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.

Pom-Pom Skewer Push

Pom-Pom Skewer Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Secure a thick piece of cardboard firmly onto the inside of the plastic container lid using glue. This creates a stable, resistant base for planting.
  • Place the Q-Tips and pom-poms in separate containers. Ask your child to hold one pom-pom steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
  • Challenge your child to pick up a Q-Tip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Encourage them to push the Q-Tip straight through the middle of the resistant pom-pom. They need controlled force to do this without bending the Q-Tip.
  • Once the pom-pom is skewered, hold the container base steady with the helper hand.
  • Aim the Q-Tip stick and push it firmly into the resistant cardboard base to create a colorful, dense forest of pom-poms.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Q-Tips and small pom-poms are choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are not placed in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Felt Tapestry Push

Felt Tapestry Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 tight, narrow, horizontal slits into the felt sheet.
  • Secure the felt tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape on all edges. Tape the cardboard base firmly onto the table.
  • Take two pipe cleaners and twist them tightly together to create one stiff, thick ‘needle’ for threading.
  • Hold the cardboard base steady with your helper hand. Use a strong pincer grasp to pick up the end of the stiff pipe cleaner needle.
  • Challenge your child to thread the pipe cleaner straight through one tight felt slit. Push it completely through, feeling the resistance of the fabric.
  • Continue threading the pipe cleaner into the remaining slits, creating a dense, woven tapestry pattern across the felt surface.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Ensure all materials are used only as intended.

Precision Tube Drop

Precision Tube Drop

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Cut a 4-inch wide strip from the foam sheet. Roll the strip tightly to create a narrow, stable tube, securing the seam firmly with masking tape.
  • Secure the bottom of the foam tube vertically onto the construction paper using plenty of masking tape. The paper acts as a base.
  • Place the sticks in the container next to the base. Ask your child to sit stably and use their helper hand to hold the base firmly.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one craft stick using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Encourage them to aim carefully and drop the stick straight down through the narrow opening of the foam tube without touching the sides.
  • Repeat this precision task until all the craft sticks have been successfully dropped into the tube.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small items and pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.

Foil Sticker Peel

Foil Sticker Peel

Steps:

  • Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil. Lay it flat on the table and smooth out the wrinkles.
  • Use markers to draw 10 to 12 small circles randomly across the foil surface. These are your sticker targets.
  • Place a few small stickers (dot stickers work best) onto the plastic container lid. Press them down firmly so they are hard to peel.
  • Ask your child to hold the container steady with their helper hand. Use the tweezers to grasp the edge of a sticky sticker.
  • Peel the sticker off the container lid against the resistance. This requires controlled, strong force.
  • Carefully carry the sticker over the foil and use the tweezers to press the sticker onto a marker circle. Repeat until all stickers are placed.

Safety Tip:
Due to the small size of the stickers and tweezers, constant and direct adult supervision is required. These materials are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths.

Sponge Stick Rotation

Sponge Stick Rotation

Steps:

  • Fill the bowl with water. Soak the sponge completely. Ask your child to wring the sponge out tightly, making it damp and dense.
  • Place the damp, dense sponge firmly inside the plastic container to keep it stable on the table.
  • Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Pick up one craft stick using a comfortable grasp with your working hand.
  • Aim the flat end of the stick at the sponge. Use a strong, twisting motion to screw the stick halfway into the resistant sponge.
  • Continue twisting all the craft sticks into the sponge until the surface looks like a prickly cushion.
  • Challenge your child to reverse the movement: use a strong twist and pull to remove the sticks one by one. Try switching hands for stabilization.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child remains seated while working and only uses the craft sticks for the intended twisting action.