Paper Chain
- Play time:
- 20 to 30 minutes
- Setup:
- 5 minutes
- Where:
- Table
Why it helps
This activity helps the child practice cutting lines. Using glue as oppose to stapler promotes sensory processing.
Setup: On several different colors of construction paper, use a thick marker to draw straight lines spaced about 1 to 1.5 inches apart across the width of the paper.
Steps:
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Practice Scissor Grasp: Hand your child child-safe scissors. Encourage them to hold the scissors with their "thumb up" toward the ceiling.
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Cut the Strips: Ask your child to cut along the thick marker lines you drew. Remind them to hold the paper steady with their "helper hand" while their cutting hand moves the scissors.
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Make the First Loop: Take one cut strip. Show your child how to place a small dot or swipe of glue on one end of the strip. Curl the strip around to meet the glued end, pressing firmly to create your first circle.
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Connect the Chain: Take a new strip of a different color. Thread this new strip through the center of your first completed circle loop.
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Glue and Repeat: Once the new strip is threaded through, glue its ends together to lock it into the chain. Continue this process—thread, then glue—until all the strips are used!
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.
