Activities to Develop Thumb and Web Space Skills

Your thumb grips a pen or pencil opposite your index finger and finger tips to allow for better finger manipulation. 

These activities may help develop your thumb and webspace skills: 

• Shuffling cards.
• Closing Ziploc® bags by touching the tips of your index finger and thumb to make a circle.
• Playing Jenga®.
• Picking up dominos between your thumb and index finger.
• Making the letter “L” with your writing hand.
• Coloring while maintaining a tripod grasp on the crayon.
• Buttoning and unbuttoning.
• Twiddling your thumbs.
• Using clothespins.
• Making small clay balls.
• Dressing large dolls or stuffed animals in oversized sweaters with big buttons.
• Sewing cards.

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

Ideas adapted from Mary Benbow’s hand skills.