Water Activities To Improve Fine Motor Skills In A Child With Down Syndrome
Hand strength is SO important. A child with weak hands will struggle with activities that require strength such as zipping zippers, buttoning buttons, cutting with scissors, writing, drawing, opening containers as well as packets.
Hey Mama Bears, before you read more, full disclosure here. There are affiliate links in this post so if you click on the link and buy the product I will earn a small commission. Now that we’re clear on that let’s get back to rocking life with special needs!
What Are Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills is the ability to use the small muscles in your hands and fingers to perform movements such as buttoning your pants, zipping your coat, or writing your name.
Why Are Fine Motor Skills Important For Children With Down Syndrome?
If a child lacks hand strength and has difficulty with fine motor skills therefore struggling with tasks such as writing their name or opening their lunch box it can impact their self esteem and cause frustration.
Frustration can lead to undesired behaviors. I know when I’m frustrated I may not always be kind!
I’ve also observed how it can lead to our kids with Down Syndrome just giving up and completely relying on others to do things for them which is not ideal!
Improving hand strength and fine motor skills will help our children with Down Syndrome be more independent.
Unfortunately, due to the low muscle tone that’s often found in individuals with Down Syndrome many do have difficulties with fine motor skills. Helping our children with Down Syndrome strengthen their hand muscles is a good idea. The earlier you start the better and you want to try and make it as fun as possible. As soon as Max thinks he’s doing therapy rather than playing his interest drops FAST!
For most kids anything involving water is just plain fun so I’m sharing activities you can do at home involving water to help make little hands stronger!
Now anytime you do anything with water you need to watch your child so as to avoid any injury. Remember Mama Bears, you know you, your child, and your family best so decide what’s right for you!
Not only are these activities fun, they also involve many things you already have around the house so no need to run out and buy stuff!
Activities Using Water To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome
Activity #1 To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome: Create Art Using A Spray Bottle
Items Needed:
Spray bottle filled with water
What To Do: Put blobs of paint on the canvas. With it upright, have your child spray it with the water bottle.
In the picture you can see there’s both a spray bottle and a squirt gun. You can use either. Choose what is right for your child and family.
I put the canvas in a picture holder I bought at the dollar store but you can use anything to prop up the canvas.
Activity #2 To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome: Sponge Fun
Items Needed:
What To Do: Fill one bowl with water and leave the other empty. Have your child put the sponge into the bowl of water and then squeeze the water out into the empty bowl. See how quickly they can transfer all the water.
If your child does well with modeling or likes to race, set out four bowls with two filled with water and two empty. Model for your child what to do. If your child likes to race then race your child to see who can fill their empty bowl first.
If your child’s hands tire easily start out with a smaller bowl and increase the size as they gain strength.
Activity #3 To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome: Drawing With Q-Tips
Items Needed:
Small bowl of water
What To Do: Draw a picture on the chalkboard or write the alphabet. Have your child “erase” it by dipping a Q-tip in the bowl of water and trace over the chalk drawing or alphabet. If you don’t have a chalkboard and chalk you can substitute a dry erase board and dry erase markers.
Start out with easier things like a big circle for your child to trace or a wavy line, then move to several shapes or an easy picture, and then have them trace letters.
This is a fun and easy way to practice writing letters of the alphabet.
Activity #4 To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome: Dropper Art
Items Needed:
Droppers or pipettes
What To Do: Fill several small bowls or cups with water and add about 10 drops of food coloring in each. Give your child several colors to choose from such as red, blue, and yellow. Have your child draw up the colored water and then drip it onto the paper towel to create art. I would recommend you put something down underneath the paper towel such as a plastic tablecloth or a large sheet pan for easy clean up and avoiding stains.
In this picture we used a large sheet pan to help contain the mess. You could also use an ice cube tray rather than small bowls.
Dropper Art
Activity #5 To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome: Water Table Entertainment
Items Needed:
What To Do: Put water in the water table or fill the plastic tub with some water. Put measuring cups, measuring spoons, a turkey baster, and other fun kitchen utensils in the tub or table and let your child play! If doing this indoors, put down a large plastic tablecloth to protect your floors.
Add bubbles, sponges, and an ice cube tray filled with different colors of water for extra fun!
Activity #6 To Improve Hand Strength In A Child With Down Syndrome: Squirt Gun Game
Items Needed:
Squirt gun filled with water
What To Do: Stack the cups into a pyramid shape. Have your child use the squirt gun to try and knock a cup over by shooting water at it.
You will probably want to do this activity outside or on your porch or deck!
All of these activities are super fun, engaging, and will help strengthen your little one’s hands improving stability.
According to the book Fine Motor Skills For Children With Down Syndrome, stability, bilateral coordination, and sensation are the foundation on which your child’s fine motor skills are built.
A strong foundation will help your child rock all of those fine motor skills!
There you have it Mama Bears! I hope this post will help you and your child rock this special life!
If you enjoyed it then be sure to check out…
5 Toys To Help Your Toddler With Down Syndrome Improve Fine Motor Skills
The Best Toys For Your Toddler With Down Syndrome
The 10 Best Books For A Mom Of A Young Child With Down Syndrome
Dandelion Tribe Takeaway: Hand strength is super important for performing activities such as buttoning, zipping a zipper, opening containers.
Mama Bear Share: What activities do you like to do with your child to strengthen their hands?