15 Fun Occupational Therapy Activities with the Pushpeel Toy
Finding the right occupational therapy toys for fine motor skills can feel overwhelming. As parents, you want something that’s fun, practical, and actually helps your child build the skills they need for daily life. That’s where the Pushpeel sensory toy comes in.
This little fidget-style toy may look simple, but it’s packed with opportunities for building fine motor skills, focus, and hand strength—all while keeping your child engaged. Below, you’ll find 15 easy fine motor activities you can do at home with this toy to support your child’s development.
Why Fine Motor Skills Matter
Fine motor skills are the small movements of the hands and fingers that allow children to button shirts, hold pencils, tie shoes, and eat with utensils. Without strong fine motor coordination and manual dexterity, daily routines can feel frustrating for both you and your child.
Occupational therapy often focuses on these small but important movements. By practicing with fine motor toys, kids get stronger, more confident, and more independent.
What Makes the Pushpeel Toy Special?
Unlike other therapy toys, the Pushpeel has colorful silicone strings that slide and twist through maze-like paths. This gives children both tactile and visual input, helping with:
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Dexterity and grasp
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Visual motor skills (eye-hand coordination)
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Sensory processing for regulation and calm
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Early skills needed for writing, dressing, and self-care
It’s one of those rare occupational therapy toys that’s equally useful in the clinic and at home.
15 Fun Fine Motor Activities with the Pushpeel Toy
1. Push and Pull Strength Game
Have your child push the silicone strings all the way through, then pull them back. Great for hand strength and pincer grasp practice.
2. Color Hunt
Call out a color and ask your child to move only that string. Builds perceptual skills and attention.
3. Finger-Only Challenge
Let your child use just their index finger to move the string. This isolates fine motor development and builds control.
4. Rainbow Tracing
Have your child trace the rainbow-like paths without moving the strings. A fun fine motor tool for visual motor skills.
5. Storytelling Strings
Assign each color a character and let your child create a story while playing. This supports imagination and social skills.
6. Timed Races
Set a timer and race to see how fast they can push one string across. Builds motor skills and therapy-style challenge.
7. Bilateral Coordination Play
Encourage your child to use both hands together—one to push, one to pull. Perfect for motor coordination and everyday skills like tying shoes.
8. Quiet Focus Break
Use during transitions or waiting times. The repetitive motion is soothing for toddlers and older kids alike.
9. Counting Pushes
Count how many silicone strings you have in total by doing simple math additions or subtractions.
10. Obstacle Stops
Ask your child to stop halfway before pulling back. This builds impulse control and listening skills.
11. Feelings & Colors
Assign each color an emotion (yellow = happy, blue = calm). A gentle way to practice therapy for emotional awareness.
12. Push with a Pencil Grip
Hold a crayon or pencil and use it to push the string. Prepares children for handwriting with better fine motor coordination.
13. Sensory Pathways
Encourage slow, mindful pushes. This supports sensory processing and calming strategies.
14. Independent Play Time
Let your child invent their own game with the toy. Often, they’ll discover new fine motor activities on their own.
15. Toy Rotation
Add Pushpeel to your toy recommendations list at home, swapping it with therapy putty, gross motor toys, or a fine motor hedgehog for variety.
Why Parents Love Fine Motor Toys Like Pushpeel
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Easy to carry and use anywhere
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Works for both kids and toddlers
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Helps with physical therapy goals at home
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Engaging for children who avoid traditional “work” tasks
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Supports both gross motor skills (when combined with movement) and fine motor skills
Key Takeaway for Parents
The Pushpeel toy isn’t just another fidget—it’s a powerful fine motor tool that helps children build independence through play. Whether your child is working on grasp, dexterity, or visual motor skills, this toy offers simple, effective, and fun ways to support their growth.
As an occupational therapist, I love recommending occupational therapy toys like this to parents. They’re affordable, easy to use at home, and they make a big difference in your child’s journey toward independence.