Intrinsic Muscle Development - Page 14 of 18

Foil Smash Target

Steps:

Set up the target zone: Tape a large piece of Construction Paper vertically to a door or wall at your child’s chest height. Use Masking Tape to create a fun target shape (like a star or circle) on the paper, making sure the sticky side faces OUT toward the child.
Prep the ‘ammo’: Give the child a sheet of Aluminium Foil. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the foil into small, postage-stamp-sized pieces. Tearing foil requires great strength!
Crumple and compress: Challenge the child to take each foil piece and squeeze it into the tightest, densest little ball (a ‘foil marble’) they can make, using only their fingertips. Place the finished balls in a Plastic Container.
Get into position: Have your child lie on their tummy on the floor (prone position) directly facing the sticky target. Their shoulders and elbows should be supporting their weight.
Smash the target: Ask the child to pick up one foil marble at a time and use a firm, whole-hand push to stick it onto the exposed sticky tape. Try to cover the entire target zone with heavy foil balls!

Safety Tip:
Due to the potential choking risk associated with small, dense foil balls, constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child maintains a safe, stable prone position and does not lift their hips too high.

Cap Twister Rings

Steps:

Prep: An adult should cut the pipe cleaners into small 4-inch strips. Place the container and the strips on the table.
Show the child how to firmly hold the body of the plastic container steady with one hand (the helper hand) to ensure it doesn’t move.
Demonstrate how to take a pipe cleaner strip and use the fingertips of the other hand to tightly twist and wrap it around the ridges of the container cap, creating a tight ring.
Challenge the child to continue wrapping the pipe cleaner strips until the entire cap is covered in colorful, tight rings.
For extra practice, encourage the child to use the opposite rotation (untwisting and unwinding) to remove all the pipe cleaner rings before starting the challenge again.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Since this activity involves pipe cleaners cut into small pieces, they can pose a potential choking hazard and should be immediately collected and stored safely after the activity.

Carousel Clip Spin

Steps:

Use markers to decorate the paper plate or cardboard circle (your carousel base).
Take 6 to 8 craft sticks. Use the clothespins to clip these sticks firmly around the edge of the plate. Make sure the sticks point straight out like spokes.
Place the plate on a stable surface. Use your helper hand to hold the plate steady.
Challenge your child to use their thumb and pointer finger to pinch and flick one of the craft sticks. The goal is to make the entire carousel spin slowly.
Try flicking different sticks to change the direction or speed of the spin. Focus on keeping the stabilizing hand still for a challenge.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the child maintains good posture. Encourage them to sit with their feet flat on the floor to promote core stability while working on this fine motor task.

Fuzzy Stick Twister

Steps:

Use a marker to draw a simple shape or a target zone (like a thick stripe) on the center of one craft stick.
Place the craft stick flat on the table. Ask your child to hold the stick very steady with their non-dominant hand.
Encourage the child to take one pipe cleaner and use their dominant hand fingers to tightly twist the fuzzy stick around the craft stick. The goal is to cover the marked zone completely.
Challenge them to keep the wraps tight and neat. Once finished, they can unwrap the pipe cleaner for another round, practicing the reverse movement.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required during this activity. Ensure the pipe cleaner ends are curled slightly before use, as cut wire can be sharp. Monitor closely to prevent the child from placing the materials in their mouth, as small pieces pose a choking hazard.

Sensory Squeeze Lines

Steps:

Mix Tempera Paint and a tablespoon of dry Rice in a bowl. Use a Spoon to stir until it is a thick, chunky paste that offers some resistance.
Scoop the paint mixture into the bottom corner of a Ziplock Bag. Squeeze all the excess air out and seal the top of the bag tightly.
Place the Construction Paper onto the Cardboard for a firm surface. Use scissors to snip a tiny corner off the Ziplock Bag (this creates the nozzle).
Have your child use their non-dominant hand to hold the top of the bag steady. This provides proximal stability for the working hand.
Encourage them to use their dominant hand to squeeze the bag firmly, pushing the paint out. Challenge them to control the squeeze to make textured lines and shapes.

Safety Tip:
Use non-toxic tempera paint and supervise closely. Due to the small size of the rice grains and the snipped Ziplock bag pieces, constant adult supervision is necessary to prevent choking or ingestion.