Splinter skill explained

A splinter skill is an "ability to do a specific task that does not generalize to other tasks", according to Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction.^[1] Cheatum and Hammond define them as skills learned that are above the child's age.^[2] Jacks writes that they are skills that are not "an integral part of the orderly sequential development"; that is, skills mastered before they are developmentally expected.^[3]

According to Ayres and Robbins, an example is "the ability to play a particular piece on the piano without having the generalized ability to play the piano".^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Glossary . https://books.google.com/books?id=hczaxaAXCDsC&dq=%22splinter+skill%22&pg=PA187. Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction . Radomski MV, Trombly Latham CA . Lippincott Williams & Wilkins . 2008 . 9780781763127.
2. Book: 42 . Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior: A Guide to Sensory Motor Development . Cheatum BA, Hammond AA . Human Kinetics . 2000.
3. Book: 193 . The Illustrated Dictionary of Education . Jacks R . Lotus Press . 2005.
4. Book: 60 . Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges . Ayres JA, Robbins J . Western Psychological Services . 2005.