Potato Counter

Purpose:

This activity works on pincer grasp and hand strengthening by placing and counting toothpicks on fruits and vegetables.

Skills: Crossing Midline(?) The ability to move ones hands, feet, and eyes not only together, but across and to the other side of the body., Eye-Hand Coordination(?) The ability to move ones hands, feet, and eyes not only together, but across and to the other side of the body., Fine Motor Control(?) The ability to move ones hands, feet, and eyes not only together, but across and to the other side of the body., Finger Strength(?) The ability to move ones hands, feet, and eyes not only together, but across and to the other side of the body., Grasp, Pincer Grasp(?) The pincer grasp is the coordination of the index finger and thumb to hold an item. Each time you hold a pen or button your shirt, you’re using the pincer grasp. Pincer grasp is a hand grasp that develops around the time a baby is 8-10 months old. This grasp corresponds to the time a baby is beginning to feed themselves finger foods. The pincer grasp is needed in order to grasp a small item, pinch it between the index and thumb and bring it to the mouth., Tripod Grasp, Visual Perception
Materials: Cardboard, Fruit, Knife, Pen, Toothpicks

For this activity you could use different types of fruit and vegetables. If the child has difficulty completing the activity with potatoes, you can use a softer fruit like bananas.

Cover a strip of thick cardboard or card, and draw boxes like those shown in the picture.

Cut small potatoes into halves and quarters so that they can stand without rocking or tipping.

Place one potato wedge on every box and number each box.

Now your child can stick in the right number of toothpicks into each potato.

For grading: Use random numbers instead of numbers in a sequence.

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