In-Hand Manipulation

In-hand manipulation refers to the ability to move and position objects within your hand without using the other hand. This skill impacts a child’s ability to move objects within their hand, handwriting, scissor cutting, eating with utensils, dressing (buttoning, tying shoelaces, zippers, and snaps), and more. When a child struggles with in-hand manipulation, you will often see them attempting to complete tasks with two hands that typically require only one hand. For example, opening a cap from a water bottle can be done with one hand unscrewing the cap while the other hand holds the bottle. A child may struggle with this and attempt to use both hands to unscrew the cap while using their body to help stabilize the water bottle.