Hand control is the ability to accurately use and manipulate objects, utensils, tools and even fingers in isolation for functional task performance. Finger strength is one of the most significant underlying abilities that impacts a child’s ability to demonstrate hand control. It influences the ability to maintain effective finger positioning for very precise movements required of many fine motor tasks (e.g. drawing, writing, cutting).
Poor hand control can affect a child’s ability to eat, write neatly, use a computer, turn pages in a book and perform personal care tasks, such as dressing and grooming. If hand control is compromised, it can influence attention to academic tasks, ease of transition into school and a child’s ability to display their intellectual capacity on paper or in assessment.
With the advent of technology, many people think there is less of a need to develop hand control for pencil skills. What they fail to realise is that the same hand control skills are required for effective computing skills as for writing.
If a child has difficulties with hand control they might have:
Therapeutic intervention to help a child with hand control difficulties is important to:
When children have difficulties with hand control, they are might also have difficulties with:
If your child has difficulties with hand control, it is recommended they consult an Occupational Therapist.
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