Why Vertical Surfaces Are a Game Changer for Fine Motor Skills
If you’ve ever heard an OT say, “Try using a vertical surface,” you might be wondering why turning the paper sideways or drawing on a wall is suddenly better for your child’s hand development. The answer lies in the subtle ways vertical work activates posture, core, coordination, and hand skills simultaneously.
In this blog, we’ll explore:
Why vertical surfaces are so effective for fine motor development
The best age range to use this technique
A list of OT-approved vertical activities
How to incorporate this at home or school with ease
What Is a Vertical Surface?
A vertical surface is any surface that stands upright, such as whiteboards, windows, easels, chalkboards, or even the side of a fridge. When children work on these surfaces, they engage muscles and movements differently than when they work on a tabletop.
Why Vertical Work Works
🔹 Promotes Wrist Extension & Stability
Wrist extension is crucial for maintaining fine motor control and a stable pencil grip. Vertical surfaces naturally position the wrist in an extended position, aiding in precision and endurance.
🔹 Strengthens Shoulder & Core Stability
Standing and reaching up or across a vertical surface activate the shoulder girdle muscles and trunk control, the foundations for postural stability in seated tasks.
🔹 Supports Bilateral Coordination
Children often need one hand to stabilise the paper or surface while the other hand draws or manipulates. This fosters two-handed coordination, a key skill for school readiness.
🔹 Improves Visual Attention & Midline Crossing
Working on a vertical surface keeps the task in the child’s visual field and encourages eye tracking, visual scanning, and trunk rotation as they cross the midline.
🔹 Encourages Larger Movements Before Refinement
Gross motor movement comes before fine motor precision. Vertical surfaces promote big shoulder and arm movements before refining into smaller, controlled hand actions.
Best Ages to Use Vertical Surfaces
Vertical work can be adapted for children from 18 months to 12 years, but the types of activities vary by age:
18 mo – 2 yrs
Sensory play, scribbling, shoulder stability
Crayon or paint on easel, large paper taped to wall
3 – 5 yrs
Pre-writing, bilateral coordination
Chalkboard games, sticker placement, vertical puzzles
6 – 9 yrs
Writing fluency, strength
Magnetic letters, sentence writing, whiteboard spelling
10 – 12 yrs
Endurance, functional handwriting
Dry-erase task lists, note-taking, vertical copying tasks
OT-Approved Vertical Surface Activities
Here’s a list of engaging activities that build fine motor skills on vertical surfaces:
🔵 For Toddlers & Preschoolers:
Window painting with washable paints or shaving cream
Easel drawing with crayons, markers, paint or chalk
Vertical sticker patterns like dot stickers, foam shapes on a board
Clothespin matching games on hanging string lines
Posting games, such as putting cards through a vertical slot or slit
🔷 For Early Primary School-Aged Children:
Large Whiteboard writing and drawing
Trace-the-letter mazes on wall-mounted paper
Magnetic alphabet sequencing on a large whiteboard or fridge
Velcro word walls
Washi tape shapes to trace or cut around
🔶 For Older Kids (8–12 yrs):
Wall-based mind maps, decision trees or visual schedules
Copywork from the whiteboard to the notebook
Vertical handwriting drills
Timed list-writing or sorting activities
Sensory putty wall pressing or wall push-ups
Tips for Parents and Educators
✅ Tape paper to walls, doors, or windows at eye level
✅ Switch up materials to maintain interest e.g., chalk, markers, stickers, water spray bottles
✅ Try kneeling or lying on the tummy for variation
✅ Combine with sensory input like weighted wristbands or fidget breaks
✅ Use task strips or timers to support attention and independence
Vertical surfaces do more than shift perspective; they unlock developmental opportunities that strengthen the very skills children need for activities such as writing, dressing, feeding, and more. With a simple change in angle, you can support posture, coordination, and fine motor strength, all through fun, accessible activities.
References:
Case-Smith, J., & O'Brien, J. C. (2015). Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Ziviani, J., & Rodger, S. (2006). Occupational Therapy with Children: Understanding Children’s Occupations and Enabling Participation. Blackwell.
Schneck, C. M. (2005). “Visual Perception and Handwriting” in Developmental Handwriting. AOTA Press.
Feder, K. P., & Majnemer, A. (2007). “Handwriting development, competency, and intervention.” Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49(4), 312–317.
Dunn, W. (2001). The Sensory Profile: User's Manual. Psychological Corporation.