Bilateral Hand Use - Page 48 of 93

Weighted Clip Tower Build

Steps:

Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of the container to create a stable, resistant base.
Ask your child to push 6 to 8 craft sticks vertically into the playdough base. Ensure they stand up straight like towers.
Take one clothespin. Use a strong squeeze to clip one bead securely onto the end of the clothespin. This is your weighted clip!
Challenge your child to hold the container steady with their helper hand to keep the towers from moving.
Using their dominant hand, squeeze the weighted clothespin open. Carefully clip the entire unit firmly onto one of the standing craft sticks.
Repeat the squeezing and clipping action until all the sticks are covered in colorful, weighted clips. Try removing them and repeating the process!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Beads and playdough are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are kept away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Cardboard Hole Punch Pegging

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut several Q-Tips into short, 1-inch pegs. Fold a piece of thick cardboard firmly in half to create maximum resistance.
Use a marker to draw 8-10 target dots across the surface of the folded cardboard where the child should aim to punch.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand. Using strong finger force, squeeze the hole puncher onto each marker dot, creating a tight hole.
Once the holes are punched, place the short Q-Tip pegs into the container. Encourage your child to pick up one peg at a time using a neat pincer grasp.
Hold the cardboard steady with the non-dominant hand. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the Q-Tip peg straight through the resistant hole.
Continue this firm pushing action until all the punched holes have been successfully filled with colorful pegs.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Cut Q-Tips and small cardboard scraps are choking hazards for children under five. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation. Ensure the child only pushes the Q-Tip pegs into the designated holes and keeps materials away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Felt Maze Nut Grab

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw a simple maze or winding path onto the felt sheet.
Cut one small drop hole (slightly bigger than a nut) at the end of the maze. Secure the felt tightly over the container opening using masking tape.
Place the container on a stable table. Put the nuts next to the maze start point.
Use your non-dominant hand (the helper hand) to hold the container firmly steady.
Pick up the tongs using a strong pincer grasp. Squeeze the tongs open and gently grab one nut.
Carefully follow the path with the tongs. Press down firmly to maneuver the heavy nut through the resistant felt maze.
Once you reach the drop hole, let go of the nut and hear it clink into the box! Repeat until all the treasure is collected.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Nuts and bolts are very small, hard objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Wet Cardboard Q-Tip Punch

Steps:

Adult Prep: Mix a small amount of tempera paint with water in the bowl until the mixture is thick, but wet enough to saturate the cardboard slightly.
Use the spoon to paint a thick layer of the mixture onto a piece of sturdy cardboard. Let the paint soak in slightly to increase resistance, but keep the surface damp.
Use a marker to quickly draw small target dots randomly across the wet, painted surface.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard firmly steady with their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize the base.
Pick up a Q-Tip using a strong pincer grip (thumb and pointer finger).
Challenge your child to aim the Q-Tip at a marker dot. Use a strong, controlled push to punch the Q-Tip straight through the wet, resistant cardboard surface.
Repeat this firm punching action until all the target dots have been successfully punctured.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Q-Tips are small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child only pushes the Q-Tip into the cardboard, keeping it away from the face, nose, and ears.

Resistance Stick Tangle

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut several 18-inch strips of yarn. Tightly wrap each yarn strip around a craft stick until only the ends are exposed.
Secure the wrapped yarn tightly to the craft stick using small, strong strips of masking tape. Press the tape down hard for maximum resistance.
Place all the secured, tangled sticks into the plastic container. Decorate the container using markers.
Sit stably at a table. Use your helper hand to hold the container firmly steady to keep it from tipping.
Use your working hand to grip the exposed end of one craft stick with a strong pincer grasp.
Challenge yourself to pull the stick straight up and out of the resistant yarn tangle. Feel the effort! Drop the rescued stick into a pile.
Repeat this process until all the sticks have been successfully pulled free from the tangle.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of yarn and masking tape pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child uses materials only as intended.