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 Hanger Button Rescue

The Hanger Button Rescue

Steps:

  • Take a plastic hanger and wrap several strips of masking tape around the bottom bar.
  • Ensure the sticky side of the tape is facing out toward your child.
  • Press ten colorful buttons onto the sticky tape at different spots.
  • Have your child hold the top of the hanger with one hand to stabilize it.
  • Use the other hand to carefully peel each button off the tape using a pinch.
  • Have them drop each rescued button into a nearby plastic container.

Safety Tip:
Buttons are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise your child during play and ensure all buttons are stored safely after the activity.

The Ribbon Tail Rescue

The Ribbon Tail Rescue

Steps:

  • Use your scissors to cut several pieces of ribbon into short lengths.
  • Clip a colorful clothespin to one end of every ribbon piece.
  • Securely clip the other end of the ribbons to your child’s waistband.
  • Make sure the ribbons hang down like long animal tails.
  • Ask your child to reach around their back with one hand.
  • They must use a strong pinch to open the clothespin and rescue the ribbon tail while keeping their body standing as still as possible.
  • Challenge them to see how many tails they can catch!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put small materials like clothespins or ribbons in their mouth.

The Tiny Pom-Pom Tree Grove

The Tiny Pom-Pom Tree Grove

Steps:

  • Use a pair of scissors to cut small, three-inch circles from your cardboard pieces.
  • Have your child use the hole puncher to click a single hole right in the center of every circle.
  • Slide one pipe cleaner through the hole and twist the bottom so the tree stands up tall.
  • Bend the top of the pipe cleaner into several little branches that point in different directions.
  • Ask your child to pick up a colorful pom-pom using only their thumb and pointer finger.
  • Carefully set the pom-pom on a branch so it stays perfectly balanced without any glue.
  • Challenge them to see how many pom-poms they can add to their tiny forest!

Safety Tip:
Pom-poms are a choking hazard. Please supervise your child closely and ensure they do not put them in their mouth.

The Golf Tee Yarn Trail

The Golf Tee Yarn Trail

Steps:

  • Place a block of Styrofoam on a flat table.
  • Use markers to draw several small circles on the foam.
  • Pick up a golf ball tee using your pinching fingers.
  • Push the tee straight down into one of the circles.
  • Repeat this until every circle has its own mountain.
  • Tie the end of a long piece of yarn to the first tee.
  • Guide the yarn around the other tees to make a trail.
  • Pull the yarn tight to see your colorful design!

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees have sharp points. Please watch your child closely to keep them safe. Small items like tees and yarn can be a choking hazard.

The Ribbon Ladder Rescue

The Ribbon Ladder Rescue

Steps:

  • Use masking tape to secure two long ribbons vertically onto a wall.
  • Space the ribbons about five inches apart so the sticks fit between them.
  • Ensure the ribbons are pulled tight from the top to the bottom.
  • Give your child a handful of clothespins and several colorful craft sticks.
  • Ask them to hold a craft stick horizontally against the two ribbons.
  • Show them how to clip the stick to the ribbons using the clothespins.
  • Repeat this to build several rungs all the way up the wall.
  • Once the ladder is finished, they can use their fingers to climb it!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they do not pull the ribbon off the wall or put materials in their mouth.