Getting to grips with in-hand manipulation

In-hand manipulation is the ability to move objects around the hand, and position them, without using your other hand. This is something we use often in everyday life, for example, when we pick up a coin and put it in the slot to pay for parking, put the lid on the toothpaste, or pick up a pen and write.  

Your toddler is probably starting to get more confident doing this, perhaps picking up food and holding it in their palm before moving it to their fingertips so they can eat.  

There are three types of in-hand manipulation – and some might take lots of practice for your toddler to master!  

Transition 

Transition allows your toddler to move objects from their palm to their fingertips and vice versa using only one hand. This skill is necessary for picking up small objects with one hand, when the other hand is busy. 

Shift  

This is used to make the final adjustment of an object between the fingers and thumb ready for use. This is necessary for positioning a pencil in your hand before use. 

Rotation – this is divided into two skills: 

Simple rotation is the ability to turn an object around in the pads of the fingers and thumb. This skill is used every day when twisting small lids off products. 

Complex rotation means turning an object from end to end, such as flipping a pencil from writing end to eraser. 

You can help your toddler develop these skills by giving them time to play with a variety of objects of different shapes, sizes and weights. This will help them practise moving things in different ways.