Activities to Develop the Arches of the Hand

Arches shape your hand when you are holding a pen or pencil. Arches allow for skilled movement of your fingers when you are using a pen or pencil. 

These activities help develop your arches: 

• Placing small things into your palm, such as rice or small rocks 
• Holding a small ball in your palm; maintaining hand position after the ball is removed 
• Shaking dice by cupping your hands together so you can hear the dice rattle 
• Practicing doing the “ltsy Bitsy Spider” finger play 
• Cutting clay with a plastic knife; placing your index finger on top of the knife 
• Doing screwdriver activities like those found in Erector® sets or other take-apart toys 
• Outlining or coloring shapes 
• Holding the handle of a cup with your fingertips 
• Opening and closing jar lids or laundry detergent caps 
• Molding clay into the palm of your hand; rolling the clay into large balls with your hands facing each other and with your fingers slightly curled toward your palm 
• Tearing newspaper into strips 
• Drawing on a vertical Magna Doodle® 
• Building towers with small plastic cups or blocks 
• Using a scissors to cut materials like cardboard or manila folders 

Ask your therapist if you have any questions about the activities listed above.

Ideas adapted from Mary Benbow’s hand skills.