Mommy Life: Stickers, coloring books, and pincer grasp

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November 20, 2006 9:04 PM

Stickers, coloring books, and pincer grasp - plus Christmas advice

From today's mail:

Dear Barbara,
I have heard that stickers are a very good play activity for small children (ages 3-6) . Carefully removing the sticker from the back sheet allows the child to use her thumb and forefinger and therefore helps develop the brain for what I don't know.

Have you heard anything about this activity to support this theory?

Thanks very much,

S.

Absolutely! Besides being fun for kids, stickers are a great activity for developing concentration (because of the care with which they need to be removed) and the pincer grasp. You first see the pincer grasp in a young baby when he or she picks up Cheerios (an added benefit of this independence-encouraging finger food). The pincer grasp is extremely important because the more these muscles are tuned, the easier it will be for the child to learn to write.

Remember, the things we take for granted as adults are actually the culmination of a lot of work when we were young and eager to learn.

So yes - stickers are a great activity for developing pincer grasp. Anything involving picking up small items with fingers or tweezers is good. Coloring books are also a wonderful way to refine pincer grasp for future writing skills.

In fact, quality coloring books and quality pencils are a great investment for developing pincer grasp and concentration. You might consider investing in these for Christmas before any techno-toys. Dover makes at least a hundred classy coloring books with subjects to interest, entertain, and educate every boy and girl. You can link to them through my Amazon store. And Prisma makes the very best color pencils worth every extra penny for their smooth creamy texture - perfect for children!

When you are thinking of presents for your children this Christmas, before you actually buy anything, please read through some of Barbara's Picks. It's not just that I want to sell you anything - although I do get a small percentage when you link to Amazon through my site - but each of the recommendations I have there has an explanation of why it is good for your child.

Although it's easy to get lured by the newest "stuff" available, it could be an even better Christmas if you invest wisely in the things that will really be of most benefit to your child - and if you mention useful items to grandparents who are looking for suggestions. When you begin thinking this way, it will mean a lot less clutter even as you provide solid opportunities for your child to learn and grow.

Also, as you will see when my new books come out, a laminating machine can be a mom's best friend. If someone asks you what you want and you can't think of anything, that's a really good idea!

Love,