Distal Finger Control - Page 14 of 30

Paper Nugget Transfer Challenge

Steps:

Tear the construction paper into small strips using both hands together.
Use only your fingertips to crumple each strip tightly into a dense, hard paper ‘nugget.’ Squeeze hard for maximum strength input!
Place the finished nuggets on the table. Set the paper cup nearby as your target.
Hold the paper cup steady with your helper hand to keep it stable.
Pick up the tongs. Squeeze them open with a strong finger pinch to grab one paper nugget.
Carefully transfer the nugget and drop it precisely into the waiting paper cup target. Repeat until all nuggets are sorted.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The small, crumpled paper pieces pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are collected immediately after play.

Foil Grip & Transfer

Steps:

Pour water into a small bowl. Add a drop of food coloring to make it a fun color.
Drop the cotton balls into the colored water until they are fully soaked and heavy. Place the wet balls inside the Aluminium Foil Pan.
Hold the foil pan firmly steady with your helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Use the tongs to pick up one heavy, wet cotton ball at a time. Encourage your child to squeeze the tongs hard to grasp the slippery material.
Carefully lift the wet cotton ball and transfer it to the empty plastic container. Drop it inside the target.
Repeat this squeezing and transferring action until the foil pan is completely empty. Count how many successful transfers were made!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small cotton balls can be a choking hazard if ingested. Ensure the child only handles the materials with the tongs or fingers and keeps them away from their mouth.

Corner Fold & Weave Push

Steps:

Give your child a piece of cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the cardboard into rough, postage stamp-sized pieces.
Take one torn cardboard piece. Fold a corner tightly in half, then fold it over one more time to create a dense, narrow point.
Place the finished folded pieces in the plastic container. These are your weaving targets.
Take a pipe cleaner and curl one end into a loop to create a dull ‘needle.’
Hold the folded cardboard piece firmly steady with your helper hand.
Use your dominant hand to grip the pipe cleaner needle with a strong pincer grasp. Push the needle straight through the tight folded point of the cardboard.
Repeat this process, pushing the pipe cleaner through each resistant cardboard fold.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure any cut ends of the pipe cleaners are curled safely before starting the activity.

Tight Coil Ribbon Weave

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the cardboard firmly onto a stable table. Cut pipe cleaners into 4-inch sections if needed.
Encourage your child to wrap one pipe cleaner tightly around a pencil. Slide the pencil out to create a small, dense coil. Repeat this action to create six colorful coils.
Use small pieces of masking tape to secure one end of each finished coil firmly onto the cardboard base. Space the coils out slightly in a winding path.
Cut a long piece of ribbon (about 18 inches). Tie one end of the ribbon securely onto the first coil target.
Challenge your child to use their fingertips to carefully push the loose end of the ribbon straight through the center of the next tight coil.
Continue this weaving action. The child should push the ribbon through each coil one by one until they reach the end of the coiled line.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required, as sharp scissors are used for preparation. Ensure the ends of the pipe cleaners are curled or tucked safely. Collect all small materials immediately after play.

Cardboard Coin Mail

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a narrow, horizontal slot (about 1 inch long) into the container lid. Secure the lid tightly onto the container with masking tape.
Give your child the cardboard. Encourage them to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand.
Challenge them to squeeze the hole puncher forcefully onto the cardboard to create a big pile of small cardboard ‘coins.’ Squeezing hard provides deep muscle input!
Ask your child to pick up one stiff cardboard coin using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Aim the cardboard coin at the narrow slot.
Use a strong, controlled push to mail the coin completely through the resistant slot. Repeat until all the coins are successfully delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Hole punchers can pinch fingers if hands are misplaced. Ensure all small cardboard pieces are collected immediately after play, as they pose a choking hazard.