Crumple Pin Bowling
- Play time:
- 15 to 20 minutes
- Setup:
- 5 minutes
- Where:
- Floor
Why it helps
Crumpling paper into tight balls and packing them into the rolls builds hand strength. Rolling the ball at the pins practices aim, motor planning, and grading force (proprioception). Setting the pins back up in a triangle adds a simple pattern to copy.
Steps
- Give your child six to ten paper rolls and some scrap paper. Ask them to crumple the paper into tight balls and push them inside each roll until it feels full and firm.
- Help your child press a piece of masking tape over each end so the paper stays inside when the pins fall.
- Mark a start line on the floor with masking tape. Stand the pins in a triangle five to ten feet away, about a hand's width apart.
- Ask your child to stand behind the line and roll the ball toward the pins to knock down as many as they can.
- Count the fallen pins together. Your child stands the pins back up in the triangle before the next turn.
Safety tip: Clear the lane of furniture and toys so no one trips, and use a soft ball indoors. Walk, rather than run, to reset the pins.
Need personalized support?
While these activities are great for home practice, nothing replaces the guidance of a licensed therapist. If you are in Irvine, CA or the Orange County area and have concerns about your child's Bilateral Hand Use, we invite you to connect with us.
Contact Tumble N' Dots Therapy →These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.
