The Sticky Ribbon Rainbow Reach
- Play time:
- 5 to 10 minutes
- Setup:
- 5 minutes
- Where:
- Wall or easel
Why it helps
This activity encourages your child to reach across the middle of their body. It helps with coordination, which is important for reading and writing. They will also use their helper hand to stay steady. It is a colorful way to build shoulder strength and focus!
Steps
- Tape a large piece of cardboard vertically to a wall at your child's eye level.
- Cut five strips of colorful ribbon, each about six inches long.
- Use masking tape to stick only the top end of each ribbon to the far left side of the cardboard.
- Place five small pieces of tape, sticky side out, on the far right side of the cardboard.
- Have your child stand in the center of the board.
- Ask them to reach across with their right hand to grab a ribbon from the left.
- They must pull it across and stick it to the matching tape on the right!
Safety tip: Always supervise your child during play to ensure the ribbon and tape are handled safely.
Make it easier
- Tape the ribbons and the sticky tabs closer to the middle of the board so the reach is shorter.
- Fold the top of each ribbon over its tape to make a little tab that is easy to pinch and peel.
- Start with three wide ribbons instead of five thin ones.
Make it harder
- Color each sticky tab to match a ribbon so your child has to find the right spot.
- Swap sides so the left hand reaches across to ribbons taped on the right.
- Ask your child to kneel tall or stand on one foot while reaching across.
What to watch for
- Notice whether your child keeps their feet in the middle and reaches across, or turns and steps toward the ribbon. Both show you how the cross-body reach feels right now.
- Watch how the fingers grab each ribbon. A fingertip pinch near the tape usually peels it off more easily than a fist.
- If the sticky tape feels unpleasant, let your child press each ribbon on with a craft stick so their fingers do not touch the tape.
Where this helps in daily life
Reaching across the body is the same move kids use to buckle a seatbelt, wash the opposite arm in the bath, and pull a sleeve onto the other arm.
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 Crossing Midline, 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.
