Skill: Finger Isolation

Being able to use one finger at a time, like pointing with the index finger or pressing a specific button, without the other fingers moving along with it.

The Bubble Power Road Trip

The Bubble Power Road Trip

Steps:

  • Use masking tape to secure a sheet of bubble wrap to a wall at your child’s shoulder height.
  • Use a marker to draw a long, wiggly line from the bottom to the top of the bubble wrap.
  • Place a small stuffed animal at the start of the line.
  • Tell your child that the stuffed animal needs bubble power to move up the road.
  • Have your child pop one bubble on the line using their pointer finger.
  • Once the bubble pops, move the stuffed animal slightly forward along the path.
  • Continue popping bubbles one by one until the toy reaches the top of the road.
  • Try using the other hand to help the toy finish its journey!

Safety Tip:
Choking Hazard. This activity involves plastic wrap which can be torn into small pieces. Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put bubble wrap in their mouth. Ensure the wall tape is secure.

Vertical Post-It Peek-a-Boo

Vertical Post-It Peek-a-Boo

Steps:

  • Use masking tape to secure the cardboard vertically to a wall.
  • Make sure it is at your child’s chest or eye level.
  • Draw five large, bright shapes on the cardboard using your markers.
  • Write a different number inside each shape from 1 to 5.
  • Cover each shape completely with a single Post-It note.
  • Ask your child to reach up and peel a note to find a shape.
  • Challenge them to find a specific number you call out!
  • Have them stick the peeled notes onto their clothes for extra fun.

Safety Tip:
Choking Hazard. This activity uses Post-Its and masking tape. Small pieces of paper or tape can be a choking hazard. Always supervise your child closely. Ensure they do not put these materials in their mouth.

Sticky Finger Bead Rescue

Sticky Finger Bead Rescue

Steps:

  • Wrap a small piece of masking tape around your child’s index finger.
  • Make sure the sticky side faces out.
  • Place a small bowl of colorful beads on the table.
  • Ask your child to tap a bead with their sticky finger to pick it up.
  • They must use their thumb to peel the bead off.
  • Have them drop the bead into a paper cup.
  • Repeat until the cup is full of rescued beads!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Beads are a choking hazard. Keep beads away from children who put items in their mouths.

The Ziplock Button Slide

The Ziplock Button Slide

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw three different colored circles on the front of a Ziplock bag.
  • Place buttons that match those colors inside the bag.
  • Add a small splash of water to the bag.
  • Seal the bag very tightly to prevent leaks.
  • Tape the bag flat onto a table using masking tape.
  • Ask your child to use their pointer finger to slide buttons into the matching circles.
  • Encourage them to move slowly to keep the buttons under their finger.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Buttons are a choking hazard. Ensure the bag is sealed and taped down firmly.

Bottle Cap Finger Skaters

Bottle Cap Finger Skaters

Steps:

  • Lay a large piece of cardboard flat on a table.
  • Use masking tape to create a winding skating rink path across the board.
  • Draw small start and finish flags at the ends of the tape path using markers.
  • Take two plastic bottle caps from empty water bottles.
  • Ask your child to place their index and middle finger inside the two caps.
  • Challenge them to skate their fingers along the tape path.
  • They must stay on the tape and keep the caps flat while moving.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the bottle caps are clean and have no sharp plastic edges before playing.