Distal Finger Control - Page 2 of 31

The Pudding Bead Hunt

Steps:

Use markers to draw several colorful circles on the outside of a Ziplock bag.
Open the bag and scoop in about half a cup of pudding.
Drop a few colorful beads into the pudding and seal the bag shut.
Lay the bag flat and use masking tape to secure the edges to a table.
Ask your child to use their pointer finger to find a bead inside the bag.
Challenge them to slide the bead through the pudding until it reaches a matching circle!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the Ziplock bag is sealed tightly to avoid any leaks. Small beads are a choking hazard and should be kept away from younger siblings.

Balloon Bead Balance Mission

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Place a bowl of beads and an empty basket on a stable table.
Ask your child to stand in front of the materials.
Have them rest the balloon on the flat palm of their non-dominant helper hand.
Use the tweezers in their other hand to pick up a single bead.
Carefully carry the bead and drop it into the basket while keeping the balloon balanced.
If the balloon falls, return the bead and try again from the start.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads are a significant choking hazard. Ensure the balloon is handled carefully to avoid popping near the face.

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

Steps:

Lay a flat Styrofoam block on your table.
Use markers to draw a simple robot or house shape on the top.
Poke several small holes along the lines of your drawing using a pencil.
Pick up a long bolt and push it through one of the holes.
Reach under the foam with your other hand.
Use your fingertips to find the end of the bolt without looking.
Twist a nut onto the bolt until it is tight against the foam.
Repeat this for every hole until your structure is full of metal parts!
Stack a few wooden blocks on the bolts to see what you can build.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small nuts and bolts are a choking hazard. Ensure the pencil used for poking holes is handled safely.

The Cardboard Ring Finger Hop

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut an empty paper roll into five thin rings.
Let your child decorate each ring with a different color using the markers.
Tape the bottom of each ring in a straight line onto a flat cardboard sheet.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant helper hand.
Have them walk their index and middle fingers through the rings like a tiny person.
Challenge them to hop through the rings as fast as they can without touching the sides!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. Ensure the cardboard edges are smooth to prevent any small scrapes during play.

The Cardboard Shutter-Bug Camera

Steps:

Help your child cut a square hole in the middle of a sturdy cardboard piece.
Decorate the front of the camera with colorful markers and fun lens designs.
Tape a drawing of a funny face or animal behind the hole on the back.
Take two index cards and place them over the hole on the front side.
Tape only the far left and far right edges of the cards to the cardboard.
Ask your child to use their index fingers to pull the doors open from the center.
They can see the hidden photo and then push the doors shut again!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they use scissors. Make sure the cardboard edges are smooth to prevent any small scratches.