Early Intervention Every Day!

Embedding Activities in Daily Routines for Young Children and Their Families

by Merle J. Crawford, M.S., OTR/L, BCBA, CIMI and Barbara Weber, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCBA

About the Authors

Merle J. Crawford, M.S., OTR/L, BCBA, CIMI

Merle J. Crawford is an occupational therapist with a private practice in central Pennsylvania. She has a bachelor of science degree in special education and elementary education and a master’s degree in occupational therapy. In addition, she holds graduate certificates in applied behavior analysis and autism. Merle works primarily with infants and toddlers in early intervention, integrating strategies from her varied training when coaching families and working with young children.

Barbara Weber, M.S., CCC-SLP, BCBA

Barbara Weber is a speech-language pathologist who has a private practice in central Pennsylvania. She received her bachelor of science and master’s degrees in communication disorders. Barbara has a graduate certificate in applied behavior analysis and has worked with children and adults with a variety of disabilities for more than 30 years in various settings. Her primary clinical focus is on infants and toddlers, working collaboratively with families to integrate routine-based intervention.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills are small muscle movements, generally related to hands. They are influenced by larger muscles that give a stable base for the smaller muscles. For example, proper shoulder muscle function is essential for good hand movement. Positioning is important when working on fine motor skills; children should be as stable as possible so they can focus on the tasks without the distraction of maintaining an upright position.

Fine motor skills are also affected by visual skills. Good visual attention and tracking directly correlate with the ability to perform fine motor tasks, such as stacking blocks. This chapter describes milestones of fine motor skills, their relevance, and ways to coach caregivers in facilitating the child’s development through daily routines.

Visual Fixation and Attention

• Importance: Prerequisite for tracking and reaching.
• Incorporation into Routines: Use common objects during daily activities to draw attention and encourage focus.

Tips and Hints

• Making silly sounds and funny faces can help maintain the child's interest in faces.
• Minimize distractions to help the child focus.

Visual Tracking

Tracking involves the eyes following objects or movement and is crucial for understanding the environment.

• Incorporation into Routines: Move toys in front of the child and encourage them to follow with their eyes during playtimes.

Tips and Hints

• Ensure the child’s head is stable during tracking exercises.

Batting and Reaching

• Importance: Develops eye-hand coordination and cognitive understanding of cause and effect.
• Incorporation into Routines: Encourage reaching for toys during bath time, bedtime, and playtime.

Grasping

Grasping is the ability to hold objects, crucial for developing play skills and self-care:

• Incorporation into Routines: Offer various objects during bath time and mealtime for the child to grasp.

Transferring from Hand to Hand

Transferring refers to moving an object between hands, aiding in refining grasping skills:

• Incorporation into Routines: During diaper changes or mealtime, facilitate hand transfers with small toys or food items.

Summary

Understanding these skills and how to integrate them into daily routines can significantly enhance a child’s fine motor development. The chapter also encourages consultation with occupational and physical therapists for specific cases or needs.