The pincer grasp is a fine motor skill that lets your little one use their thumb and index finger to pick up small things. This is an exciting part of growing up! It’s vital to support your little one as they develop their pincer grasp, which is essential for daily tasks. Luckily, as a parent, there’s lots you can do to support your little one’s pincer grasp development. 

We’re here to guide you and offer support, plus, we unearth what you can do if your little one’s pincer grasp doesn’t seem to be as strong as it should.

• The pincer grasp is a critical fine motor skill that involves using the thumb and index finger to pick up small objects.
• Pincer grasp development occurs in stages, with most children mastering it by the age of two.
• Factors such as muscle strength, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development influence pincer grasp development.
• Occupational therapy can help children who struggle with pincer grasp development.
• Age-appropriate toys and activities can encourage pincer grasp development at home, promoting fine motor skills and manual dexterity.

When your baby learns the pincer grasp, it shows a huge step forward in their fine motor skills. This special way of gripping uses the thumb and index finger to pick up small things; it’s essential for everyday life so your baby can play, learn, use utensils and start to do things for themselves.  

The pincer grasp is different from other grasps in several ways…

As your baby moves from the palmar grasp to the pincer grasp, they’ll get better at controlling their hands. The tripod grasp comes later and is needed for writing and drawing, which require more control and stability.

So what are the stages of pincer grasp development and what can affect it?

Pincer grasp development starts between 9 and 12 months but it can vary for each child. 

• Raking grasp (4-6 months): Babies use their whole hand to rake objects towards themselves.
• Palmar grasp (6-8 months): Babies grasp objects with their entire palm, using all fingers in a closed fist.
• Radial palmar grasp (7-9 months): Babies start using their thumb and first two fingers to pick up objects, with the palm facing downward.
• Pincer grasp (9-12 months): Babies refine their grasping skills, using the tip of their thumb and index finger to pick up small objects with precision.
• Refined pincer grasp (12-15 months): Toddlers further develop their pincer grasp, demonstrating increased control and dexterity in manipulating small objects.

The factors which can influence your little one’s pincer grasp development includes…

• Hand-eye coordination: As your little one develops better hand-eye coordination, they become more adept at visually guiding their hands to grasp objects accurately.
• Sensory processing: This allows your baby to receive and interpret tactile information from their fingertips, which boosts their ability to manipulate objects.
• Fine motor development: The overall development of fine motor skills, including strength, dexterity, and control, directly impacts your baby’s ability to perform the pincer grasp.
• Environmental factors: Access to age-appropriate toys and opportunities for practice can significantly influence the development of your little one’s pincer grasp. 
• Developmental milestones: Achieving other developmental milestones, such as sitting independently and crawling, can indirectly support the development of your baby’s pincer grasp by providing new opportunities for object exploration.

As your baby grows into a toddler and then a kid, the pincer grasp becomes important for all their exciting preschool activities such as drawing, colouring, and writing. 

The pincer grasp is also important for tasks like buttoning clothes and tying shoelaces. Mastering these skills will make your little one more independent and confident and boosts their development and readiness for school.

But, your little one might struggle with fine motor skills, making it hard to grasp things well. This can cause frustration for you and your baby, and make it tough to carry out preschool tasks. Early help, like occupational therapy, can support your little one in developing the pincer grasp.

Occupational therapists create plans to help with fine motor skills. They use various techniques such as…

You can support your little one’s pincer grapes by doing specific exercises and activities. There are lots of simple exercises and activities that when done regularly, can help your little one’s pincer grasp…

• Picking up small objects, such as cereal
• Practising finger isolation exercises, such as touching each fingertip to the thumb
• Manipulating playdough or putty to create various shapes and forms

You can also make fun activities using household items. Why not make sensory bins with rice, sand, or small objects for your little one to explore with their pincer grasp?

You could encourage your little one to use tongs or tweezers to pick up small items like pom-poms, beads, or cereal and you can even give your little one torn paper, stickers, or small fabric pieces to pinch and use in art projects.

Cooking tasks that need pinching, like sprinkling cheese or herbs on a dish can also support your little one’s pincer grapes. 

There are several toys you can use with your little one to develop their pincer grasp. Look for toys that need the thumb and index finger to handle small things such as puzzles, lacing beads, and pegboards.

The pincer grasp is vital for your little one’s fine motor development as it lets them move precisely and handle small things well. As a parent, you can support your little one’s pincer grasp development by giving them toys and enjoying certain activities together.

If your little one finds the pincer grasp hard or is not meeting milestones, don’t worry. Early intervention through occupational therapy can help a lot here and occupational therapists will offer special exercises and strategies to improve your little one’s pincer grasp.

Remember, your little one is unique and it’s important to support them, encourage exploration, and celebrate their wins as they grow and develop.