Thumb opposition refers to a child’s ability to move his thumb and fingers to be able to touch one another. Show
*This post contains affiliate links. Read more. The typical full range of motion for thumb opposition allows us to reach the thumb to touch the base of the fifth finger (small finger) and begins to become functional during infancy as babies learn to grasp objects purposefully. This is an incredibly important fine motor skill for kids, as it allows them to grasp and use tools and objects efficiently by rotating the thumb so it can touch the fingertips. Kids use opposition when they grasp eating utensils, a toy hammer, or a paint brush. They also use opposition of the thumb and fingers to grasp and manipulate small objects like a piece of cereal or a bead. When the muscles that produce thumb opposition are strong, kids are also able to maintain a strong, open web space (the space between the thumb and index finger), allowing them to grasp writing utensils efficiently without becoming fatigued. Abnormal pencil grasp patterns (e.g. wrapping or tucking the thumb) can often be attributed to weakness in the muscles that are responsible for thumb opposition. There are many fun ways to help kids work on this important developmental skill. Whenever kids are working on grasping skills, they’re also working on opposition. Here are some great ways to practice: -Squeezing clips and clothespins -Help kids make their own Personalized Caterpillar Craft! -Use finger puppets to help kids become familiar with the movement of the thumb toward their fingers. Have the “thumb puppet” try to “kiss” each of the puppets on the other fingers. You could even try making your own finger puppets! -Try some fun fingerplays with kids to work on opposition in a playful way. -Pushing and pulling pegs in and out of peg boards -Playing with tongs and tweezers. Try this Feed the Elephant activity to add a little interest and imagination! -Squeezing and squishing are great for developing strength in the muscles of the thumb and hand. -Kids love this Baby Bumblebee Song and Activity – one of our most popular activities! Sign up to receive our newsletter, a weekly roundup of our favorite posts and other great finds from around the web delivered right to your inbox! The following two tabs change content below.
Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on October 25, 2021
The pincer grasp is the ability to hold something between the thumb and first finger. This skill usually develops in babies around 9 to 10 months old. The pincer grasp is an important fine-motor milestone. Children use their pincer grasp to pick things up and feed themselves, and it lays the foundation for a good pencil grip when they start school. Your baby may not develop a pincer grasp until they are nearing the end of their first year, but a lot of fine motor development comes before that. Grasping milestones include: Reflexive grasp. When your baby is a newborn, they will automatically grasp anything you put in their hand. This is called the palmar reflex grasp. It usually goes away by 6 months of age. Crude palmar grasp. Around 4 months, your baby will start to use their palm to hold objects that you put in their hand. This is called a crude palmar grasp. They may also start to reach for things. Ulnar palmar grasp. Shortly after the crude palmar grasp, your baby will develop the ulnar palmar grasp. This happens when they hold an object more toward the pinkie side of their hand. They will still use the palmar grasp, and the thumb isn't involved yet. Raking grasp. When your baby is about 6 months old, they will start using a raking grasp to pick up objects. They use all of their fingers at the same time to pick up an object. Radial palmar grasp. This is the first time your baby will start to use their thumb to help grasp small objects. Their fingers will curl around the object, and their thumb will stabilize it on the side. Scissors grasp. As your baby's thumb dexterity increases, they will be able to grasp a small object such as a raisin between their thumb and the side of their curled index finger. This will happen when your baby is around 8 months old. Radial digital grasp. When your baby is about 9 months old, they will be able to hold an object between their fingers and thumb. They won't need to use their palm for stabilization. Inferior pincer grasp. Before your baby gets a refined pincer grasp, they use an inferior pincer grasp. In this grip, your baby holds a small object between their thumb and forefinger using the pads. The object will be more toward the thumb side of the hand. Superior pincer grasp. Around the time of your baby's first birthday, they will have a fully developed fine pincer grasp. They will be able to pick up small objects with the tips of their thumb and index finger. They will also start using one finger to point at things that capture their interest. Some activities and toys can support the development of your baby’s pincer grasp. The hand movements used while playing will help increase the strength and dexterity of their thumb and first finger. Some activities should be avoided or limited while your baby's fine motor skills are developing. Age-appropriate toys. Your baby will naturally progress through these developmental milestones. Much of their play at this age will consist of exploring their environment through their senses. Although you will be their favorite playmate, there are some developmentally appropriate toys you can offer, including:
Avoid technology. A 2017 study showed that children with the best pencil grip in kindergarten used the least technology at home. They also took part in more fine motor activities at home. Fine motor skills in kindergarten are associated with later achievement in school. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatricians recommends no screen time for children under 18 months, other than video calls. Babies don't learn well from screens, despite what marketers may claim. Babies need face-to-face interaction to learn. All babies reach different milestones at different times, but if you are concerned about your baby's pincer grasp development or fine motor skills, talk to your doctor. Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Proper pencil grasp development for writing starts a lot earlier than you think in children. From the time your child starts grasping for objects with their hands, they are developing grasps. If your child has ever received or been evaluated for Occupational Therapy, this is one thing that the therapist will be looking at when assessing their handwriting skills.  This post was last updated in September 2017 with updated information on static/dynamic tripod grasps and references. Before we get started here are some term definitions that will help explain some of the hand grasps:
Typical Pencil Grasp Development in KidsLet's start at the beginning. Again these are average ages ranges, every child is different. If you do suspect your child is behind in their development, please talk to your pediatrician or consult with your local Occupational Therapist. Crude Palmar Grasp – 3-5 Months Old
Palmar Grasp – 6 Months OldYour child will start using their entire hand to grasp at objects, including some thumb movement. This is called a Palmar Grasp. Radial Palmar Grasp – 7 Months OldThey will begin to involve the thumb and all fingers while using more of the thumb side of their hand to grab objects or using a radial palmar grasp. Raking Grasp – 8 Months OldBy 8 months your child will start to use a raking type grasp. This involves bending (or flexing) the fingers to bring objects into the hand and closer to them. Radial Digital Grasp – 8-10 MonthsBetween 8-10 months old your child will start to perfect the pincer grasp using a Radial Digital Grasp & Inferior Pincer Grasp. A radial grasp refers to the fingers from the middle finger to thumb doing the grasping. As pictured, the child tends to use the pads of their fingers to grasp instead of the tips. Inferior Pincer & Pincer Grasp – 10 Months OldBy the age of 10.2 months, they should be able to use a thumb-finger grasp (pincer grasp). The difference between the Inferior Pincer Grasp and a regular Pincer grasp is all in the placement of the fingertips. The index and thumb are used in for this grasp. If the pads of the fingers are holding the object, that is an Inferior Pincer Grasp. A true pincer grasp is using the tips of the pointer finger and thumb. You may also see this referred to as the “Pincher” grasp, however, the correct spelling is “Pincer”. Palmar Supinate Grasp – 12-15 months oldAt this age, a young toddler begins use a palmar supinate grasp. It is a fisted grasp with the thumb wrapped at the top of the writing utensil. This is usually accompanied by scribbling. This is considered a primitive grasp. Digital Pronate Grasp – 2-3 Years OldBy 2-3 years old, a child moves to a digital pronate grasp, pictured below. This is the beginning of an efficient looking hand grasp. The fingers are now pointed down towards the bottom of the writing utensil, however, all the fingers are being used along with a lot of whole arm movements. This is also a common grasp for self-feeding with utensils. Static Tripod and/or Quadrupod Grasp – 3-4 Years OldBy age 3 to 4 a child will switch to a static tripod grasp or quadrupod grasp. They hold the writing utensils crudely and use the whole pads of their fingers on the writing utensil. There also may still be some wrist and forearm movement to move the pencil, with the fingers not moving, or static. The static tripod grasp is a 3 finger grasp, two fingers pinching the writing utensil and the 3rd (middle) finger tucked to the side of the pencil, forming a tripod. The 4th and 5th fingers are usually static next to these fingers and do not tuck into the palm of the hand yet. A quadrupod grasp is also referred to as a 4 finger grasp, 3 fingers being on the pencil and then tucked on the 4th finger. It can also be static or dynamic. Dynamic is pictured below. Dynamic Tripod Grasp – 5-6 Years OldBy the time your child hits kindergarten, they will use the most mature grasp, the dynamic tripod/quadruped grasp. They will use the tips of their fingers on the writing utensil and also hold the crayon/pencil more at an angle than vertical. This is much like an adult grasp. Their finger movements are also dynamic, which means they move back in forth without any forearm or minimal wrist movement (the arm will be resting on the table or writing surface instead of floating above). This grasp is also referred to as a 3-finger grasp, the first 2 fingers on the pencil while resting on the middle finger. The 4th and 5th fingers are tucked into the palm of the hand and help to stabilize the hand on the table. Again, these are average ages ranges and every child is different. This does give you a good idea of what to look for as your child starts to explore the wonderful world of writing. If you would like to get printable cards of all these hand grasps, complete with descriptions and photos, you can check out my hand grasp development cards here. There is a digital and printed version available. They are great to have on hand in your classroom as you evaluate students. Or in your home or therapy sessions as a handy resource and reminder. References “From Rattles to Writing – A Parent's Guide to Hand Skills” – Barbara Smith, MS, OTR/L “The Handwriting Book” – Functional Skills for Kids Pediatric Therapist Team “Pencil Grip – A Descriptive Model and Four Empirical Studies.” – Ann-Sofie Selin, Masters in special education. “The Fine Motor Olympics Manual” – Marcia P. Bridgeman For more handwriting tips like this one, check out my Handwriting Pinterest board below. Follow Heather | Growing Hands-On Kids's board Handwriting Tips and Activities on Pinterest.You May Also Like: |
At about what age, do the fingers and the thumb start opposing each other to grasp an object?
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