Paper Roll Tunnel Guide
- Play time:
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Setup:
- 5 minutes
- Where:
- Table
Why it helps
This activity helps your preschooler develop the coordination needed for daily tasks. By using a stick to guide a ball through a path, they are learning how to control their hand movements with precision. It also encourages them to use both hands together. One hand holds the board and one hand moves the stick. This is great for building the foundation for writing and cutting.
Steps
- Tape four paper rolls onto a large piece of cardboard to create tunnels.
- Place the board on a flat table or the floor.
- Give your child a ping pong ball and a craft stick.
- Ask them to push the ball through each tunnel using the stick.
- They should hold the board steady with their helper hand.
Safety tip: Constant adult supervision is required. Ping pong balls can be a choking hazard for young children. Ensure all materials are used as intended.
Make it easier
- Cut the rolls in half so the tunnels are shorter and the ball pops out sooner.
- Swap the craft stick for a wooden spoon, which has a wider end that pushes the ball straighter.
- Line the tunnels up in a straight row so the ball goes from one right into the next.
Make it harder
- Set the tunnels in a zigzag so the ball has to turn between each one.
- Number the tunnels with a marker and ask your child to go through them in order.
- Slip a book under one end of the board so the ball rolls back if your child stops pushing.
What to watch for
- Notice whether the helper hand stays on the board the whole time or drifts away as your child gets focused.
- Watch how your child holds the craft stick, whether in a fist, like a pencil, or pinched near one end.
- See whether your child pushes in short taps or one long sweep, and whether they slow down at each tunnel opening.
Where this helps in daily life
Steering an object with a tool while the other hand holds things steady is the same teamwork kids use to sweep crumbs into a dustpan and hold a ruler while drawing a line.
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.
