Finger Strength - Page 5 of 29

The Masking Tape Web Rescue

Steps:

Place a small stuffed animal inside a plastic basket.
Stretch several long strips of masking tape across the top of the basket in a web pattern.
Make sure the tape is pulled tight so it stays in place during the rescue.
Hand your child the safety scissors and show them where to start cutting the web.
Challenge them to cut through every tape strip until the opening is clear for the toy.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors to ensure they stay safe. Ensure the basket is stable to prevent slipping.

Splash Goal Ball Push

Steps:

Tear four long strips of masking tape.
Tape them to a piece of cardboard to make a square goal.
Put the cardboard on a flat, water-safe surface.
Fill the trigger style spray bottle with plain water.
Place a ping pong ball near the start of the cardboard.
Ask your child to squeeze the trigger to spray the ball.
They must aim the stream to push the ball into the goal.
Try moving the ball back to increase the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise water play. Ensure the floor is dry to prevent slips.

Banded Bottle Bean Slider

Steps:

Take the plastic bottle and wrap four pipe cleaners tightly around the middle section.
Use small pieces of masking tape to secure the ends of the pipe cleaners so they do not slide around.
Place one dry bean at the very bottom of the bottle.
Hold the bottle firmly with your helper hand to keep it from moving on the table.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to slide the bean up the bottle, pushing it underneath the first tight pipe cleaner band.
Continue sliding and pushing the bean past every band until it reaches the top of the bottle.
Try to see how fast you can do it without the bean popping out from under your finger!

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Dry beans are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard. Ensure all materials are collected and stored safely after play.

Wet Paper Squeeze Mail

Steps:

Tear the index cards into small, postage stamp-sized pieces. Encourage tearing with both hands for strong bilateral input.
Place all the torn pieces into the bowl. Cover the paper completely with water and let it soak for five minutes to create resistant pulp.
Adult Step: Cut a tight, narrow slot (about 1.5 inches long) into the container lid. Secure the lid shut completely with masking tape.
Reach into the bowl and gather a handful of wet paper pulp. Squeeze the pulp as hard as you can over the bowl to remove the water.
Hold the container firmly steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to push the dense, wet pulp straight through the narrow slot. Repeat until the container is full!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Torn paper pieces and small wet pulp balls pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Felt Piercing Garden Push

Steps:

Use markers to draw 5 to 7 small target dots randomly across the center of the felt piece.
Cut the felt into a square shape. Use masking tape to secure the felt tightly over the container opening, making sure the fabric is taut and resistant.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand on the table to prevent tipping.
Pick up one craft stick. Grip it with a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Aim the stick at a marked target dot. Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the stick straight through the resistant felt.
Repeat this powerful pushing action until all the marked dots are filled with sticks, completing your ‘felt garden’.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child pushes the craft sticks into the container and away from their face and body. The stabilizing hand should always be placed on the container base.