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.

Moving Target Delivery

Moving Target Delivery

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the paper cup firmly onto the outside of the large ball. This cup is the moving target.
  • Place the buttons in the container nearby. Set the moving target ball on the floor in a clear, open space.
  • Ask your child to pick up one button using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Gently roll or move the ball slowly across the floor. Encourage your child to walk or squat as they follow the target.
  • Challenge your child to aim carefully and drop the button into the narrow opening of the paper cup while the ball is moving slowly.
  • Repeat the process: pick up a button, chase the moving target, and deposit the item inside. Encourage them to try different body positions, like kneeling or squatting, while aiming.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Buttons are small, hard objects and pose a choking hazard. Ensure the playing area is clear to prevent tripping while the child moves with the ball.

Cardboard Tee Lacing

Cardboard Tee Lacing

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw several dots onto the piece of cardboard. These dots are your targets.
  • Place the cardboard flat on a stable table. Challenge your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep it steady.
  • Pick up a golf tee. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the tee straight through the cardboard at one of the marked dots. Feel the resistance!
  • Remove all the golf tees, leaving behind a set of neat, small holes across the surface.
  • Challenge your child to thread the pipe cleaners through the new holes. They must weave the fuzzy sticks in and out to create a colorful lacing pattern.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees and small pieces of pipe cleaner pose choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Clip Line Treasure

Clip Line Treasure

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use markers to draw and cut several small shapes (like fish or stars) from the index cards. Set a long piece of string tautly between two stable points, like chair backs.
  • Place the paper clips in the container and the paper shapes nearby. Encourage your child to sit stably at the work table.
  • Ask your child to hold one paper shape steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
  • Challenge them to pick up one paper clip. They must use precise fingertips to squeeze the clip open and secure it onto the edge of the paper shape.
  • Now, hold the taut string steady with the helper hand. Carefully clip the paper clip (and the paper shape) onto the hanging string line.
  • Repeat this entire process, clipping all the paper shapes onto the line. Try doing this without letting the string sag or move!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips are choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

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.