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.