Fine Motor Skills for Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents And Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The development of a child is a wondrous thing, involving a series of seemingly miraculous unfoldings of personality, emotions, relationships, and movements..." (more)
Key Phrases: tripod grasp, superior pincer grasp, fine motor skill development, Magna Doodle, Wikki Stix, Dexterity Opens (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A winning guide, helpfully revised and updated." -- Kirkus Reports, May 2, 2006, Vol 3/Issue 4

"This book is highly recommended for pediatric consumer health collections in hospitals..." -- CAPHIS Consumer Connections, October 2006

"[A] classic that deserves a place on the bookshelves of all parents of a child with Down syndrome." -- New Zealand Down Syndrome News, Volume 29, Winter 2006

"[A]n excellent resource for both parents and professionals." --Physical Therapy, Volume 87, Number 1

"[T]he ultimate fine-motor sourcebook for parents, caregivers, and therapists." -- National Down Syndrome Society UPDATE, Spring 2006, Volume XXII, No. 1

Product Description

The popular book, Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome is now available in an expanded new edition. Written by an occupational therapist who has worked extensively with children with Down syndrome, and is also the mother a teenager with Down syndrome, this book explains the best practices and procedures for helping children master daily living skills for home, school, and an independent future.

The author presents a thorough overview of the building blocks of fine motor development and how the characteristics of Down syndrome can impact the acquisition and progression of fine motor skills.

She also explains the building blocks of fine motor development: Stability
Bilateral coordination
Sensation
Dexterity
Early arm and hand control
And covers important daily living skills for home and school: Dressing & grooming
Eating & drinking
Cutting
Grasping a pencil
Preprinting skills
Drawing
Printing
Cursive handwriting
There are instructions for dozens of easy home- and school-based activities, which help children gradually overcome delays and learn the fine motor skills mentioned above. The author suggests ways for parents to incorporate these exercises into as many day-to-day activities as possible, recognizing how impractical it is to constantly be in "therapy" mode with a child.

New material includes a chapter on problems with sensory processing for those who are over- or under-responsive to touch, or have unexpected reactions to sound, pain, or other sensations. Being aware of these sensitivities can open pathways to better behavior and responsiveness to therapy. Also new is information about a critical developmental step--determining when a child is ready for preprinting activities. These and many other additions make this the most up-to-date, comprehensive resource on fine motor development for children with Down syndrome.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 241 pages
• Publisher: Woodbine House; 2nd edition (March 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890627674
• ISBN-13: 978-1890627676
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #108,690 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Personal Health > Children's Health > Down Syndrome
  #21 in	Books > Nonfiction > Education > Special Education > Mentally Disabled
  #85 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Allied Health Professions > Occupational Therapy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have reference for pediatric occupational therapist, February 29, 2000

By	Christine V. Smith (Cincinnati OH USA--where pigs do fly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fine Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

Maryanne Bruni has taken the best of both worlds of knowledge-therapist and parent of Down syndrome child--and combined them when she wrote this terrific guide. Listing developmental sequences step by step for scissors and handwriting skills helps me explain to parents what to work on at home and what to expect next. This guide should be in every pediatric facility and early childhood program's library. It covers all the practical hands-on treatment ideas that get glossed over in OT school. Thanks, Maryanne.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An encouraging help for parents, February 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fine Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

This is an excellent resource for parents of young children with Down syndrome. The author is encouraging and helpful, offering several activities for reaching each goal. Her explanation of the components of fine motor coordination are very helpful in allowing a more complete understanding of the reason why your child is doing each activity he/she does. I consult with this book regularly and it has given our OT some ideas as well!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read book for both parents and professionals., February 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fine Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) (Paperback)

I am an Occupational Therapist and I work with children with disabilities. I have found this information useful in my own practice and have shared this title with some of my families.