Next, let’s talk about HOW we can use these tracing printables:
I tend to use these printables without a writing utensil. Instead, I have the child use their index finger. I would also laminate them for durability!
POSITIONS TO COMPLETE THE ACTIVITIES IN:
- sitting at a table
- prone over a ball
- prone propped on elbows
- all 4’s
- standing with the tracing activities taped to the wall
- side sitting
- 1/2 kneeling with the activities taped to the wall
- Spread the tracing printables around the room and have the child use a scooter or animal crawl from one to the other
The variety of positions can either simplify the task or make it more challenging. Different positions can also work on other needs like weight bearing to the arms and hands working on arm strength, input to the muscles of the hands, core strength, and balance.
Want to crank up the difficulty a bit? Add an unstable surface to really kick in the core and work on balance!
Here are some different variations you can try:
In the first picture, some of the tracing activities were used as part of a warm-up activity at the beginning of our OT session. This idea can also be implemented into a sensory path, too. I like to use the carpet footprints HERE and the stepping stones HERE for activities!
In the next picture, I had the child get on all 4’s with his knees on a seating disc like this one. The orange arrow helped him know where to put his helper hand to stabilize the tracing printable and the buzzer (which the kids LOVE to use by the way!) was used as a crossing midline activity to hit after he was done tracing. Here’s the answer buzzers that add a little extra fun to our work sessions!
As with all activities on THE FINE MOTOR DETECTIVE, please use proper safety awareness and adult supervision. These activities are not to take the place of medical or therapeutic intervention.