Thumb opposition is the ability to turn and rotate the thumb so that it can touch each fingertip on the same hand.
Thumb opposition plays a significant role in a child’s fine motor development and overall hand function. When the muscles that perform thumb opposition are strong, it allows for an open web space (the space between the thumb and index finger) to form. This provides us with the ability to use a refined pincer grasp and grasp utensils appropriately. When we have an abnormal pencil grasp pattern (i.e. lateral thumb wrap) it can often be attributed to weakness in the muscles that are responsible for thumb opposition. In addition, an abnormal pencil grasp can also result in using increased pressure when pressing the pencil against the paper, resulting in hand fatigue. When we have an open web space, there is less stress on the joints of the hand, and therefore allows for greater precision and dynamic control for fine motor tasks. Some examples of other functional tasks that require thumb opposition include:
- Turning a key
- Brushing teeth
- Opening/closing lids
- Grasping eating utensils
- Ripping tape
- Picking up small objects
- Palm to finger translation (bringing an object from our palm into our fingers) i.e. to count coins
- Squeezing clips
- Fasteners (zippers, buttons, shoelaces)
- Opening/closing containers (i.e. Ziploc bag)
- Manipulating small objects (cereal, bead)\
- Holding cards in one hand
- Opening a lock (i.e. for locker)
Developing thumb opposition helps strengthen the muscles in the hand and also promotes hand-eye coordination needed for sports, using a computer/gaming console, and engaging in hobbies. By strengthening these muscles, we are working towards improving our children’s fine motor skills which can prevent frustration with complex motor demands as your child grows.
Activities that work on strengthening the muscles needed to complete thumb opposition include:
Tweezer Games
- Operation
- Bed Bugs
- Sneaky Snacky Squirrel
- Avalanche Fruit Stand
- Lakeshore Feed- The- Monkey
Squeezing Activities
- Using glue bottles during crafts
- Squeezing shampoo/conditioner bottles
- Squeezing condiment containers
Clothespins
- Pick up small items during a relay race using clothespins
- Write individual numbers/letters on clothespins to practice counting and creating words and placing them on paper/cardboard
- Make sequences using different colored clothespins on paper
Eye Droppers
- Water dropper tie dye (color paper towel with washable markers and use an eyedropper to place water onto the paper towel)
- Write letters/shapes on coffee filter (or paper towel) with washable markers and use the eyedropper to place water over the shapes to make them “disappear”
Reach out to your child’s occupational therapist for additional activities to promote thumb opposition.
References:
Fine Motor- Thumb Opposition. Therapy Street for Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2021, from http://therapystreetforkids.com/fm-thumboppose.html
Hanson, K. (n.d.). Games with tweezers and Tongs. The Playful Otter. https://theplayfulotter.blogspot.com/2018/05/games-with-tweezers-and-tongs.html
Heffron, C. (2022, April 19). Developmental skills: Thumb opposition. The Inspired Treehouse. https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/developmental-skills-thumb-opposition/
Hulthen, A. (2022, March 3). 5 activities to promote thumb opposition. LLA Therapy. https://llatherapy.org/5-activities-to-promote-thumb-opposition/