Taped String Snipping
Purpose
This activity provides great heavy work input for the hands and fingers. Cutting taut yarn against the resistance of masking tape strengthens the small muscles needed for better scissor control and writing later on. It also targets bilateral coordination. Your child must use their helper hand to hold the cardboard perfectly still while the working hand focuses on the strong, controlled snipping action. This exercise improves grading of force and precision planning.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- Adult Prep: Cut a piece of cardboard into a sturdy rectangle. Stretch several long pieces of yarn tightly across the cardboard and secure the ends firmly with masking tape.
- Place the cardboard on a stable table. Challenge your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant hand to provide a stable base.
- Using child-safe scissors, encourage your child to snip the taut yarn. They must close the scissors completely to cut through the resistant string.
- Encourage a strong, full squeeze of the scissors to get the proprioceptive feedback from cutting the tight material.
- Continue snipping all the yarn strands until the cardboard frame is clear. Count how many snips it took to complete the task.
Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure your child uses age-appropriate scissors safely. Collect all small yarn pieces immediately after the activity, as they are a choking hazard for children under five.
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