Rainbow Tissue Jar
Purpose
This fun activity works the tiny, powerhouse muscles inside the hands (intrinsic muscles) and improves hand dexterity, which are crucial foundation skills for future tasks like manipulating buttons, managing zippers, and using a pencil efficiently.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- Place the jar on a sturdy surface. Lay several sheets of different colored tissue paper next to the jar.
- Show your child how to tear the tissue paper into small, manageable pieces (about the size of a postage stamp). Ripping paper is a wonderful way to wake up those bilateral coordination muscles!
- Encourage your child to crumple each small piece of paper into a tight little ball using only their fingertips, aiming for the smallest ball possible.
- Have your child practice feeding the colorful, squished ‘rainbow balls’ into the opening of the jar. If using a jar with a narrow neck, this requires precision and strong distal finger control to push the material inside.
Safety Tip:
Ensure the jar is clean, dry, and stable during play. If using a glass jar, always supervise closely and ensure the child understands to push the paper and not hit the jar.
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