Foam Slit Curtain Push
Purpose
This fun activity offers excellent heavy work input. Pushing the sticks against the resistant foam provides deep proprioceptive feedback. This helps your child build intrinsic hand muscle strength and proximal stability. They learn to grade their force for controlled movements. This is a critical building block for future fine motor skills like holding crayons and using scissors. Stabilizing the board with the helper hand also improves bilateral coordination.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- Adult Prep: Cut the foam sheet to fit the cardboard. Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, horizontal slits across the foam. Secure the foam tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape.
- Sit stably at a table. Use your helper hand to hold the cardboard base firmly steady.
- Pick up one craft stick using your thumb and pointer finger.
- Aim the end of the stick at a narrow foam slit. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant foam ‘curtain’.
- Repeat this action until all the slits are filled with sticks. Try pulling them out quickly for a fun, reverse heavy work challenge.
Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation.
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