Finger Strength - Page 13 of 31

Cardboard Stick Weave Challenge

Steps:

Decorate a piece of sturdy cardboard using markers. Draw many small dots or shapes across the surface to mark your targets.
Hold the cardboard firmly steady with your helper hand. Use the hole puncher to punch a hole onto every marked dot. Squeezing the puncher requires strong effort!
Pick up one craft stick. Hold the cardboard steady with one hand.
Aim the tip of the craft stick at one of the newly punched holes. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant hole.
Continue weaving the craft stick in and out of different holes to create a fun pattern. Fill the entire cardboard piece with colorful sticks.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child uses the hole puncher safely, keeping fingers clear of the mechanism. Check craft sticks for splintering before use.

Water Pocket Clip Boats

Steps:

Fill a Ziplock Bag halfway with corn kernels.
Add a small amount of water to make the mixture thick and resistant.
Seal the bag tightly, ensuring all excess air is completely removed.
Use markers to draw small boat shapes onto construction paper.
Use scissors to cut the boat shapes out.
Lay the sealed bag flat inside a shallow container to keep it stable.
Pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
Clip one paper boat securely onto the clothespin.
Hold the resistant corn bag steady with your helper hand.
Clip the boat and clothespin firmly onto the dense bag surface. Push hard until it feels securely anchored!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Corn kernels are a choking hazard if ingested. Ensure the Ziplock Bag is sealed completely and the child remains seated while working.

Felt Pocket Clip Drop

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a piece of felt that covers the container opening. Cut 6 to 8 very tight, narrow vertical slits into the felt.
Secure the felt tightly over the container opening using masking tape around the rim. The felt should be firm.
Place the pom-poms in a bowl. Practice squeezing a clothespin open using a strong two-finger pinch.
Challenge your child to pick up one pom-pom by securing it gently inside the open clothespin.
Hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand. This stabilizes the base.
Aim the clothespin and pom-pom at a narrow felt slit. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the pom-pom completely into the pocket.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Sticky Sludge Squeeze

Steps:

Mix about half a cup of oats with a small amount of water in the plastic container. Stir until you have a thick, resistant, soupy mixture (the ‘sludge’).
Secure the construction paper vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape. This is your target canvas.
Tear off several small pieces of masking tape. Place them on the paper, sticky side facing OUT, to create a simple shape or path.
Hold the eyedropper using your thumb and pointer finger. Squeeze the bulb hard to draw up the resistant oat sludge.
Stabilize the paper with your helper hand. Aim the dropper at the sticky tape targets.
Squeeze the dropper forcefully to release the thick sludge onto the sticky tape. Continue this until all the sticky spots are covered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the child only uses the mixture and eyedropper as intended. Oats pose a potential choking hazard if ingested.

Sticky Stick Pull

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard using masking tape. This is your sticky work surface.
Place 6 to 8 craft sticks flat across the paper. Secure both ends of each stick firmly with a small, tight strip of masking tape. Press the tape down hard to increase resistance.
Encourage your toddler to use their helper hand to hold the cardboard steady on the table, preventing it from slipping while they work.
Challenge them to use their dominant hand to find the edge of the tape strip. Use their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to pinch and pull the tape and the stick off the board in one strong, controlled motion.
Gather all the freed sticks and repeat the entire process! Try using strips of tape that are longer or shorter to change the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn tape and the craft sticks pose a potential choking hazard for toddlers who still place objects in their mouths. Discard all materials immediately after use.