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 Sticky Ribbon Rainbow Reach

The Sticky Ribbon Rainbow Reach

Steps:

  • Tape a large piece of cardboard vertically to a wall at your child’s eye level.
  • Cut five strips of colorful ribbon, each about six inches long.
  • Use masking tape to stick only the top end of each ribbon to the far left side of the cardboard.
  • Place five small pieces of tape, sticky side out, on the far right side of the cardboard.
  • Have your child stand in the center of the board.
  • Ask them to reach across with their right hand to grab a ribbon from the left.
  • They must pull it across and stick it to the matching tape on the right!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure the ribbon and tape are handled safely.

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

Steps:

  • Lay a flat Styrofoam block on your table.
  • Use markers to draw a simple robot or house shape on the top.
  • Poke several small holes along the lines of your drawing using a pencil.
  • Pick up a long bolt and push it through one of the holes.
  • Reach under the foam with your other hand.
  • Use your fingertips to find the end of the bolt without looking.
  • Twist a nut onto the bolt until it is tight against the foam.
  • Repeat this for every hole until your structure is full of metal parts!
  • Stack a few wooden blocks on the bolts to see what you can build.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small nuts and bolts are a choking hazard. Ensure the pencil used for poking holes is handled safely.

The Foil Pan Rice Sort

The Foil Pan Rice Sort

Steps:

  • Pour a large bag of dry rice into the mixing bowl.
  • Drop ten colorful buttons into the rice and mix them in with your hands.
  • Pour the mixture into the shallow aluminium foil pan so the rice is spread out.
  • Place a paper cup at the corner of the pan to act as the treasure chest.
  • Ask your child to hold the pan steady with their helper hand.
  • Have them use a spoon to scoop through the rice and find the hidden buttons.
  • Once a button is found, use a pincer grasp to pick it up and drop it into the cup!
  • Repeat until all the treasures have been safely moved into the cup.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons and rice grains are choking hazards and should never be put in the mouth.

The Metal Button Spire

The Metal Button Spire

Steps:

  • Use your pencil to poke a hole in the center of a sturdy cardboard square.
  • Push a long bolt through the hole so the threads point straight up.
  • Place a button onto the bolt so it rests flat on the cardboard.
  • Pick up a nut and twist it onto the bolt using your fingertips.
  • Spin the nut all the way down until it touches the button.
  • Add another button and then twist on a second nut.
  • Continue stacking buttons and nuts to build a tall, colorful spire!
  • Use your non-dominant hand to hold the cardboard base steady.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Nuts and bolts are small parts that can be a choking hazard. Ensure all materials are used safely.

The Silver Foil Path Trace

The Silver Foil Path Trace

Steps:

  • Glue a sheet of aluminium foil onto a piece of cardboard.
  • Use your hands to smooth the foil until it is very flat.
  • Use a bright marker to draw a curvy path across the foil.
  • Ask your child to pick up a pom-pom using their pinching fingers.
  • Challenge them to slide the pom-pom slowly along the drawn path.
  • Try drawing a zigzag or a circle to make it harder!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small pom-poms can be a choking hazard. Ensure the edges of the foil are tucked safely behind the cardboard to prevent any sharp edges.