Theraputty is a therapeutic item that is used with preschoolers up to older adults. Theraputty typically comes in 4 basic colors. The darker the color the more resistant it is. Example, the blue theraputty will have more resistance than the yellow theraputty. There are a number of manufactures and I’ve tried a variety with no complaints. FlintRehab’s theraputty is made of silicone, it’s non-toxic and unscented.
Using theraputty before fine motor activities is an excellent way to receive proprioception input (body awareness). The compression and traction that’s used when manipulating the theraputty ‘wakes up’ the hands and prepares your child for writing, fastening buttons, tying shoes, opening containers and any skill that requires the use of the intrinsic muscles of the hand.
Kidz enjoy finding objects hidden inside the theraputty. They don’t realize they are exercising their muscles and actually participating in therapy. I like to hide coins in the theraputty. Coins add a cognitive component by having the child identify and tally the amount of coins found.
Caution: Theraputty is very sticky. If it has contact with fabric or something porous for a prolonged time, you likely will not be able to get it out. Please monitor your child when using this product. I once had a student get a good amount on her hair. I put a small amount of theraputty in my hand and began dabbing it on the theraputty on her hair. It adhered to the theraputty on her hair and came right off…..whew!
Theraputty can be used to help a variety of challenges:
Hand Weakness
Poor Body Awareness (specifically the hands/fingers)
Anxiousness (kneading, pressing, pulling has a calming effect on the brain)
Tactile Defensiveness (sticky texture of the theraputty; add textured items inside the theraputty)
Tip: Make sure your child wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer prior to using their theraputty. It’s an inexpensive ($13-$17 for a pack of four 3 oz containers), durable item and will last a very, very long time.