Skill: Bilateral Hand Use

The ability to use both hands together as a team. We use this for almost everything, like holding the paper with one hand while cutting with the other, or buttoning a shirt.

Floating Noodle Squeezer

Floating Noodle Squeezer

Steps:

  • Adult Step: Use your scissors to cut a pool noodle into thin round ‘donuts’ about one inch thick.
  • Fill a large container or plastic tub halfway with cool water and set it on a stable table.
  • Place all the colorful noodle rings into the water so they float freely.
  • Ask your child to hold the side of the container with their helper hand to stay steady.
  • Have your child reach into the water and grab a floating noodle ring with their other hand.
  • Challenge them to squeeze the ring as hard as they can to see the water spray out!
  • Tell them to drop the ‘rescued’ ring into a basket next to the tub.
  • Repeat until all the floating rings are safely in the basket.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play to prevent slips or spills. Pool noodle pieces are not for the mouth.

Sticky Cup Treasure Grab

Sticky Cup Treasure Grab

Steps:

  • Wrap a long piece of masking tape around the outside of a paper cup.
  • Make sure the sticky side faces out away from the cup.
  • Scatter a handful of colorful pom-poms across a low table.
  • Ask your child to hold the cup by its rim using one hand.
  • Challenge them to press the sticky tape onto a pom-pom until it sticks.
  • Encourage them to reach across their body to find different colors.
  • Show them how to use their other hand to peel the pom-pom off.
  • Drop the rescued pom-pom into a container until the table is clear!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small pom-poms and tape can be a choking hazard if placed in the mouth.

The Cardboard Box Gear Shifter

The Cardboard Box Gear Shifter

Steps:

  • Find a medium cardboard box and keep the lid open.
  • Tape an empty paper roll vertically to the center of the bottom.
  • Use markers to draw five colorful circles around the paper roll base.
  • Label the circles with numbers one to four and the letter R.
  • Ask your child to hold the box steady with one hand.
  • Use the other hand to tilt the paper roll to touch circle number one.
  • Challenge them to shift through all the numbers in order!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Cardboard edges can be sharp, so handle them with care.

The Silver Trap Button Rescue

The Silver Trap Button Rescue

Steps:

  • Place a handful of colorful buttons at the bottom of a small bowl.
  • Tear a sheet of aluminum foil large enough to cover the bowl.
  • Wrap the foil tightly over the top of the bowl.
  • Use masking tape around the edges to keep the foil secure.
  • Use a pencil to poke five small holes in the foil.
  • Give your child a pair of tweezers to hold.
  • Ask them to hold the bowl steady with their helper hand.
  • Challenge them to fish the buttons out through the small holes!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons and tweezers can be a choking hazard. Keep all materials away from the mouth.

The Prone Balloon Target Bop

The Prone Balloon Target Bop

Steps:

  • Tape the butcher paper to the floor so it stays still.
  • Blow up a bright balloon and tie it securely.
  • Use your markers to draw three large circles at the far end of the paper.
  • Ask your child to lie on their tummy at the start of the paper.
  • They must keep their chest up and use both hands to bop the balloon toward the circles.
  • Challenge them to land the balloon inside each circle without their belly leaving the ground.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when playing with balloons. Broken balloon pieces are a serious choking hazard.