Distal Finger Control - Page 17 of 30

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.

Sticky Stick Pull

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard using masking tape. This is your sticky work surface.
Place 6 to 8 craft sticks flat across the paper. Secure both ends of each stick firmly with a small, tight strip of masking tape. Press the tape down hard to increase resistance.
Encourage your toddler to use their helper hand to hold the cardboard steady on the table, preventing it from slipping while they work.
Challenge them to use their dominant hand to find the edge of the tape strip. Use their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to pinch and pull the tape and the stick off the board in one strong, controlled motion.
Gather all the freed sticks and repeat the entire process! Try using strips of tape that are longer or shorter to change the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn tape and the craft sticks pose a potential choking hazard for toddlers who still place objects in their mouths. Discard all materials immediately after use.

Foam Slot Tongs

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw one narrow, horizontal slit (about 2 inches long) onto the container lid. Carefully cut the slit using scissors. Secure the lid shut with masking tape.
Use scissors to cut the foam sheets into many small, 1-inch squares. Drop the cut squares into the small container.
Place the target container flat on the table. Encourage your child to hold the container firmly with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Pick up the tongs. Use the tongs to grab one foam square using a strong pincer grip.
Carefully aim the foam piece toward the narrow slot. Push the foam piece completely through the slot and drop it inside the container.
Continue transferring all the foam pieces into the slot until the small container is empty.

Safety Tip:
Since this activity involves small foam pieces and the use of scissors during preparation, constant, direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of foam are a choking hazard for children under five.

Plate Rim Precision Tweeze

Steps:

Use a marker to draw several small shapes onto the flat center of the paper plate. This is your stacking zone.
Challenge your child to tear the rim off the paper plate. They should aim to tear the thick rim into small, rough, curved pieces. Tearing this resistant material requires strong effort.
Once the rim is completely torn, place the small curved pieces onto the construction paper beside the plate. This is your supply pile.
Ask your child to hold the paper plate steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Use the tweezers to pick up one torn rim piece at a time. The child must grip the piece firmly without squeezing too hard.
Carefully transfer and stack the torn pieces onto the marked area in the center of the plate. Keep the stack balanced and try not to knock it over!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The torn paper pieces are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Ensure the child only uses the tweezers and paper as intended.

Foil Moat Precision Drop

Steps:

Place the aluminum foil pan on the table. Use the playdough to create thick walls or ‘dams’ inside the pan, leaving narrow paths or ‘moats’ between them.
Mix a small amount of water with a drop of food coloring in the container to make your ‘magic potion.’
Show your child how to hold the eyedropper using their thumb and pointer finger (a strong pincer grasp).
Challenge your child to squeeze the eyedropper bulb to suck up the colored water.
Now, carefully aim the dropper over a moat. Encourage them to squeeze gently to release the water into the narrow path without letting it flood the playdough dam.
Repeat this process until all the moats are filled with colorful water. Encourage them to hold the foil pan steady with their helper hand while they work.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Playdough is a choking hazard if ingested. Ensure the child only uses the eyedropper for the intended purpose and does not consume the colored water.