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.

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.

Q-Tip Basket Weave

Q-Tip Basket Weave

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw 10 to 12 dots evenly spaced around the top of the container lid. An adult should use the hole puncher to create a tight hole at each dot.
  • Place the container on a stable table. Hold the container firmly with your helper hand to keep it from moving.
  • Use your working hand to pick up a Q-Tip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). Push the Q-Tip straight into a hole until it sticks out slightly on the inside.
  • Repeat this process until all holes are filled, creating a standing Q-Tip fence around the lid.
  • Give the child a long piece of yarn or string. Tie a knot on the starting Q-Tip.
  • Challenge them to weave the yarn over the first Q-Tip and under the next one. Continue weaving in this over-under pattern all the way around the fence. Pull the string tight to reinforce the basket structure.

Safety Tip:
Q-Tips and yarn are small objects that pose a choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Adults should handle the scissors and hole puncher during preparation.

Foil Rod Roller

Foil Rod Roller

Steps:

  • Tear off a 6-inch sheet of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the resistant material.
  • Use both hands together to strongly crumple and squeeze the foil into a very tight, dense sphere. Focus on making it as hard as a rock!
  • Choose a craft stick. Decorate the stick with markers if desired. Hold the stick firmly using a comfortable grasp.
  • Hold the resistant foil ball steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to aim and push the craft stick straight through the center of the foil sphere.
  • Apply strong, controlled pressure until the stick pushes all the way through to the other side of the foil ball. You have created a Foil Rod!
  • Repeat the process to create several Foil Rods. Challenge your child to connect them end-to-end to build a unique 3D sculpture or tower.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure children compress the foil tightly to avoid sharp edges. Collect all small materials immediately after play, as they pose a potential choking hazard.

Cardboard Clip Sculpture

Cardboard Clip Sculpture

Steps:

  • First, draw several straight lines or large shapes onto the cardboard using a marker.
  • Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the cardboard along the drawn lines. Encourage strong pulling and pressing action for maximum heavy work input.
  • Place the paper clips into the plastic container next to the workspace.
  • Take two torn cardboard pieces. Hold them together firmly with your non-dominant (helper) hand to keep them steady.
  • Use your dominant hand to squeeze open a paper clip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
  • Clip the paper clip onto the edges of the two cardboard pieces to connect them securely. Continue adding pieces to build a chain or a free-standing sculpture.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that the child handles torn cardboard edges carefully, as they can sometimes be sharp. Collect and store all small paper clips immediately after the activity.

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.