Finger Strength

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Steps:

Use markers to decorate 4 or 5 paper cups. Draw colorful faces or stripes on the outside.
Place the heavy bean bag flat onto a stable surface like a table or the floor.
Ask your child to press down firmly on the bean bag with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Use the dominant hand to pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
Aim the open clothespin and clip one paper cup onto the side of the resistant bean bag. The bag should hold the cup securely.
Repeat the squeezing and clipping action until all the decorated cups are attached to the heavy anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Clothespins and small pom-poms (if used) are small objects. They pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Tight Band Tunnel Clip

Steps:

Adult Prep: Twist 4 to 5 pipe cleaners tightly into small, dense resistance loops. Use masking tape to secure the paper roll upright onto the center of the cardboard base.
Secure the loops by clipping them firmly onto the top edge of the paper roll using a few clothespins. Ensure the bands are taut and resistant.
Challenge your child to sit stably and hold the cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the work.
Pick up a clothespin. Encourage a strong, full squeeze to open it wide.
Aim the open clothespin and clip it onto the paper roll, positioning it directly underneath one of the tight pipe cleaner bands. Feel the effort!
Repeat the squeezing and clipping until the entire visible surface of the paper roll is covered in colorful clothespins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners and clothespins are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are collected immediately after play.

Putty Spool Force Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Press a large lump of stiff playdough firmly into the bottom of the container to create a stable base.
Adult Prep: Twist 5 to 6 short pieces of yarn tightly into small loops. Embed these yarn loops halfway into the surface of the playdough, ensuring they are resistant.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the base on the table.
Pick up one craft stick. Encourage a firm, three-finger or pincer grip on the stick.
Aim the stick at a resistant yarn loop embedded in the playdough base.
Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick straight through the yarn and deep into the resistant playdough. Feel the effort!
Repeat this action until all the yarn loops have a stick pushed through them. Pull them out quickly for extra heavy work!

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

Wet Paper Squeeze & Drop

Steps:

Tear the newspaper into small strips using both hands. Focus on strong, controlled pulls.
Fill the bucket halfway with water. Submerge the newspaper strips until they are fully saturated and mushy.
Grab a large handful of wet paper. Squeeze the paper tightly over the bucket to remove the water. Aim for maximum effort!
Squeeze the remaining damp paper firmly into dense, hard balls (your ‘fortress rocks’).
Place the empty plastic container target nearby. Hold the container steady with your helper hand.
Use your working hand to aim and drop the wet paper ball precisely into the narrow target opening. Repeat until all rocks are delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not place wet paper or small pieces of material in their mouths. This activity can be messy; choose a water-safe work area.

Sticky Sequin Tongs Pull

Steps:

Squeeze several small, thick dots of liquid glue onto a sturdy piece of cardboard.
Press one sequin firmly into the center of each wet glue dot. Let the glue set for 15 minutes until it is very tacky and resistant.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize the base.
Use the tongs to firmly pinch one sequin. Encourage them to hold the tongs like a pencil.
Use a strong, controlled pull to peel the sticky dot completely off the cardboard surface.
Transfer the rescued sequin and drop it precisely into the empty container target. Repeat until all the dots are pulled free!

Safety Tip:
Sequins and small glue dots are tiny materials. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all small pieces are collected immediately after play, as they pose a choking hazard.