Magpad: pen grip & visuomotor skills
Author: Angela Rozema
Occupational therapist
The magpad, what can you do with it? I would like to write a blog about it.
The magpad is a board in various sizes in which you use a magnetic pen to bring steel balls up into the holes.
You can make all kinds of figures like this.
Fun, but also educational.
Pen grip
By drawing on the board you practice the pen grip in a completely different way than for example drawing and writing. Children who do not like drawing, often find this a nice way to practice the pen grip. With good instruction you can practice the dynamic three-point grip from the age of 3.
To get the balls up you have to move in a measured way. So you also practice the finger movements that go with learning a dynamic writing movement.
So a must in every fine motor skills box from nursery school onwards.
Visuomotor skills
Children can make all sorts of figures. The straight lines make them think about how to make figures.
Here you can add an extra challenge. If you give children an assignment at the magpad, for example to copy a certain (geometric) figure, you also practice the visuomotor skills and spatial perception. If you do this with letters, you also practice the letter image.
So another nice extra practice goal!
Big and small
The magpad is available in a large size, but also in a small size. The small version can also be neatly carried in a small pencil case. For example, a fidget pencil case that can entertain children on the go. There is one but... it does make a ticking sound. So as a parent you have to be able to handle that. ☺️😉
