Slot Stuff Hedgehog
Purpose
This fun activity works on building hand strength and precision. It requires your child to use a strong Pincer Grasp to prepare the paper strips. Holding the paper roll steady with one hand while pushing the strip with the other promotes excellent Bilateral Hand Use. The narrow slits create resistance, strengthening the small muscles inside the hand (intrinsic muscles) for better future utensil control.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 short, narrow slits across the surface of the paper roll. These are the spine holes.
- Decorate the roll using markers to give your hedgehog a cute face and body.
- Tear the construction paper into many long, thin strips. Tearing wakes up finger and hand muscles.
- Pick up the paper roll with your helper hand to keep it steady on the table.
- Stuff one end of a paper strip into a spine hole using your dominant hand fingers.
- Use a craft stick to gently push the paper strip completely inside the narrow slot. This requires precise force.
- Continue stuffing paper spines into all the slots until your hedgehog is fully covered in soft spikes!
Safety Tip:
Adults must perform the scissor cutting for the narrow slots. Supervise closely to ensure small pieces of torn paper are not put in the mouth.
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