Finger Strength - Page 14 of 29

Strong Punch Lacing Board

Steps:

Prep the cardboard by covering it with colored construction paper if desired. Use a marker to draw a simple shape or pattern on the board.
Hold the cardboard firmly with your helper hand. Challenge your child to squeeze the hole puncher hard to create holes around the drawn shape.
Cut a long piece of yarn. Tie one end of the yarn securely onto the first punched hole.
Thread the yarn through the holes, using both hands together to push and pull the string. Try to follow the drawn pattern.
When you reach the end, encourage your child to practice tying the two loose ends of the yarn into a simple knot. They must use precise pincer grips to manage the string.

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision. Hole punchers can pinch fingers if not used properly. Small yarn pieces are a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.

Stick Bridge Clip

Steps:

Prep the “bridge” by using masking tape to secure 5 to 7 craft sticks in a row onto the underside of a sturdy, stable table (or a sturdy chair seat).
Place the pile of clothespins within easy reach on the floor beneath the table.
Challenge your child to lie on their back on the floor, directly under the table, facing the craft sticks. This is the starting position.
Encourage your child to reach up and squeeze open one clothespin at a time. They must aim carefully to clip the pin onto the ‘bridge’ (the craft stick).
Continue until every stick is covered in colorful clothespins. To repeat, they can clip them all off and start again!

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision. Clothespins are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children who might still place items in their mouths. Ensure the table used is stable and cannot tip over during the activity.

Cactus Needle Push

Steps:

Press the Theraputty firmly into the bottom of the container. This creates a stable, resistant ‘desert floor’ for your cactus garden.
Break the dry spaghetti into short, 2-inch pieces. Breaking the spaghetti gives the hands extra feedback and motor planning practice.
Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to pick up one spaghetti piece (a ‘needle’).
Push the needle straight down into the putty. Encourage a strong, controlled push to insert it without breaking it.
Plant many needles close together to make a spiky cactus texture. Fill the entire putty surface!
Select a small pom-pom using your precise pincer grasp. Carefully place the pom-pom onto the top of a spaghetti needle to create a colorful ‘cactus flower’.

Safety Tip:
Spaghetti pieces are sharp when broken. Always supervise closely. Uncooked spaghetti, small pom-poms, and putty are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Slot Stuff Hedgehog

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 short, narrow slits across the surface of the paper roll. These are the spine holes.
Decorate the roll using markers to give your hedgehog a cute face and body.
Tear the construction paper into many long, thin strips. Tearing wakes up finger and hand muscles.
Pick up the paper roll with your helper hand to keep it steady on the table.
Stuff one end of a paper strip into a spine hole using your dominant hand fingers.
Use a craft stick to gently push the paper strip completely inside the narrow slot. This requires precise force.
Continue stuffing paper spines into all the slots until your hedgehog is fully covered in soft spikes!

Safety Tip:
Adults must perform the scissor cutting for the narrow slots. Supervise closely to ensure small pieces of torn paper are not put in the mouth.

Water Wipe Tracing

Steps:

Draw 3-4 large shapes (circle, square, triangle) on the chalkboard or vertical board using chalk or a marker.
Fill the spray bottle with water. Ensure the nozzle is set to stream, not mist, to provide resistance.
Challenge your child to hold the bottle with both hands first, then switch to one hand. Focus on using strong fingers to squeeze the trigger.
Aim the water stream at the drawn shapes. Spray directly onto the lines, “erasing” them by following the path.
Encourage strong, controlled squeezes to strengthen the hand muscles.

Safety Tip:
Supervise the activity closely to ensure water is not sprayed toward faces. Ensure the child stands stably while reaching for the vertical surface.