Pincer Control - Page 3 of 23

The Paper Roll Pincer Squeezer

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut several empty paper rolls into small rings about one inch thick.
Let your child decorate each ring with colorful patterns using the markers.
Adult Step: Cut four narrow vertical slots into a flat piece of sturdy cardboard base.
Ask your child to use their thumb and pointer finger to squeeze one paper roll ring until it is flat.
Challenge them to slide the flattened ring into a slot on the cardboard base to make it stand up.
Continue squeezing and sliding more rings into each other to build a tall and wobbly sculpture!
Encourage your child to use their helper hand to hold the base steady while the other hand adds new pieces.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. Make sure the cardboard edges are smooth to avoid any small scrapes during play.

The Foil Pan Macaroni Putter

Steps:

Place the aluminum foil pan on a stable table.
Tape a small U-shape in one corner using masking tape to make a goal.
Drop five pieces of dry macaroni into the opposite side of the pan.
Give your child a Q-Tip to hold like a tiny putter.
Challenge them to push each piece of macaroni into the taped goal!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Dry macaroni is a choking hazard. Keep materials away from the mouth.

The Vertical Cloud Garden

Steps:

Help your child pick four colorful paper cups for their wall garden.
Use your masking tape to stick the bottom of each cup to a wall.
Make sure the cups are at your child’s shoulder height to work those muscles.
Place a basket of soft cotton balls on the floor nearby.
Give your child the tongs and show them how to squeeze and pick up one ball.
Challenge them to reach up and drop the cotton ball into a cup!
Try using only their left hand for two cups and their right hand for the others.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put cotton balls in their mouth.

The Foil Ring Noodle Slide

Steps:

Tear off five squares of aluminium foil about the size of a piece of bread.
Show your child how to roll each foil square into a long, thin snake.
Bend the foil snake into a circle and twist the ends to make a ring.
Use markers to draw different colored stripes on your pool noodle to create targets.
Ask your child to hold the pool noodle with one hand.
Use the other hand to slide a foil ring onto the end of the noodle.
Challenge them to slide the ring all the way to a matching color stripe!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Aluminium foil can have thin edges and small pieces can be a choking hazard.

The Foil Cupcake Scoop

Steps:

Tear off several small squares of aluminium foil using both hands.
Show your child how to crumple each foil square into a round ball to make ‘ice cream scoops.’
Place a baking cup on the table and have your child use their helper hand to hold it steady.
Use the spoon to scoop a foil ball and carefully place it inside the baking cup.
Once the ‘cupcake’ is in the cup, pick up a small bead using a pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
Gently set the bead on top of the foil ball to act as a sprinkle.
Continue adding more ‘sprinkles’ until the cupcake is fully decorated!
Challenge your child to dump the cup and start again with a different colored bead.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely during play. Small beads and crumpled foil can be a choking hazard, so ensure they do not put any materials in their mouth.