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 Beaded Plate Hair Stylist

The Beaded Plate Hair Stylist

Steps:

  • Use your markers to draw a silly face on the paper plate.
  • Squeeze the hole puncher to make holes around the top of the plate.
  • Cut pieces of yarn and tie one through each hole for hair.
  • Give your child a bowl of beads to hold.
  • Ask them to slide the beads onto the yarn strands.
  • Tie a small knot at the end of each piece of yarn.

Safety Tip:
Beads are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise your child during this activity and keep all small materials out of reach of younger siblings.

The Sparkly Pipe Cleaner Spectacles

The Sparkly Pipe Cleaner Spectacles

Steps:

  • Pick two long pipe cleaners to be the main frames of your glasses.
  • Bend each pipe cleaner into a circle.
  • Twist the ends together to lock the shape.
  • Slide colorful beads onto each circle one by one.
  • Use a small piece of pipe cleaner to connect the two circles.
  • Twist a pipe cleaner onto the side of each circle to make the arms.
  • Bend the ends of the arms to fit over your ears.

Safety Tip:
Beads are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the ends of the pipe cleaners are tucked in so they are not sharp.

The Pipe Cleaner Deep Sea Divers

The Pipe Cleaner Deep Sea Divers

Steps:

  • Fill the plastic container about halfway with cool water.
  • Take a colorful pipe cleaner and bend it into the shape of a little person.
  • Ask your child to pick up a nut from the pile using their thumb and pointer finger.
  • Thread the nut onto the pipe cleaner diver’s legs to act as a heavy weight.
  • Drop the diver into the water to see if it sinks or floats.
  • Add more nuts and bolts until the diver reaches the very bottom of the tank!
  • Use another pipe cleaner as a hook to fish the divers back up to the surface.

Safety Tip:
Ensure your child is seated at a stable table. Metal nuts and bolts are small and should be handled with care.

The Magnetic Paper Clip Fish

The Magnetic Paper Clip Fish

Steps:

  • Draw several fish shapes on a flat piece of cardboard using your bright markers.
  • Help your child carefully cut out each fish using the safety scissors.
  • Slide a single paper clip over the nose of every cardboard fish.
  • Take a long paper roll and tape one end of a piece of string to the top.
  • Tie a second paper clip to the loose end of the string to act as the hook.
  • Place the fish on the floor and hold the paper roll with both hands.
  • Challenge your child to lower the hook and link it onto a fish’s paper clip to rescue it!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small paper clips can be a choking hazard if placed in the mouth. Ensure the string is kept away from the neck area.

The Pool Noodle Penny Bank

The Pool Noodle Penny Bank

Steps:

  • An adult uses a knife to cut several narrow slits into a pool noodle.
  • Use your markers to write point values like 5, 10, or 25 next to each slot.
  • Give your child five coins from a plastic container to hold in their palm at once.
  • Ask your child to move one coin to their fingertips without using their other hand.
  • Challenge them to push the coin firmly into a slot on the pool noodle.
  • Repeat this until all the coins are safely inside the noodle bank!

Safety Tip:
Coins are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings. Always supervise your child during play.