Bilateral Hand Use - Page 10 of 54

Foam Slit Curtain Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut the foam sheet to fit the cardboard. Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, horizontal slits across the foam. Secure the foam tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape.
Sit stably at a table. Use your helper hand to hold the cardboard base firmly steady.
Pick up one craft stick using your thumb and pointer finger.
Aim the end of the stick at a narrow foam slit. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant foam ‘curtain’.
Repeat this action until all the slits are filled with sticks. Try pulling them out quickly for a fun, reverse heavy work challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation.

Resistant Yarn Unwind Challenge

Steps:

Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of the container to create a heavy anchor base.
Decorate a long piece of yarn by pressing sequins or stickers onto it. Use a dot of glue to secure one end of the yarn tightly onto a craft stick.
Firmly push the non-glued end of the craft stick deep into the playdough base until it stands upright and feels stable.
Help your child tightly wrap the decorated yarn around the standing craft stick until only a small tail hangs free.
Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand.
Using their dominant hand, they must pull the yarn tail steadily and forcefully to unwind the yarn from the stick and the resistant playdough anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Yarn, sequins, and playdough are small objects and pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are not ingested.

Cardboard Stick Weave Challenge

Steps:

Decorate a piece of sturdy cardboard using markers. Draw many small dots or shapes across the surface to mark your targets.
Hold the cardboard firmly steady with your helper hand. Use the hole puncher to punch a hole onto every marked dot. Squeezing the puncher requires strong effort!
Pick up one craft stick. Hold the cardboard steady with one hand.
Aim the tip of the craft stick at one of the newly punched holes. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant hole.
Continue weaving the craft stick in and out of different holes to create a fun pattern. Fill the entire cardboard piece with colorful sticks.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child uses the hole puncher safely, keeping fingers clear of the mechanism. Check craft sticks for splintering before use.

Water Pocket Clip Boats

Steps:

Fill a Ziplock Bag halfway with corn kernels.
Add a small amount of water to make the mixture thick and resistant.
Seal the bag tightly, ensuring all excess air is completely removed.
Use markers to draw small boat shapes onto construction paper.
Use scissors to cut the boat shapes out.
Lay the sealed bag flat inside a shallow container to keep it stable.
Pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
Clip one paper boat securely onto the clothespin.
Hold the resistant corn bag steady with your helper hand.
Clip the boat and clothespin firmly onto the dense bag surface. Push hard until it feels securely anchored!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Corn kernels are a choking hazard if ingested. Ensure the Ziplock Bag is sealed completely and the child remains seated while working.

Sticky Sludge Squeeze

Steps:

Mix about half a cup of oats with a small amount of water in the plastic container. Stir until you have a thick, resistant, soupy mixture (the ‘sludge’).
Secure the construction paper vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape. This is your target canvas.
Tear off several small pieces of masking tape. Place them on the paper, sticky side facing OUT, to create a simple shape or path.
Hold the eyedropper using your thumb and pointer finger. Squeeze the bulb hard to draw up the resistant oat sludge.
Stabilize the paper with your helper hand. Aim the dropper at the sticky tape targets.
Squeeze the dropper forcefully to release the thick sludge onto the sticky tape. Continue this until all the sticky spots are covered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the child only uses the mixture and eyedropper as intended. Oats pose a potential choking hazard if ingested.