Developing Skillful Hands

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated June 26, 2025
All students benefit from developing strength, coordination, and dexterity in their hands. For students who are blind or visually impaired, strong and skillful hands are especially important—they serve as the primary tools for gathering information and interacting with the world. This is especially true for future braille learners, who must develop the fine motor precision needed to use the braillewriter and slate and stylus effectively. 
Tip: Collaborate with your school’s Occupational Therapist for additional support and activity ideas. The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) also offers an excellent list of motor activities to support pre-braille development.

​Why Fine Motor Skills Matter

​Students with visual impairments rely on their hands not just for exploration, but also for learning, communication, and independence. Developing fine motor skills helps with:
  • Manipulating learning tools (e.g., stylus, braillewriter, math materials)
  • Exploring textures and shapes tactually
  • Engaging in activities of daily living
  • Building independence in classroom and community tasks
Key fine motor skill areas include:
  • Palmar grasp
  • Pincer grasp
  • Finger isolation
  • Bilateral hand use
  • Rotary motion
  • Tactual tracking
  • Grip strength
  • Hand-eye (or hand-hand) coordination
Students benefit from hands-on exploration with a variety of tactile materials and meaningful practice in fun, motivating ways.

Finger Strength and Grip Activities

Strong fingers and proper grip are essential for braille writing and tool use. These age-neutral activities help develop hand strength:
  • Squeeze sponges during water play or cleaning
  • Use bulb syringes to transfer water in science or art
  • Pop bubble wrap (a favorite for all ages!)
  • Use clothespins to clip items or close snack bags
  • Pick up small objects with toaster tongs or tweezers
  • Crumple paper and toss it into a bin or use it in crafts
  • Tear paper into strips or shapes
  • Use scissors on different textures and paper weights
  • Try hole punches or shaped craft punches
  • Squeeze spray bottles for watering plants or art
  • Hide beads, coins, or bingo chips in putty or play-doh, then find, count, and sort them
  • Knead dough (gluten-free if needed for allergies)

​Encouraging Object Manipulation

​Once students begin to explore objects, encourage them to actively manipulate them:
  • Shake, bang, poke, pull, push, twist, and squeeze
  • Use containers with varied shapes and lids to open, close, and explore
  • Wrap and unwrap objects in cloth or paper
  • Offer stacking, nesting, and sorting activities
  • Guide students to use both hands in coordinated ways (e.g., stabilizing with one hand while manipulating with the other)
Demonstrate how to perform actions to expand the student’s play repertoire and problem-solving abilities.

​Engaging Activities to Build Skillful Hands

​These fun and purposeful activities support both fine motor development and pre-braille readiness:
  • Press buttons on a calculator, toy register, or keyboard
  • Peel stickers, tags, or tape from items (e.g., groceries, containers)
  • Turn a gumball machine lever to retrieve a treat
  • Race wind-up toys across a table or floor
  • String beads on pipe cleaners or elastic—try beads of different textures and shapes
  • Use a foam board and toy hammer to pound in pegs and create designs
  • Use a Lite Brite to create visual or tactile patterns (great for students with low vision)
  • Assemble nuts and bolts—choose oversized ones for younger students
  • Build with LEGOs—follow instructions or create original designs
  • Use lacing cards made from greeting cards or craft foam
  • Sequence measuring spoons and clip them to a ring
  • Create patterns on a pegboard with different-shaped pegs
  • Explore jars and containers with screw-top, pop-up, or snap-on lids
Consider adding small tools or safe electronics (like old radios or flashlights) for exploration and "taking apart" practice.

Resources for Motor Skill Development

​Printable Motor Activities Handout
You’re welcome to download and print the Motor Activities to Develop Pre-Braille Skills handout—great for sharing with families and team members.

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