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.

Bubble Pop Thread Maze

Bubble Pop Thread Maze

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Secure a large sheet of bubble wrap tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape. Ensure the plastic bubbles face outward.
  • Give your child one golf ball tee. Encourage them to hold the tee using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Challenge your child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand. Push the tee straight through one bubble until it makes a satisfying pop, creating a tight hole.
  • Continue poking many holes all over the bubble wrap surface to create a challenging, textured ‘maze’ of openings.
  • Once many holes are poked, pick up a craft stick. Aim the stick at a hole and push it all the way through the resistant bubble wrap and cardboard.
  • Thread the craft sticks into the holes. Continue filling the maze with colorful sticks to create a rigid, unique sculpture.

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees and craft sticks have pointed ends. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees and craft sticks are small objects and pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Ripped Line Art

Ripped Line Art

Steps:

  • Secure the cardboard vertically to a wall or door at your child’s chest height.
  • Use a marker to draw several long, curvy, or zigzag lines onto the cardboard surface.
  • Give your child a piece of construction paper. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the paper into small, jagged pieces. This takes strong finger effort!
  • Drop the torn pieces into the plastic container nearby.
  • Now, use the glue bottle to draw a thick, wavy line of glue directly next to one of the marker lines.
  • Challenge your child to pick up the torn paper pieces using a neat pincer grasp. Press each piece firmly onto the wet glue line, filling the entire path.
  • Repeat this process, covering all the drawn lines with colorful ripped paper pieces.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that small pieces of torn paper are not put into the mouth, nose, or ears, as they pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the vertical board is stable and secured well.

Clothespin Weight Tower

Clothespin Weight Tower

Steps:

  • Place the foam sheet flat on a stable table. Put the pom-poms and clothespins into the container nearby.
  • Show your child how to use one hand to firmly hold the foam sheet steady on the table. This is the helper hand.
  • Use the working hand to squeeze open one clothespin. Carefully clip one pom-pom securely inside the open pin.
  • Clip the weighted clothespin firmly onto the edge of the foam sheet. Encourage placing the clips close together.
  • Once all pom-poms are clipped on, challenge your child to carefully lift the foam sheet using their fingertips. Can they carry the sheet without dropping the weighted clips?

Safety Tip:
Clothespins and pom-poms are small items. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity to prevent choking hazards.

Pipe Cleaner Ring Drop

Pipe Cleaner Ring Drop

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use the scissors to cut a strip of construction paper that fits over the container opening. Secure this paper firmly with masking tape.
  • Adult Prep: Cut one very narrow, tight slit (about 1.5 inches long) in the center of the secured paper strip to create a resistant mail slot.
  • Give your child the pipe cleaners. Encourage them to use both hands to bend and twist each pipe cleaner into a tight, stiff ring or loop.
  • Ask your child to hold the prepared container firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
  • Pick up one stiff pipe cleaner ring. Challenge your child to thread the ring straight through the narrow, resistant slit using a strong, controlled push.
  • Repeat this process until all the loops have successfully been dropped inside the container.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners are a choking hazard if ingested. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure any cut or broken ends are collected immediately as they may be sharp.

Stick Drop Loader

Stick Drop Loader

Steps:

  • Ask an adult to cut a small, sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Use scissors to cut 4 to 6 very tight, narrow slits (about 1 inch long) across the cardboard surface.
  • Place the cardboard target vertically against a wall or laid flat on the table. Place the pom-poms and craft sticks nearby.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one pom-pom using only their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
  • Carefully hold the pom-pom and push one end of the craft stick into it until the pom-pom is firmly loaded onto the tip of the stick. This is tricky!
  • Hold the cardboard steady with the helper hand. Use the dominant hand to aim and push the loaded craft stick straight through the resistant slot.
  • The goal is to feel the push and send the loaded stick completely inside the target. Repeat until all the slots are full.

Safety Tip:
Craft sticks are small and pom-poms are choking hazards. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity.