Mummy Hand Wrap
- Play time:
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Setup:
- 2 minutes
- Where:
- Anywhere
Why it helps
This fun, tactile activity strengthens the small muscles in the hands by encouraging forceful tearing and precise wrapping, which are essential precursors for managing buttons, zippers, and holding a pencil efficiently.
Steps
- Prep several sheets of tissue paper and show your child how to tear it into long, ribbon-like strips. Tearing is a great workout for the small hand muscles!
- Help your child secure the end of one tissue paper strip onto the stuffed animal's leg or arm using a small piece of masking tape.
- Challenge them to use two hands to carefully wrap the 'mummy bandage' all the way around the stuffed animal until it is fully covered (or mummified!).
- When the toy is wrapped, secure the final end with another piece of tape, then enjoy the fun process of unwrapping and tearing off the bandages!
Safety tip: Always supervise children during tearing activities to ensure paper is not put into the mouth. Keep the play area tidy, as tissue paper can become a slipping hazard if left scattered on the floor.
Make it easier
- Use toilet paper or a crepe paper streamer, which comes in one long strip and needs no tearing.
- Hold the stuffed animal for your child so both of their hands can work on the wrapping.
- Wrap a simple shape first, like a block or a cardboard tube, before trying an animal with arms and legs.
Make it harder
- Wrap each arm and leg on its own before wrapping the body.
- Unwrap slowly so each strip comes off in one long piece without tearing.
- Alternate two colors of tissue to give the mummy stripes.
What to watch for
- Notice whether your child passes the strip from hand to hand around the toy, or turns the toy while one hand holds the strip still.
- Watch how hard your child pulls. Tissue tears if pulled too tight, which is a good chance to feel the difference between snug and too tight.
- If the sound or feel of tissue bothers your child, wrap with ribbon, yarn, or a strip of old fabric instead.
Where this helps in daily life
Holding with one hand while wrapping with the other comes up when kids wrap a gift, wrap a sandwich in foil, and wind a scarf around their neck.
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.
