Resistant Gate Push
Purpose
This activity provides wonderful 'heavy work' input by challenging the child to push rigid materials through a tight, resistant opening. The strong pushing action provides proprioceptive feedback, which is calming and helps improve body awareness and focus. Holding the cardboard steady with one hand while the other hand applies force builds proximal stability in the shoulder and forearm. This type of controlled, forceful movement is crucial for developing the foundational strength and control needed for efficient handwriting and managing daily tasks like opening stiff containers.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the foam sheet tightly onto the cardboard piece for maximum stability.
- Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, short slits (about 1.5 inches long) randomly across the foam surface. Ensure the slits are very tight.
- Encourage your child to use both hands to bend and twist the pipe cleaners into small, rigid shapes like tight coils, flat squares, or stiff hooks. Ensure they are strong.
- Challenge your child to hold the stable cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand.
- Pick up one rigid pipe cleaner shape. Aim the shape at a narrow slit and use a strong, controlled push to insert the entire shape through the resistant foam gate. Feel the effort!
- Repeat this forceful pushing and threading action until all the slits have been successfully filled with colorful pipe cleaner shapes.
Safety Tip:
Adults must handle the scissors for cutting the narrow slits. Supervise closely as children manipulate pipe cleaners, ensuring the ends are tucked or curled to prevent scratches while pushing.
