Sticky Shape Press
- Play time:
- 10 to 15 minutes
- Setup:
- 2 minutes
- Where:
- Table
Why it helps
This simple, fun art activity provides valuable strengthening for the small muscles in your child's hands and fingers. Tearing the tape builds bilateral coordination and finger strength. Placing the small pieces requires precise pincer control, which is essential for holding a pencil correctly. The final step, pressing the tape down firmly with the craft stick, provides heavy work (proprioceptive input). This deep pressure input helps relax the hand muscles and promotes wrist extension, a key position for writing readiness and comfortable grasp development.
Steps
- Use a marker to draw a large, simple shape (like a heart or square) onto the construction paper.
- Tear a long strip of masking tape. Encourage your child to tear the tape into many small, postage stamp-sized pieces.
- Challenge the child to use a precise pincer grasp to fill the drawn shape completely with the small tape pieces.
- Pick up the craft stick. Show the child how to hold it like a pencil, keeping the wrist slightly bent backward (extended).
- Use the craft stick to rub and press down firmly over every piece of tape. Applying strong pressure provides excellent heavy work for their hands.
Safety tip: Adult supervision is required. Ensure the child understands the materials are only for crafting and not for placing in the mouth.
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.
