Splinter skill

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]

References

1. Radomski MV, Trombly Latham CA (2008). "Glossary". Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 9780781763127.
2. Cheatum BA, Hammond AA (2000). Physical Activities for Improving Children's Learning and Behavior: A Guide to Sensory Motor Development. Human Kinetics. p. 42.
3. Jacks R (2005). The Illustrated Dictionary of Education. Lotus Press. p. 193.
4. Ayres JA, Robbins J (2005). Sensory Integration and the Child: Understanding Hidden Sensory Challenges. Western Psychological Services. p. 60.