tips of your index and thumb. Inch the chopstick forward to one end, then backwards to the other end. Switch hands. See picture or video above for correct positioning. Switch hands and repeat.
Challenge
- Participate in hand races to see who can shift the chopstick from one end of the chopstick to the other using one hand the fastest. And don’t forget to switch hands.
- Try shifting two chopsticks at a time, one in each hand. Try a race.
Skill Overview
In-hand manipulation is the ability to move a small object in a single hand without the assistance of the other hand. There are three components to in-hand manipulations skills: Shift, rotation, and translation. Shift is the ability to move an object between the fingertips in a forward and backward motion. This skill is seen in adjusting a pencil before writing. See below for additional information on the skill of rotation and translation (tasks 2, 3, and 4).
Fine Motor Task #2: Simple Rotation An In-Hand Manipulation Skill
Materials: Chopsticks
Fine Motor Task
Using a chopstick, turn or rotate the chopstick between the pads of your fingertips. This same motion is used when turning on a lamp or spinning a spin top. Switch hands.
Challenge
- Now, using the same motion, change direction so that the chopstick spins in the opposite direction. Switch hands. Try with both hands at the same time.
Skill Overview
As stated above, in-hand manipulation is the ability to move a small object in a single hand without the assistance of the other hand. There are three components that demonstrate in-hand manipulations: Shift, rotation, and translation. Rotation is the ability to rotate or turn a small object between the pads of your fingers. There are two subcomponents of rotation: Simple and complex. Simple rotation, as seen in this exercise, occurs when a small object is rotated or twisted between the pads of your fingers no more than 90 degrees. This same skill is seen when turning a lamp on and off or when rotating a spin top. See fine motor task #3 below for an explanation of complex rotation.
Fine Motor Task #3: Complex Rotation An In-Hand Manipulation Skill
Materials: Chopsticks
Fine Motor Task
Practice flipping one chopstick from one end to another between the pads of your fingers as if your were rotating a drum stick between your fingertips. Make sure to switch hands.
Challenge
- Practice rotation with a friend or family member. See how long you can keep it going. Make sure to change hands.
Skill Overview
As stated above, the in-hand manipulation skill of simple rotation is the ability to turn an object between the pads of the thumb and index finger. Complex rotation is the ability to roll or turn an object from end to end by 180-360 degrees such as when flipping a pencil from the lead to the eraser, or flipping a coin between your fingers. This skill is also seen when drummers twirl their drum sticks.
Fine Motor Task 4: Translation An In-Hand Manipulation Skill
Materials: Chopsticks
Fine Motor Task
Place the chopstick in the palm of your hand, and move it to your fingertips as seen in the picture above. Then bring it back to the palm of your hand. Repeat. Switch hands and repeat again.
Challenge
- Complete the same task as stated, but this time use both hands at the same time working on bilateral coordination.
Skill Overview:
Another component of in-hand manipulation skills is translation. Translation allows you to move small objects from the palm of the hand to the fingers tip, and vice versa. For example, you use translation when bringing coins from the palm of your hand to your fingers when counting or making change.
Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body together to complete a motor action. During the challenge portion of this task, participants are asked to use both hands together symmetrically.
Fine Motor Task #5: Wrap It With A Pipe Cleaner
Materials: Chopsticks, pipe cleaners
Fine Motor Task
Using two hands together, hold the chopstick and one end of the pipe cleaner with one hand while wrapping the entire pipe cleaner around the chopstick with the other. Wrap it snuggly. Switch hands and do it again.
Challenge
- Complete the same task with a friend or family member and race to see who can wrap it the fastest.
- Once wrapped, remove the pipe cleaner from the chopstick to make a pipe cleaner spring. Practice the pincer grasp as well as fine motor strengthening by pinching the pine cleaner spring together with the tips of the thumb and index finger. Wrap the chopstick with two pipe cleaners to give the spring a little more resistance.
Skill Overview
Both bilateral coordination and the pincer grasp are used during this fine motor activity. Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body together in a coordinated manner to complete a motor action. In this task, asymmetrical bilateral coordination is used as the hands are used in different ways to complete the task.
The pincer grasp is the ability to pick up and grasp a small object such as a bead, or the spring in this exercise, using the tips of the index finger and thumb.
Fine Motor Task #6: Push It Through Playdoh or Putty
Materials: Chopsticks and playdough, putty, or modeling clay
Fine Motor Task
Grab a medium sized ball of playdoh or modeling clay, and hold between the pads of your fingers. Practice pushing your chopstick into the ball using your finger muscles. It’s important to note, this task does not involve stabbing the ball of dough, but instead using precision and those fine motor muscles to gently move only the fingers forward and backward to push the chopstick through (not the hand and arm). If needed, place the ball of playdoh on the countertop and practice this same exercise.
Challenge
- Practice rotating the ball of dough in the palm of your hand as needed to make space for additional holes.
- Create a specific predetermined design using the end of your chopstick making a small hole in the play doh or putty. For example, make a smiley face, shapes, or tree using the end of your chopstick.
Skill Overview
This exercise works on strengthening the muscles needed for a functional tripod grasp when holding the chopstick and moving the fingers toward and away from the playdoh or modeling clay. This fine motor action works on strengthening the web space along with the fine motor muscles of the fingers. The web space is the space between your thumb and index finger seen when holding a pencil. This is where the pencil rests in a functional tripod grasp. Of course, the skill of bilateral coordination is also being used in this exercise as well.
Fine Motor Task #7: Roll On Countertop
Materials: Chopsticks
Fine Motor Task
Using one chopstick, roll the chopstick back and forth across the counter using one or both hands as if rolling out a snake using playdoh.
Challenge
- Using two chopsticks and both hands, roll the chopsticks on the counter as stated above using both hands rolling two chopsticks forward at the same time. Then back at the same time.
- Now, move your hands in opposite directions so that one hand goes forward while the other hand rolls the chopstick back.
- With one chopstick sandwiched between both hands, roll the chopstick back and forth between the palms of your hands without dropping it.
Skill Overview
This exercise focuses on bilateral coordination as well. Both symmetrical and reciprocal bilateral coordination are in use.
Fine Motor Task #8: Place Rings
Materials: Chopsticks and metal washers, beads with large holes, or pipe cleaners made into small rings.
Fine Motor Task
Collect metal washers, beads with a wide center hole, or even cut and make rings out of pipe cleaners. Practice placing the rings on the chopstick using one hand to hold the chopstick while the other using a pincer grasp or 3-prong grasp placing the bead or washer on the chopstick as seen in the picture or video.
Challenge
- Race with a friend or family member by placing the beads, washers, or pipe cleaner rings on your chopstick as quickly as possible.
Skill Overview
This task uses both the pincer grasp and bilateral coordination. The pincer grasp uses the tips of the index finger and thumb to pick up small items while the 3-prong grasp uses the tips of the index, middle finger and thumb to pick up small items. While bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body in a coordinated manner to complete a motor action. In this task, bilateral coordination are being used in an asymmetrical way meaning that the right and left sides of the body are doing different tasks to complete the activity.
Fine Motor Task #9: Chopsticks As Tweezers
Materials: Chopsticks, 1” wide notebook paper strip approximately 8” long, 2-3 rubber bands, and small items to pick up such as beads, cotton balls, pom poms, or small pieces of crumpled paper.
Fine Motor Task
Using a 1” wide rolled piece of paper, 2-3 rubber bands, and both sides of the chopsticks to make tweezers. Place the rolled paper between the chopsticks at the top, then wrap a rubber band around all sides of the rolled paper as seen in the picture above. Add a second or third rubber band to increase resistance.
Use the tweezers to pick up small items such as small pieces of crumpled paper, beads, cotton balls, pom poms, or even grapes or green peas. Release in a designated area.
Challenge
- On a table top, place two cups in front of the person on each side at a good reaching distance. Pick up a small item using the chopsticks, followed by reaching across the midline of the body to place it in the opposite cup keeping the truck straight, not twisting it to the side. Now change hands, pick up items and reach across the midline to place the item in the opposite cup.
- Using a variety of items, sort the items as they are picked up based on color, size, use, etc., while sitting at a table or while on all fours.
Skill Overview
This task encourages the use the tripod grasp while handling the chopstick tweezers. This is a great way to work on strengthening handwriting and pre-writing skills. The challenge portion of the tasks requires participants to reach across midline while placing the items in the designated cup. Crossing midline is the ability to reach across the middle of the body with the arms or legs. When someone demonstrates difficulties crossing midline, it could result in difficulties performing daily tasks, hand preference, and forming letters. Crossing the midline helps to strengthen the communication between the right and left hemispheres of the brain as with bilateral coordination.
Final Thoughts
Chopsticks are a great way to work on a variety of fine motor skills, aren’t they? From in-hand manipulation skills to the pincer grasp and bilateral coordination, there are so many different things you can do with chopsticks. Have you thought of another fine motor exercise using chopsticks? Let us all know in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you!
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Resources
- Fine motor red flags by the Cleveland Clinic
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