Skill: Distal Finger Control

The ability to move just the very tips of the fingers while keeping the rest of the hand steady. This is key for small, precise movements like writing or buttoning.

Taut String Barrier Push

Taut String Barrier Push

Steps:

  • An adult should cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Use markers to draw a simple picture on the cardboard, like a big car or boat.
  • Wrap several lengths of string or yarn tightly across the cardboard surface. Crisscross the strings both horizontally and vertically to create a resistant ‘gate’ barrier over the picture.
  • Secure the ends of the string firmly with tape on the back of the cardboard. Ensure the strings are taut and resistant.
  • Place the yarn gate barrier flat on a table. Ask your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable.
  • Pick up one craft stick. Challenge your child to use the stick to push and weave straight through the resistant yarn gate until the stick is completely past the barrier.
  • Encourage strong, controlled pushes. Repeat the process to push all the sticks through the resistant strings and fill the picture.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks and small pieces of tape or string are small objects. They pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Foil Rod Roller

Foil Rod Roller

Steps:

  • Tear off a 6-inch sheet of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the resistant material.
  • Use both hands together to strongly crumple and squeeze the foil into a very tight, dense sphere. Focus on making it as hard as a rock!
  • Choose a craft stick. Decorate the stick with markers if desired. Hold the stick firmly using a comfortable grasp.
  • Hold the resistant foil ball steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to aim and push the craft stick straight through the center of the foil sphere.
  • Apply strong, controlled pressure until the stick pushes all the way through to the other side of the foil ball. You have created a Foil Rod!
  • Repeat the process to create several Foil Rods. Challenge your child to connect them end-to-end to build a unique 3D sculpture or tower.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure children compress the foil tightly to avoid sharp edges. Collect all small materials immediately after play, as they pose a potential choking hazard.

Tight Stick Wedge Push

Tight Stick Wedge Push

Steps:

  • Fold an index card tightly in half lengthwise. This creates a stiff, narrow V-shaped wedge.
  • Press a small lump of Theraputty or stiff playdough firmly down inside the V-wedge. The putty should be resistant.
  • Place the loaded index card wedge flat inside the plastic container to keep it stable on the table.
  • Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
  • Pick up one craft stick. Challenge your child to aim and push the stick straight down into the resistant putty through the narrow V-opening.
  • Encourage strong, controlled pushes until the putty wedge is completely filled with sticks. Pull the sticks out for a reverse challenge.

Safety Tip:
Theraputty, playdough, and craft sticks are small objects. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity to prevent choking hazards for children in this age group.

Ripped Line Art

Ripped Line Art

Steps:

  • Secure the cardboard vertically to a wall or door at your child’s chest height.
  • Use a marker to draw several long, curvy, or zigzag lines onto the cardboard surface.
  • Give your child a piece of construction paper. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the paper into small, jagged pieces. This takes strong finger effort!
  • Drop the torn pieces into the plastic container nearby.
  • Now, use the glue bottle to draw a thick, wavy line of glue directly next to one of the marker lines.
  • Challenge your child to pick up the torn paper pieces using a neat pincer grasp. Press each piece firmly onto the wet glue line, filling the entire path.
  • Repeat this process, covering all the drawn lines with colorful ripped paper pieces.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that small pieces of torn paper are not put into the mouth, nose, or ears, as they pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the vertical board is stable and secured well.

Squeeze and Slot Cups

Squeeze and Slot Cups

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Take a sturdy cardboard box and secure the lid shut with masking tape. Use scissors to cut one very narrow, tight slot (about 3 inches long) into the top center of the box.
  • Give your child the paper cups. Challenge them to use both hands to squeeze and crumple each cup as flat and stiff as possible. Encourage them to press hard to feel the crunch!
  • Pick up one flat, crumpled cup. Ask your child to hold the prepared box firmly with their helper hand to keep it steady on the table.
  • Challenge your child to aim the stiff edge of the cup into the narrow slot. They must use a strong, controlled push to send the crushed cup completely inside the box.
  • Repeat this crushing and slotting process until all the paper cups have been successfully posted inside the resistant box.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that the cardboard box is stable and cannot tip over when the child applies pushing force. Adults must handle the scissors when cutting the resistant slot.