Distal Finger Control - Page 3 of 30

The Finger Puppet Road Trip

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a small strip of construction paper, about two inches long.
Wrap the paper strip around your child’s index finger to make a cozy ring puppet.
Use your markers to draw a silly smiley face on the paper puppet ring.
Take a large piece of cardboard and draw a winding, curvy road across it.
Place several colorful stickers at different points along the curvy cardboard road.
Have your child hold the cardboard flat with their helper hand to keep it steady.
Slide the paper puppet onto your child’s index finger of their dominant hand.
Ask them to tuck their other three fingers and thumb tightly into their palm.
Challenge them to walk their puppet along the road, stopping to press each sticker!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they are using scissors to cut the paper strip. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges to prevent any minor scrapes.

The Cardboard Compass Navigator

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a large square out of cardboard for your map base.
Draw a colorful landscape with markers including a river and a forest.
Glue a craft stick at each edge of the board and label them North, South, East, and West.
Use a pencil to poke a tiny hole right in the center of your map.
Thread a piece of string through one button and then through the hole in the cardboard.
Tie a thick knot on the back of the board so the button stays attached.
Ask your child to rest their palm on the cardboard without lifting it.
They must use their thumb and index finger to slide the button to different targets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or small buttons.

The Shimmering Mosaic Lid Garden

Steps:

Place the plastic container on a flat table.
Use markers to draw grass and flower stems on the sides of the container.
Put long strips of masking tape across the lid with the sticky side facing up.
Secure the edges of the tape so it stays on the lid.
Have your child pick up one sequin using their thumb and pointer finger.
Press the sequin onto the sticky tape to make a flower on top of the stem.
Continue until the garden on the lid is full of colorful sequin flowers.

Safety Tip:
Sequins are very small and can be a choking hazard, so please supervise your child closely during play.

The Masking Tape Spoon Scraper

Steps:

Start by sticking several long strips of masking tape onto a flat piece of cardboard.
Press the tape down very firmly so it is flat and tight.
Give your child a sturdy spoon to use as their scraping tool.
Ask them to use the edge of the spoon to lift the tape.
Encourage them to peel every piece of tape off the board completely.
Have them use their other hand to hold the cardboard steady while they work.
Finally, they can crumple the sticky tape into a ball to finish.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using the spoon to ensure it is used safely.

The Upright Clip Fence

Steps:

First, cut a rectangular piece of cardboard to use as your sturdy base.
Lay a long strip of masking tape across the cardboard with the sticky side up.
Secure the ends of the tape so the strip stays perfectly flat.
Use your markers to draw a winding path directly onto the sticky tape.
Hand your child the tweezers and a pile of colorful paper clips.
Challenge them to pick up a clip and press its narrow edge onto the tape.
They should follow the marker line until the path is covered with standing clips.
Once finished, they can use their fingers to pluck the clips off.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small paper clips are a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings.