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.

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

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 Foil Pond Tongs Task

The Foil Pond Tongs Task

Steps:

  • Lay a sheet of cardboard on a flat table.
  • Draw four large blue circles on the cardboard with your markers.
  • Tear off four squares of aluminium foil using both hands together.
  • Crumple each foil square into a small, shallow bowl shape.
  • Place one foil bowl inside each blue circle on the cardboard.
  • Give your child a pair of tongs and a container of pom-poms.
  • Ask them to squeeze the tongs to pick up one pom-pom.
  • Carefully drop the pom-pom into a foil pond.
  • Challenge them to fill every pond without tipping the foil bowls over!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads and pom-poms can be a choking hazard.

The Cardboard Ring Finger Hop

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 Foil Pan Rice Sort

The Foil Pan Rice Sort

Steps:

  • Pour a large bag of dry rice into the mixing bowl.
  • Drop ten colorful buttons into the rice and mix them in with your hands.
  • Pour the mixture into the shallow aluminium foil pan so the rice is spread out.
  • Place a paper cup at the corner of the pan to act as the treasure chest.
  • Ask your child to hold the pan steady with their helper hand.
  • Have them use a spoon to scoop through the rice and find the hidden buttons.
  • Once a button is found, use a pincer grasp to pick it up and drop it into the cup!
  • Repeat until all the treasures have been safely moved into the cup.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons and rice grains are choking hazards and should never be put in the mouth.

The Index Card Tweezer Tunnel

The Index Card Tweezer Tunnel

Steps:

  • Fold three index cards into arches to make small tunnels.
  • Tape the arches in a straight line onto a flat table.
  • Place a colorful bead at the start of the tunnel row.
  • Ask your child to hold the table surface with their helper hand.
  • Use the tweezers to push the bead all the way through the line.
  • Finally, use the tweezers to pick up the bead and drop it into a cup.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads are a choking hazard. Keep all materials away from the mouth.