Skill: Fine Motor Control

Using the small muscles in the hands and wrists to make precise movements. This is the foundation for almost all school tasks, like drawing, writing, and using tools.

Resistant Card Weave Pull

Resistant Card Weave Pull

Steps:

  • Ask an adult to cut 8 to 10 index cards into thick, uniform strips (about 1 inch wide).
  • Weave the strips together tightly in an over-under checkerboard pattern to create a square ‘mat’.
  • An adult should securely wrap masking tape around the entire perimeter of the woven square. Wrap the tape tightly to keep the weave stable and add resistance.
  • Place the finished woven card square flat on a stable table. Challenge your child to hold the square firmly steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
  • Encourage your child to use their working hand to grasp the edge of one woven strip and pull it straight out of the resistant tape frame.
  • The pulling requires strong, controlled force. Continue pulling the strips free until the entire woven piece has been unraveled. Drop the rescued strips into the container.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Adults should handle the scissors during preparation. Ensure the child remains seated stably when performing the strong pulling motions.

Tension Tube Push

Tension Tube Push

Steps:

  • First, an adult should use the scissors to cut 5 to 7 short, tight slits (about 1 inch long) across the surface of the paper roll.
  • Help your child take a large piece of playdough and push it firmly into the center of the paper roll. The playdough should be dense and resistant, covering the slits from the inside.
  • Place the paper roll on a table. Challenge your child to hold the paper roll steady with their helper hand to prevent it from moving while pushing.
  • Pick up a pipe cleaner from the container. Encourage your child to aim the pipe cleaner tip at one of the narrow slits.
  • Use a strong, steady push to insert the pipe cleaner completely through the slit and into the resistant playdough core. The playdough holds it in place.
  • Continue pushing the pipe cleaners into all the slots until the entire ‘tension tube’ is full. Then, try pulling them out for an extra workout!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners and pieces of playdough are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child only pushes the pipe cleaners into the designated tube.

Q-Tip Basket Weave

Q-Tip Basket Weave

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw 10 to 12 dots evenly spaced around the top of the container lid. An adult should use the hole puncher to create a tight hole at each dot.
  • Place the container on a stable table. Hold the container firmly with your helper hand to keep it from moving.
  • Use your working hand to pick up a Q-Tip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). Push the Q-Tip straight into a hole until it sticks out slightly on the inside.
  • Repeat this process until all holes are filled, creating a standing Q-Tip fence around the lid.
  • Give the child a long piece of yarn or string. Tie a knot on the starting Q-Tip.
  • Challenge them to weave the yarn over the first Q-Tip and under the next one. Continue weaving in this over-under pattern all the way around the fence. Pull the string tight to reinforce the basket structure.

Safety Tip:
Q-Tips and yarn are small objects that pose a choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Adults should handle the scissors and hole puncher during preparation.

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.

Banded Post Stretch

Banded Post Stretch

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of the plastic container to create a stable base.
  • Adult Prep: Twist several pipe cleaners tightly into small, stiff rings or loops. These are your ‘bands’ that need stretching.
  • Have your child insert 6 to 8 craft sticks vertically into the playdough base. Ensure they stand up straight and firmly.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one pipe cleaner band. They must use both hands together to pull and stretch the band open.
  • Hold the container steady with the non-dominant hand. Use the stretched band and aim it carefully onto the top of a standing craft stick.
  • Continue stretching and placing the bands until every craft stick tower is ringed. Try placing multiple bands on one stick for a stack.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners are small and pose a choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child does not place materials near their mouth.