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.

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Steps:

  • Place an empty, clear plastic bottle on a flat table.
  • Drop a lightweight ping pong ball inside the bottom of the empty bottle.
  • Fill a large bowl with cool water and place it right next to the bottle.
  • Have your child dunk a sponge into the bowl to soak up the water.
  • Hold the bottle steady with their helper hand to keep it still.
  • Use the other hand to squeeze the wet sponge directly over the bottle opening.
  • Repeat this process, watching the ping pong ball float higher and higher.
  • Once the ball reaches the very top, use pinching fingers to pluck it out!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely during water play. Ensure the bottle has a wide opening with no sharp plastic edges.

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

Steps:

  • Use scissors to cut a long cardboard strip, about ten inches long.
  • Use your markers and ruler to draw a straight line down the middle.
  • Color the left side blue and the right side orange.
  • Squeeze two clothespins and clip them to the bottom to make legs.
  • Stand the cardboard strip upright on a flat table.
  • Hand your child a basket of colorful clothespins.
  • Ask them to hold the wobbly cardboard steady with their helper hand.
  • Use their pinching fingers to clip clothespins onto the top edge.
  • Challenge them to match the color of the pins to the cardboard side.
  • Gently place a pom-pom into each clipped pin to finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely during play. Clothespins can pinch little fingers, and pom-poms are a choking hazard.

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

Steps:

  • Place the Styrofoam block flat on a table.
  • Use colorful markers to color the flat, round top of each golf ball tee.
  • Explain to your child that these tees are fingers getting a manicure.
  • Ask your child to hold a tee tightly with their pinching fingers.
  • Use the other hand to hold the Styrofoam block steady.
  • Push the pointed end of the tee straight down into the Styrofoam.
  • Line up five tees in a row to create a hand.
  • Carefully place a small sticker on top of each colored tee to finish the style!

Safety Tip:
Golf tees have pointed ends. Always supervise your child during play to prevent accidental pokes or swallowing of small stickers.

Yarn Ring Orbit Slider

Yarn Ring Orbit Slider

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a bright yellow sun in the very center of your paper plate.
  • Use the hole puncher to click four holes around the outer rim of the plate.
  • Use scissors to cut two pieces of yarn, each about twelve inches long.
  • Have your child slide three colorful beads onto each piece of yarn.
  • Push the ends of the yarn through the opposite holes to create two crossing tracks.
  • Secure the yarn ends firmly to the back of the paper plate using masking tape.
  • Ask your child to hold the plate steady on the table with their helper hand.
  • Use the pinching fingers of their other hand to slide the beads along the tracks from orbit to orbit!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely when they are handling scissors, small beads, or yarn. Store all small pieces safely out of reach after play to prevent any choking hazards.

Zigzag Beam Clip Challenge

Zigzag Beam Clip Challenge

Steps:

  • Lay out three long strips of cardboard in a zigzag line on the floor.
  • Use masking tape to stick the cardboard firmly to the ground.
  • Use markers to draw five small circles along the cardboard path.
  • Place a paper cup at the very end of the line.
  • Fill a plastic container with colorful pom-poms and place it at the start.
  • Give your child a handful of paper clips to hold in one hand.
  • Ask your child to walk slowly along the cardboard beam.
  • As they walk, they must place one pom-pom inside each drawn circle.
  • While standing on the beam, they must use pincer fingers to slide a paper clip onto the paper cup.
  • If they step off the cardboard, they have to go back to the start!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the floor area is clear of other toys to prevent tripping. Make sure the cardboard is taped flat so it is not slippery.