Theraputty Guide

What is Theraputty?

Theraputty is a firm, resistive putty (similar to slime or playdoh), used by occupational therapists to improve fine motor strength, motor coordination skills, and sensory processing. Kids absolutely LOVE it!

Quick tips for parents

• Start with clean, dry hands to help keep your putty clean. Dirt, crumbs, lotion, or lint can make it sticky or crumbly over time. Wash hands after use.
• Choose a "Putty Spot" (i.e., a clean table or hard surface). Avoid couches, beds, rugs, and fabric-covered chairs—putty can stick and be hard to remove from soft surfaces.
• Supervise children under 3–4 years. Theraputty is non‑toxic but not edible.
• Store in the small container you received, and make sure the lid is on when not in use to prevent it from drying out.
• Pro‑tip: Keep in your purse, car, or use as part of a "sensory toolkit" for on‑the‑go. This is a simple and easy activity to keep kids busy during wait times or to help ease transitions!

Easy games that build skills

• Hide‑and‑seek treasures: Press small beads or buttons into the slime. Let your child pinch and pull to find them—great for finger strength and pincer grasp.
• Snakes & snips: Roll long "snakes," then snip them with child‑safe scissors. This works hand muscles and cutting skills.
• Tug of War: Pull and stretch out with both hands. Great for strengthening upper body and hands.
• Stamp & match: Push coins, LEGO bricks, or letter tiles into putty. Then match the objects to their prints. Also helps eyes and hands work together.
• Putty Meatballs and Pancakes: Break off smaller pieces and roll into "meatballs." Flatten out with palms and fingertips to make "pancakes." Great for older kids as a pre‑writing warm up, as this helps to "wake the hands up" by opening up the arches in their hands.
• Log Press: Roll out a long log and press one finger at a time into putty. Works on finger isolation skills!
• Practice and play with eating utensils: Use kid‑safe eating utensils to "feed" a stuffed animal or doll to work on independence with self‑feeding (i.e., learning how to pierce with a fork, cut with a knife).

Sensory Play

Putty isn't just for building strong hands—it also gives calming, organizing input to the sensory system. The resistive, squishy texture offers deep pressure and tactile feedback, which can help kids:

• Feel grounded and focused: Great before school, transitions, or seated tasks.
• Regulate activity levels or big emotions: Squeezing and stretching something resistive, such as putty, provides a calming effect in both children and adults.
• Explore touch in a safe, low‑mess way: Putty is a great tool for kids who need to keep their hands busy, as it provides tactile input without a big mess. It is also great for kids who are sensitive to certain textures, as it can help with sensory exploration in a fun and creative way.

Whether your child needs help calming down, waking up, or just staying regulated during the day, a few minutes of putty play can gently support their sensory system without feeling like "work."