Hand Arches/Separation - Page 2 of 7

Mummy Hand Wrap

Steps:

Prep several sheets of tissue paper and show your child how to tear it into long, ribbon-like strips. Tearing is a great workout for the small hand muscles!
Help your child secure the end of one tissue paper strip onto the stuffed animal’s leg or arm using a small piece of masking tape.
Challenge them to use two hands to carefully wrap the ‘mummy bandage’ all the way around the stuffed animal until it is fully covered (or mummified!).
When the toy is wrapped, secure the final end with another piece of tape, then enjoy the fun process of unwrapping and tearing off the bandages!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during tearing activities to ensure paper is not put into the mouth. Keep the play area tidy, as tissue paper can become a slipping hazard if left scattered on the floor.

Putty Treasure Dig

Steps:

Prepare the ‘treasure’ by breaking 8-10 pipe cleaners into halves. Hide them deeply inside a large ball of playdough (this is the ‘monster mash’). Place the playdough in a plastic container or on a safe mat.
Challenge your child to become a ‘Treasure Hunter.’ Use two hands to squeeze, stretch, pull, and mash the playdough to uncover all the buried pipe cleaner pieces.
Encourage them to use different hand movements: squeezing the dough with their whole hand, pushing down with their thumbs, and stretching it apart using both hands together.
Once all the pieces are found, help them reshape the dough back into a ball. They can hide the treasure again or count how many ‘gems’ they found!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise this activity closely. Ensure that the child understands that the playdough and pipe cleaners are not food items. Wash hands thoroughly when finished.

Cardboard Punch Art

Steps:

Decorate a small cardboard square using the markers. Draw simple lines or fun shapes on your canvas.
Place the cardboard flat on a sturdy table. Hold it firmly with your helper hand for stability.
Take the hole puncher and aim it at the cardboard. Squeeze hard to punch holes all over the decorated piece.
Try using only your dominant hand to squeeze the puncher. The cardboard provides great resistance!
Gather the pipe cleaners from the container. Curl one end of a pipe cleaner into a loop to create a dull ‘needle.’
Thread the pipe cleaner through the punched holes. Create colorful patterns as you weave in and out.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise this activity closely. Hole punchers can pinch fingers if hands are misplaced. The small cardboard punch-outs and pipe cleaner pieces are small objects. They pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Bubble Wrap Architect Challenge

Preschool boy using bilateral hand use and concentration to pierce bubble wrap with a craft stick.

Steps:

Cut the bubble wrap into various sizes (squares, rectangles). Encourage your child to use both hands, one to stabilize the wrap, and the other to carefully tear smaller pieces off for better bilateral practice.
Ask your child to use their dominant hand to push the craft sticks straight through the air pockets of the bubble wrap, aiming for the satisfying ‘pop!’ This provides great auditory feedback and proprioceptive input.
Challenge them to build 3D structures (towers, houses, animals) by connecting multiple pieces of bubble wrap together using the craft sticks as sturdy connectors. Encourage them to work while kneeling or lying on their tummy for added core strength!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise this activity closely. Ensure that the child handles the craft sticks safely, using them only to connect the bubble wrap and not as toys for poking.

Felt Slot Feed

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a felt square to cover the container opening. Glue the felt securely onto the container rim, creating a lid.
Cut 4 to 6 short, narrow slits (about 1 inch long) into the center of the felt lid. These slits must be tight.
Give your child a sheet of construction paper. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the paper into small pieces (about stamp-sized).
Ask your child to hold the container steady with their helper hand to provide proximal stability.
Challenge them to use a strong finger push to insert one torn paper piece through a narrow felt slot.
Continue feeding the container until all the torn paper scraps are successfully pushed through the resistant felt slots.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using scissors. The torn paper pieces are small and pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.