The Pool Noodle Penny Bank
Purpose
This activity is a great way to practice in-hand manipulation. This means moving objects inside one hand using only your fingers. Kids use this skill when handling money or adjusting a pencil. Pushing coins into the foam builds finger strength and distal finger control. This helps with handwriting precision and endurance. By adding point values, we also turn a simple exercise into a fun game. This helps your child practice planning and executive functioning.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- An adult uses a knife to cut several narrow slits into a pool noodle.
- Use your markers to write point values like 5, 10, or 25 next to each slot.
- Give your child five coins from a plastic container to hold in their palm at once.
- Ask your child to move one coin to their fingertips without using their other hand.
- Challenge them to push the coin firmly into a slot on the pool noodle.
- Repeat this until all the coins are safely inside the noodle bank!
Safety Tip:
Coins are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings. Always supervise your child during play.
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