Felt Resistance Wall

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5)
Play time:: 10 to 15 minutes
Setup:: 15 minutes
Where:: Table

Why it helps

This fun activity uses firm resistance to give your child's hands a great workout! Pushing the sticks through tight felt layers strengthens the small muscles needed for scissors and pencils. It helps them use both hands together effectively. One hand must hold the 'wall' steady while the other hand pushes the stick. This practice boosts bilateral hand use and proximal stability in the shoulder and wrist. It also requires good visual focusing and precise aim to find the narrow gaps.

Steps

Before play, cut a piece of cardboard about the size of a sheet of paper. Cut 5 or 6 felt strips about 1 inch wide and a little longer than the cardboard is tall.
Help your child glue only the top and bottom ends of each strip to the cardboard, side by side. Let the middle of each strip bulge out a little to make a loop.
Let the glue dry completely, about an hour, before play.
Ask your child to stand the board on its edge on the table, like a little wall, and hold it steady with the helper hand.
Show your child how to push a craft stick sideways under a felt loop until it pokes out the other side. The snug felt makes each push take some effort.
Keep adding sticks under the loops. Then pull them back out one at a time and play again.

Safety tip: Keep the scissors with you during prep. Show your child how to push the sticks away from the face and body so a slipping stick does not poke anyone.

Make it easier

Tape the felt strip ends instead of gluing them so you can play right away.
Leave the felt loops a little looser so the sticks slide under with less force.
Lay the board flat on the table so it cannot tip while your child pushes.

Make it harder

Make the loops tighter, or use two layers of felt, so each push takes more effort.
Push two sticks into the same channel, side by side, which takes a firmer push.
Color the stick ends and match each one to a felt strip of the same color.

What to watch for

Notice whether the helper hand presses down on the board or just rests on it. A firm press keeps the wall from moving.
Watch how your child pushes. Pushing on the end of the stick with the palm uses more arm, while pinching it near the felt uses more fingers.
If the fuzzy feel of felt is unpleasant, make the loops from ribbon or strips of paper instead.

Where this helps in daily life

Holding something steady with one hand while pushing with the other is the same teamwork kids need to push a belt through its loops, slide a straw into a cup lid, and pull on a sock.

These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.