Fingergym
Gayle Brook, Amy Wagenfeld, and Cathy Thompson
‘Fingergym™ is all about trying’ (Jack, age 5)
The importance of learning
fine motor skills early in childhood is well recognised as a major contributor
to better adjustment at school. Children who feel comfortable and confident at
home with everyday tasks such as tying shoelaces are able to deal better with
the challenges of new learnings and social experiences that a classroom brings.
In the words of one experienced educator, "Simple skills like the ability
to hold a pencil correctly or cut with scissors underpin a child's whole
schooling and attitude to learning."
The Fingergym™ Fine Motor Skills School Readiness Program was
developed by experienced occupational therapy and education professionals in Australia to help young children become more independent in the classroom.
Since 2006 it has been used across schools and early learning centres around
the country and remains popular with educators for its unique fun-based
motivational learning approach. The most common feedback from educators is how
much the children and themselves enjoy the program.
Fingergym is an
evidence-based, group rotation program incorporating play-based learning to
encourage problem-solving by "having a go", no matter what the
outcome. In this way, children learn confidence and resilience in the classroom
while mastering essential developmental skills.
This program is a must-have for any preschool, kindergarten, prep, or primary educational setting. Fingergym™ incorporates play-based learning to encourage problem-solving by "having a go”, no matter what the outcome. In
Includes over 140 activities covering aspects such as strengthening, kinaesthesia, proprioception, spatial planning, eye-hand coordination, fine motor speed, letter and number formation, and cutting.
Published as a book with downloadable resource files, Fingergym™ is based on a firm theoretical background and comes with full instructions, customizable forms, printable templates and sheets, and a timed musical track to guide children through their activities. Helpful curriculum links to such areas as mathematics, science, language, reading, writing, and art allow integration of the program with teaching requirements.