Eye-Hand Coordination - Page 22 of 34

Frozen Dessert Relay

Preschool girl strengthens core and hand muscles by lying prone and scooping colorful pom-poms with an ice cream scoop.

Steps:

Place the empty Paper Cup about 12-18 inches in front of or slightly off to the side of your child (this will be the ‘sundae dish’).
Have your child lie on their tummy (prone position) on the floor, resting on their forearms. Place the Bowl filled with Pom-poms (‘ice cream flavors’) right next to their chest.
Challenge your child to use the Ice Cream Scoop to load one pom-pom, then lift their arm to reach and drop the pom-pom into the Paper Cup. Encourage them to keep their bellies on the floor while they reach and scoop!
When they have filled the cup, try moving the cup to the opposite side of their body to encourage a big cross-body reach (crossing midline) while maintaining their stable tummy position.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Ensure the playing surface is clear and that your child maintains a comfortable prone position. Always monitor to prevent mouthing of small objects like pom-poms.

Fuzzy Stick Postbox

Steps:

Take a sturdy piece of cardboard (like the side of a shoe box) and, using a pencil or pen, carefully poke several holes across the surface. Make sure the holes are just wide enough for a pipe cleaner to fit through easily.
Present the cardboard ‘postbox’ and a pile of brightly colored pipe cleaners to your child. Encourage them to pick up a fuzzy stick with one hand and hold the cardboard steady with the other.
Guide your toddler to push the pipe cleaners through the holes, acting as if they are “mailing” the sticks to the other side. Encourage them to try different hole locations to increase motor planning demands.

Safety Tip:
Since this activity involves small, flexible materials, adult supervision is required at all times. Pipe cleaners can pose a choking hazard for children under 3 who may mouth objects.

Rainbow Tissue Jar

Steps:

Place the jar on a sturdy surface. Lay several sheets of different colored tissue paper next to the jar.
Show your child how to tear the tissue paper into small, manageable pieces (about the size of a postage stamp). Ripping paper is a wonderful way to wake up those bilateral coordination muscles!
Encourage your child to crumple each small piece of paper into a tight little ball using only their fingertips, aiming for the smallest ball possible.
Have your child practice feeding the colorful, squished ‘rainbow balls’ into the opening of the jar. If using a jar with a narrow neck, this requires precision and strong distal finger control to push the material inside.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the jar is clean, dry, and stable during play. If using a glass jar, always supervise closely and ensure the child understands to push the paper and not hit the jar.

Tee Time Smash

Steps:

Set up the ‘smashing station’ by placing the block of Styrofoam on a sturdy, non-slip surface, like a placemat on the kitchen table or floor.
Show your child how to place the blunt end of a golf tee onto the Styrofoam block. They must use their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize and hold the Styrofoam steady.
Using a spoon held like a hammer, encourage your child to tap the golf tee until it pushes all the way into the Styrofoam. They must grade their force to ensure the tee is fully embedded.
Once all the tees are smashed in, switch roles! Have your child use their finger tips or the back of the spoon to pull the tees back out, working on fine motor control and pincer grasp.

Safety Tip:
Ensure close supervision to prevent the child from putting the golf tees in their mouth or throwing the spoon. This activity requires moderate force, so make sure the table is stable.

The Sticky Spiderweb Challenge

A preschool-aged boy practices eye-hand coordination by throwing a pom-pom at a homemade sticky web constructed from masking tape in a doorway

Steps:

Set up the spiderweb: Use masking tape to create a sticky ‘web’ across an open doorway or the entrance to a hallway. Make sure the sticky side faces outward into the room where the child will be throwing.”
“Place the basket of pom-poms about 3 to 5 feet away from the web (adjust distance based on your child’s skill). Encourage your child to throw the pom-poms and try to get them stuck on the web.”
“Once the pom-poms are stuck, transition the activity to retrieval. Have your child carefully use their fingers to peel the stuck items off the masking tape. They will likely need to use one hand to hold the tape still while the other hand pulls the pom-pom free!”
“Repeat the process until the basket is empty, then reload and start the challenge again!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the masking tape is placed at a safe height (not near face or neck level) and supervise closely, especially when children are standing or reaching near the doorframe.