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.

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Steps:

  • Stand your branch inside the container using a large lump of playdough.
  • Encourage your child to tear strips of tissue paper with both hands.
  • Ask them to crumple the paper into small balls using only their fingertips.
  • Have your child pick up a clothespin and squeeze it open.
  • They must trap a tissue paper leaf inside the clothespin.
  • Challenge them to clip the leaf onto a twig on the branch.
  • Continue until the branch is full of colorful tissue paper leaves!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper and playdough can be a choking hazard. Watch for sharp twigs on the branches.

Ribbon Rescue Basket Mission

Ribbon Rescue Basket Mission

Steps:

  • Grab a plastic basket with holes on the sides.
  • Place a favorite stuffed animal inside the basket.
  • Take long pieces of ribbon and weave them through the holes.
  • Crisscross the ribbon over the top to trap the toy.
  • Ask your child to rescue the toy by unweaving the ribbon.
  • They must pull each ribbon completely out through the holes.
  • Encourage them to use one hand to hold the basket and the other to pull.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended to ensure the long ribbons do not get tangled around the child.

The Pipe Cleaner Reef Rescue

The Pipe Cleaner Reef Rescue

Steps:

  • Turn the egg carton upside down on the table.
  • Use markers to color each bump of the carton a different color.
  • Use the tip of your scissors to poke a small hole in the top of each bump.
  • Pick up a pipe cleaner and push it into one of the holes.
  • Bend the pipe cleaner so it looks like wavy seaweed.
  • Pick up a bead and slide it onto the pipe cleaner seaweed.
  • Repeat this for all the holes until your reef is full of color!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using scissors. These should only be used to poke the holes. Beads are a choking hazard; keep them away from younger children and pets.

The Yarn Cross Clip Challenge

The Yarn Cross Clip Challenge

Steps:

  • Take a large, flat piece of Cardboard. Use Masking Tape to secure it to a table.
  • Cut several long pieces of Yarn. Tape the ends to the edges of the cardboard.
  • Stretch the yarn in different directions so they stretch across the middle of the board.
  • Make sure the yarn pieces cross each other to create several X shapes.
  • Give your child a handful of Clothespins. Use Markers to draw a dot on each pin.
  • Challenge your child to find a spot where two pieces of yarn cross.
  • They must reach across the board and clip a clothespin exactly on that X.
  • Encourage them to keep their helper hand resting on the cardboard corner for stability.
  • Once all the X spots are clipped, see if they can un-clip them with one hand!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges. Keep small clothespins away from younger children who might swallow them.

The Noodle Button Tunnel

The Noodle Button Tunnel

Steps:

  • Cut a piece of yarn about three feet long using your scissors.
  • Tie one end of the yarn to a sturdy chair leg.
  • Thread the other end through the center of a pool noodle.
  • Place your buttons in the aluminium foil pan at the start.
  • Hold the loose end of the yarn tight so it stays straight.
  • Ask your child to slide a button onto the yarn.
  • They must push it all the way through the pool noodle tunnel.
  • Have them drop the buttons into different baking cups at the finish line!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small buttons are a choking hazard. Keep all small materials away from children who still place objects in their mouths.