Skill: Forearm Supination

Turning the forearm so the palm faces up. This movement allows children to hold a bowl of soup, catch a ball with two hands, or wash their face.

Screw Tower Twist

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use a pencil to poke 4 to 6 holes in the cardboard. The holes should be slightly smaller than the bolts for good resistance.
  • Place the cardboard on the table. Use the marker to draw a simple circle around each hole to create a target zone.
  • Challenge your child to hold the cardboard firmly with one hand (the helper hand) to stabilize it on the table.
  • Using their dominant hand, push a bolt straight through a target hole until only the threads stick out the back.
  • Carefully thread a matching nut onto the bolt. Use repeated forearm twisting (like turning a key) to tighten the nut down to the cardboard surface.
  • Once the nut is tight, try unscrewing and removing all pieces to repeat the challenge.

Safety Tip:
Nuts and bolts are very small and pose a choking hazard. Always supervise the child closely during this activity. Ensure all pieces are collected and stored safely after playtime.

Roller Path Painting

Roller Path Painting

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw a simple, winding path, large circle, or thick zigzag line onto the surface of the paper plate.
  • Prepare the paint station: Pour a small amount of tempera paint into a shallow container. Use a paper roll (like a toilet paper roll) as your ‘paint roller.’
  • Show your child how to hold the paper roll vertically, using their fingertips like a handle. They should aim to keep their wrist slightly bent backward (extended).
  • Have your child dip just the end of the paper roll into the paint, then transfer it to the paper plate.
  • Challenge your child to roll the painted end of the tube precisely along the marked path. They must use wrist and forearm movements to steer the roller and stay on the line.
  • Try rolling back and forth along the same path until the line is completely covered in color.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise young children closely during painting activities. Ensure all paint used is non-toxic and washable. Monitor to ensure the paper roll pieces are not put in the mouth.

Twisty Cap Match

Twisty Cap Match

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw matching colors or simple patterns (like stripes or dots) onto the plastic bottle caps and the tops of the bottles.
  • Place one small button inside each empty plastic bottle. This gives auditory feedback when the cap is removed.
  • Challenge your child to hold the bottle firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
  • Use the dominant hand to pick up the cap and twist it tightly onto the matching bottle. Focus on smooth, repetitive wrist twisting.
  • Once all caps are on, practice twisting them off quickly to ‘rescue’ the buttons inside. Put the buttons back in the container to start a new round.

Safety Tip:
Buttons are small items. Always supervise children closely during this activity to prevent a choking hazard.

Frozen Dessert Relay

Preschool girl strengthens core and hand muscles by lying prone and scooping colorful pom-poms with an ice cream scoop.

Steps:

  • Place the empty Paper Cup about 12-18 inches in front of or slightly off to the side of your child (this will be the ‘sundae dish’).
  • Have your child lie on their tummy (prone position) on the floor, resting on their forearms. Place the Bowl filled with Pom-poms (‘ice cream flavors’) right next to their chest.
  • Challenge your child to use the Ice Cream Scoop to load one pom-pom, then lift their arm to reach and drop the pom-pom into the Paper Cup. Encourage them to keep their bellies on the floor while they reach and scoop!
  • When they have filled the cup, try moving the cup to the opposite side of their body to encourage a big cross-body reach (crossing midline) while maintaining their stable tummy position.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Ensure the playing surface is clear and that your child maintains a comfortable prone position. Always monitor to prevent mouthing of small objects like pom-poms.

Nuts and Bolts Tripod Grasp

Activity Steps

  1. Preparation: Place a variety of nuts and bolts on a table or tray. If your child is new to this skill, start with just 2 or 3 large pairs to keep it successful and frustration-free.

  2. Sort and Match: Ask your child to dig through the pile to find a “match” (one nut and one bolt that fit together). This helps them practice visual discrimination to tell the difference between sizes.

  3. The Assembly: Have your child hold the bolt steady in one hand (their “helper hand”). With their dominant hand, encourage them to pick up the nut using their thumb, index, and middle finger. This is the tripod grasp.

  4. Twist and Turn: Ask them to screw the nut onto the bolt. Watch to see if they can use their fingers to rotate the nut rather than moving their whole arm or shoulder.

  5. Unscrew: Once they are all assembled, taking them apart is just as valuable! It uses different muscle groups and extends the play.