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 Beaded Rainbow Arch

The Beaded Rainbow Arch

Steps:

  • Roll two large balls of playdough into thick cloud shapes.
  • Place the clouds about six inches apart on a flat table.
  • Select a pipe cleaner and a handful of matching beads.
  • Have your child slide the beads onto the pipe cleaner one by one.
  • Push one end of the wire deep into the first playdough cloud.
  • Bend the wire into a curve and push the other end into the second cloud.
  • Repeat this for every color of the rainbow!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Beads and pipe cleaners are small and can be a choking hazard.

The Secret Keyhole Drop

The Secret Keyhole Drop

Steps:

  • Cut a narrow slot in a piece of cardboard using your scissors.
  • Use your markers to draw a treasure chest or a door around the secret slot.
  • Tape a craft stick to the edge of a large button to create a key handle.
  • Ask your child to hold the cardboard upright with their helper hand.
  • They must twist their wrist to align the button with the slot to push it through.
  • Try making the slot horizontal or vertical to change the wrist movement.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using scissors and small buttons to prevent any choking hazards.

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Steps:

  • Stand your branch inside the container using a large lump of playdough.
  • Encourage your child to tear strips of tissue paper with both hands.
  • Ask them to crumple the paper into small balls using only their fingertips.
  • Have your child pick up a clothespin and squeeze it open.
  • They must trap a tissue paper leaf inside the clothespin.
  • Challenge them to clip the leaf onto a twig on the branch.
  • Continue until the branch is full of colorful tissue paper leaves!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper and playdough can be a choking hazard. Watch for sharp twigs on the branches.

Ribbon Rescue Basket Mission

Ribbon Rescue Basket Mission

Steps:

  • Grab a plastic basket with holes on the sides.
  • Place a favorite stuffed animal inside the basket.
  • Take long pieces of ribbon and weave them through the holes.
  • Crisscross the ribbon over the top to trap the toy.
  • Ask your child to rescue the toy by unweaving the ribbon.
  • They must pull each ribbon completely out through the holes.
  • Encourage them to use one hand to hold the basket and the other to pull.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended to ensure the long ribbons do not get tangled around the child.

The Pipe Cleaner Reef Rescue

The Pipe Cleaner Reef Rescue

Steps:

  • Turn the egg carton upside down on the table.
  • Use markers to color each bump of the carton a different color.
  • Use the tip of your scissors to poke a small hole in the top of each bump.
  • Pick up a pipe cleaner and push it into one of the holes.
  • Bend the pipe cleaner so it looks like wavy seaweed.
  • Pick up a bead and slide it onto the pipe cleaner seaweed.
  • Repeat this for all the holes until your reef is full of color!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using scissors. These should only be used to poke the holes. Beads are a choking hazard; keep them away from younger children and pets.