Skill: Pincer Grasp

The pincer grasp is the coordination of the index finger and thumb to hold an item. Each time you hold a pen or button your shirt, you’re using the pincer grasp.

Pincer grasp is a hand grasp that develops around the time a baby is 8-10 months old. This grasp corresponds to the time a baby is beginning to feed themselves finger foods. The pincer grasp is needed in order to grasp a small item, pinch it between the index and thumb and bring it to the mouth.

The Vertical Felt Leaf Clip

The Vertical Felt Leaf Clip

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a thick, winding vine on a piece of cardboard.
  • Use your scissors to cut out the vine shape for your child.
  • Tape the vine shape vertically onto a wall at your child’s eye level.
  • Cut out several small leaf shapes from the colorful felt sheets.
  • Ask your child to use a pincer grasp to clip a leaf onto the vine.
  • Challenge them to reach across their body to place leaves on the opposite side.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required while using scissors. Ensure the cardboard is taped firmly to prevent it from sliding.

Shiny Shape Impression Match

Shiny Shape Impression Match

Steps:

  • Tape a large sheet of aluminium foil onto a flat piece of cardboard.
  • Select five buttons with different shapes or textures from your collection.
  • Ask your child to press each button firmly into the foil to leave a mark.
  • Remove all the buttons and place them into a small basket.
  • Challenge your child to pick a button and match it back to its shiny foil home.
  • Encourage them to feel the foil marks with their fingertips before choosing.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons are a choking hazard and should be kept away from the mouth.

The Foam Garden Button Push

The Foam Garden Button Push

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw a simple flower center on your foam sheet.
  • Ask an adult to cut four narrow slits around the flower center using scissors.
  • Place the foam sheet flat on the table.
  • Have your child hold the foam steady with their helper hand.
  • Give them a pile of colorful, large buttons to use as petals.
  • Ask them to use their pinching fingers to push a button halfway into a slit.
  • Repeat until the flower has a full circle of colorful button petals!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons can be a choking hazard. Ensure the buttons are large enough and kept away from the mouth.

The Foil Bead Wrap Rescue

The Foil Bead Wrap Rescue

Steps:

  • Tear off several small squares of aluminum foil, about the size of your hand.
  • Place one colorful bead in the center of a foil square.
  • Show your toddler how to use their fingertips to crumple the foil around the bead until it is completely hidden.
  • Place all the finished ‘silver balls’ into a bowl.
  • Ask your child to pick up one ball using their pinching fingers.
  • Challenge them to use both hands to carefully unwrap the foil and rescue the bead inside!
  • Once rescued, drop the bead into a separate tray and start the next one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses small beads. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put any materials in their mouth.

The Sticky Bottle Bead Roll

The Sticky Bottle Bead Roll

Steps:

  • Take an empty plastic bottle and make sure it is clean and dry.
  • Wrap a long piece of masking tape around the middle of the bottle.
  • Make sure the sticky side is facing out toward you.
  • Secure the ends of the tape with two smaller pieces of tape so it stays in place.
  • Scatter a handful of colorful beads inside a flat plastic container.
  • Show your child how to hold the bottle with both hands.
  • Ask them to roll the bottle over the beads until they stick to the tape.
  • Once the bottle is decorated, have them use their fingers to peel the beads off one by one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses beads which are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely. Ensure they do not put beads or tape in their mouth.