Resistance Band Rescue
- Play time:
- 5 to 10 minutes
- Setup:
- 5 minutes
- Where:
- Table
Why it helps
This activity is a great workout for the small muscles in the hand. Removing the tightly wrapped pipe cleaners requires controlled strength and a strong grip. This action provides deep pressure input (proprioception) to the joints and muscles. The child must use two hands together to be successful. One hand stabilizes the container firmly against the table. This is called proximal stability. The other hand uses a precise pincer grasp to pull the band off. These skills are essential building blocks for future tasks like fastening clothing and controlling a pencil.
Steps
- Adult Prep: Take 2 or 3 pipe cleaners and twist them tightly together to create a thick, stiff band.
- Tightly wrap 4 to 5 of these thick pipe cleaner bands around the lid or body of the plastic container. Make sure they are secure and difficult to remove.
- Place the container on a stable table. Challenge your child to hold the container firmly with their non-dominant (helper) hand to keep it steady.
- Ask the child to use their dominant hand to grasp a band using only their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
- Encourage them to use controlled effort to pull the tight band off the container. Try to keep the container hand perfectly still.
- Count how many bands are rescued, and then wrap them back on to play again.
Safety tip: Adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small and pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure that the pipe cleaners are fully unwrapped and collected immediately after the activity.
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.
