What is in-hand manipulation?
In-hand manipulation is the ability to manipulate objects with one’s hand. These fine motor movements are vital in our everyday life. When you are moving something within your hand, you are using in-hand manipulation skills. This is an important skill necessary for writing, opening containers, using door handles, placing coins in a vending machine, etc. There are three different components to in-hand manipulation: translation, shift, and rotation. A combination of any of the three skills can be used in all fine motor tasks. A child might show difficulty with in-hand manipulation if you see them using two hands to complete a task that usually requires one, doing a task unnecessarily close to their body or touching their chest, or placing down an object on a table multiple times when manipulating an object.
Examples of In-Hand Manipulation
Below are the explanations for each component of in-hand manipulation and examples of how you can do them at home!
Translation: Moving an object from palm to fingertips or from fingertips to palm.
Example: moving a coin from your palm to place into a vending machine.
Activity Ideas: crumbling a piece of paper with one hand, lacing beads on a string while holding multiple beads in one hand.
Shift: moving an object linearly with the pads of the fingertips
Example: fanning out cards, separating two pieces of paper that are stuck together, pushing off a marker cap while holding with one hand.
Activity Ideas: card games where you need to pick up one card at a time, turning pages from a book.
Rotation: rolling an object with your fingertips.
Example: turning a pencil over to use the eraser, twisting the lid off of a water bottle.
Activity Ideas: Paint a picture using a cotton swab with different colored paint on either end, flipping the cotton swab over with one hand as they switch colors. Rotating puzzle pieces to fit into the correct spot.
