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Rolling Pins and Handwriting: What's the Connection?
 We all know that children love to use rolling pins with Play Doh®, but did you know that rolling pins foster development of the precision muscles of the hands? The precision muscles of the hands are the muscles that support the tripod pencil grasp and allow the child to adjust the amount of pressure when holding a pencil. The action of rolling a rolling pin with hands flat and fingers alternating between extended and curved is a natural action by a child who is using a rolling pin to help make real or faux cookies! Explaining this developmental rationale to other educators, administrators, and parents is one essential example of how to connect theory to our practice and convey the incredible value of hands-on, early childhood experiences. Provide a wide variety of rolling pins in the kitchen and art station to create multiple opportunities for children to build their hand skills and maintain interest in pattern making. See our Dough Roller that leaves a neat pattern without Play Doh® sticking to it! I also love our Pizza Cutter for a fun way to develop the longitudinal arch of the hand (needed for holding a pencil). In my workshops, I always reinforce the use of rolling pins, pizza cutters, and other art tools, as fun ways to build the hand skills young children need for future, efficient handwriting! Be sure to engage young children in kneading the dough in our fabulous recipe below for Kool-Aid Playdough. Children love to knead dough, which strengthens their hands and allows them to gain conficence as your big helpers! This hands-on activity is sure to provide hours of summer fun. Roll thorough a fabulous summer...Write Out of the Box! Marianne |
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Terrific Tools for Tons of Fun |
