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.

Wet Sponge Kernel Rescue

Wet Sponge Kernel Rescue

Steps:

  • Pour water into the bowl. Drop the corn kernels onto the dry sponge. Soak the sponge fully in the water until it is heavy and saturated.
  • Use both hands to lift the sponge out of the bowl. Squeeze the sponge hard over the bowl, pressing out all the water and kernels. This is heavy work!
  • Once the sponge is damp (not dripping), place it flat on the table. The wet kernels should be sticking slightly to the surface.
  • Hold the sponge steady with your helper hand. Use the tongs to carefully pick up each wet corn kernel one by one.
  • Transfer the rescued kernels into the empty plastic container. Repeat the soaking and squeezing steps when the sponge gets too dry.

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

Foil Sticker Pierce Track

Foil Sticker Pierce Track

Steps:

  • Secure a piece of cardboard firmly inside the bottom of the aluminum foil pan using masking tape. This adds stability.
  • Place 8 to 10 small stickers (like dot stickers) randomly onto the surface of the foil. Use your pincer grasp to peel them.
  • Hold the aluminum foil pan firmly steady with your non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
  • Pick up one craft stick. Hold the stick like a strong pencil in your dominant hand.
  • Aim the tip of the stick directly at a sticker target. Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the sticker and the foil completely.
  • Repeat this forceful piercing action until all the sticker targets have been smashed and pierced through.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small stickers can be a choking hazard for children under five. Craft sticks are not sharp, but controlled pushing is necessary. Ensure the child pushes the stick away from their face and body.

Resistant Cardboard Push Pucks

Resistant Cardboard Push Pucks

Steps:

  • Tear the cardboard into several small, jagged strips.
  • Fill the container halfway with water.
  • Soak the cardboard strips in the water completely until they are soft.
  • Squeeze and wring the wet strips hard to remove excess water. This is heavy work!
  • Squish the damp cardboard strips together into a firm, flat ‘puck.’ Press it onto the table.
  • Hold the cardboard puck steady with your helper hand.
  • Use a Q-Tip to aim and push a hole straight through the soft, resistant puck.
  • Repeat the pushing action until the entire cardboard puck is full of holes.

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 materials are kept away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Weighted Clip Tower Build

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

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.