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.

Bilateral Mirror Track Drawings

Bilateral Mirror Track Drawings

Steps:

  • Tape a large piece of butcher paper flat on a stable table to keep it still.
  • Draw a straight line right down the middle of the paper to divide it in half.
  • Have your child hold a marker in each hand using a comfortable grasp.
  • Place both marker tips at the top of the paper, one on each side of the line.
  • Slowly draw lines outward toward the edges of the paper.
  • Next, curve back inward toward the center line.
  • Move both hands at the exact same time to make matching mirror loops.
  • Draw fun shapes like hearts or butterflies together to keep the challenge exciting!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the table is at a comfortable height to prevent wrist or neck strain.

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Steps:

  • Place an empty, clear plastic bottle on a flat table.
  • Drop a lightweight ping pong ball inside the bottom of the empty bottle.
  • Fill a large bowl with cool water and place it right next to the bottle.
  • Have your child dunk a sponge into the bowl to soak up the water.
  • Hold the bottle steady with their helper hand to keep it still.
  • Use the other hand to squeeze the wet sponge directly over the bottle opening.
  • Repeat this process, watching the ping pong ball float higher and higher.
  • Once the ball reaches the very top, use pinching fingers to pluck it out!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely during water play. Ensure the bottle has a wide opening with no sharp plastic edges.

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

Steps:

  • Use scissors to cut a long cardboard strip, about ten inches long.
  • Use your markers and ruler to draw a straight line down the middle.
  • Color the left side blue and the right side orange.
  • Squeeze two clothespins and clip them to the bottom to make legs.
  • Stand the cardboard strip upright on a flat table.
  • Hand your child a basket of colorful clothespins.
  • Ask them to hold the wobbly cardboard steady with their helper hand.
  • Use their pinching fingers to clip clothespins onto the top edge.
  • Challenge them to match the color of the pins to the cardboard side.
  • Gently place a pom-pom into each clipped pin to finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely during play. Clothespins can pinch little fingers, and pom-poms are a choking hazard.

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

Steps:

  • Place the Styrofoam block flat on a table.
  • Use colorful markers to color the flat, round top of each golf ball tee.
  • Explain to your child that these tees are fingers getting a manicure.
  • Ask your child to hold a tee tightly with their pinching fingers.
  • Use the other hand to hold the Styrofoam block steady.
  • Push the pointed end of the tee straight down into the Styrofoam.
  • Line up five tees in a row to create a hand.
  • Carefully place a small sticker on top of each colored tee to finish the style!

Safety Tip:
Golf tees have pointed ends. Always supervise your child during play to prevent accidental pokes or swallowing of small stickers.

The Straw Rocket Blast

The Straw Rocket Blast

Steps:

  • Use your scissors to cut a small rectangle of paper, about three inches wide.
  • Wrap the paper tightly around a pencil to form a neat tube.
  • Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the paper tube so it does not unroll.
  • Pinch one open end of the paper tube and fold it down tightly.
  • Use another piece of tape to seal this folded end completely to make the rocket nose.
  • Slide the open end of your paper rocket over the end of a straw.
  • Take a deep breath and blow hard through the straw to launch your rocket!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they use scissors. Ensure they do not run while holding the straws or pencils.