Fine Motor Control - Page 34 of 73

Shredded Paper Glue Dot

Steps:

Use a marker to draw 8-10 tiny target dots onto the sturdy cardboard base. Keep the dots small for a precision challenge.
Take one index card. Use both hands together to rip the card into tiny, jagged pieces. Encourage strong, controlled pulls for heavy work input. Drop the scraps into the container.
Pick up the glue bottle. Carefully squeeze a small, controlled dot of glue directly onto each marker target dot.
Now, use the tweezers. Pinch one tiny paper scrap using a strong pincer grasp.
Hold the cardboard steady with your helper hand. Aim the scrap at a wet glue dot and carefully press it down to secure it. Repeat until all dots are filled!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper scraps and tweezers are used in this activity. These materials pose a choking hazard for young children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Tee-Weave Card Creator

Steps:

Fold three index cards tightly in half to create one thick, sturdy base. Press hard along the fold for maximum resistance.
Use the hole puncher to squeeze and punch 6 to 8 starter holes along the edges of the folded card. Squeezing the puncher requires strength!
Hold the thick card steady with your helper hand to keep it stabilized on the table.
Pick up one golf tee using a strong pincer grasp. Aim the tee at one of the punched holes.
Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the tee completely through the layered cardboard base. Remove the tee.
Repeat this forceful piercing action until all punched holes have been filled with tees and then removed.
Pick up a stiff pipe cleaner and use your fingertips to lace it through the newly pierced holes, creating a colorful pattern.

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees have pointed ends. Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child pushes the tee straight down into the card, away from the face or body.

Foil Cap Tweezer Feed

Steps:

Tear the aluminum foil into small, manageable strips using both hands.
Use your fingertips to tightly crumple each strip into a dense ‘rock.’ Place these rocks in the container.
Hold the bottle firmly steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to twist the cap off completely.
Pick up the tweezers. Use a precise pincer grasp to grab one tiny foil rock.
Carefully carry and drop the foil rock into the narrow bottle opening.
Twist the cap firmly back onto the bottle. Repeat the whole sequence until the bottle is full.

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

Tension Net Drop

Steps:

Adult Prep: Twist two pipe cleaners tightly together to make 3 to 4 thick, sturdy “bands.”
Stretch the pipe cleaner bands across the container opening. Crisscross them to create a tight, resistant net.
Use masking tape to anchor the ends firmly to the container sides.
Place the buttons and craft sticks nearby. Ask your child to pick up a button using their pincer grasp.
Hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand. This provides proximal stability.
Use the craft stick to aim the button at the resistant pipe cleaner net.
Encourage a strong, controlled push to send the button popping through the network.
Repeat until all buttons are successfully dropped inside.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Buttons, pipe cleaners, and craft sticks are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Sticky Rice Push-Through

Steps:

Prep the Pucks: Squeeze a small circle of glue onto an Index Card. Sprinkle a thick layer of dry Rice onto the glue and press it down firmly. Let the glue set for 15 minutes until tacky.
Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a tight, narrow slot (about 1.5 inches long) into the Container lid. Secure the lid tightly onto the container with Masking Tape.
Tear the Index Card into small squares, making sure each rice/glue spot stays centered on its own small piece.
Stabilize: Ask the child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand on the table.
Load and Deliver: Pick up one Craft Stick. Use the stick to push the resistant, sticky rice puck straight through the narrow slot. Repeat this until all pucks are delivered!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry rice is a small material and poses a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.