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 Shimmering Mosaic Lid Garden

The Shimmering Mosaic Lid Garden

Steps:

  • Place the plastic container on a flat table.
  • Use markers to draw grass and flower stems on the sides of the container.
  • Put long strips of masking tape across the lid with the sticky side facing up.
  • Secure the edges of the tape so it stays on the lid.
  • Have your child pick up one sequin using their thumb and pointer finger.
  • Press the sequin onto the sticky tape to make a flower on top of the stem.
  • Continue until the garden on the lid is full of colorful sequin flowers.

Safety Tip:
Sequins are very small and can be a choking hazard, so please supervise your child closely during play.

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Steps:

  • Wash and dry an empty plastic bottle.
  • Remove the label so you can see inside clearly.
  • Use a hole puncher to make six holes around the top of the bottle.
  • Punch six more holes near the bottom of the bottle.
  • Cut several pieces of yarn into long strips.
  • Tie a bead to one end of a yarn piece to act as a star.
  • Thread the yarn through a top hole and pull it across to a bottom hole.
  • Add more beads as you weave through different holes.
  • Crumple small strips of index cards and push them into the bottle first to act as planets.
  • Challenge your child to weave the yarn so the stars rest on the planets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using a hole puncher. Beads are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings.

Cosmic Pincer Star Weave

Cosmic Pincer Star Weave

Steps:

  • Cut a large, sturdy square out of your cardboard using the scissors.
  • Use your markers to draw a large, bright star in the very center of the cardboard.
  • Decorate the area around the star with small planet and galaxy stickers.
  • Use the hole puncher to create a ring of holes all the way around the outside edge of your cardboard square.
  • Cut a long piece of yarn and wrap a small bit of masking tape around one end to make a stiff ‘needle.’
  • Tape the other end of the yarn securely to the back of the cardboard.
  • Challenge your child to ‘weave’ the shooting star by pushing the yarn through a hole from the back to the front.
  • Have them pull the yarn across the center star and push it into a hole on the opposite side.
  • Continue this crisscross pattern until every hole has been used and the star is caught in a colorful yarn web!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or a hole puncher. Ensure the yarn length is safe for play and collected after the activity.

The Button Logic Grid

The Button Logic Grid

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw a three-by-three grid on the cardboard.
  • Collect nine buttons in three different colors from your container.
  • You will need three red, three blue, and three yellow ones.
  • Explain that each color only goes once in every row.
  • Each color also only goes once in every column.
  • Place one button in a corner to start the game.
  • Ask your child to place the rest of the buttons.
  • Encourage them to check their work for any double colors.
  • Check the final work together to see if it is correct!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Buttons are a choking hazard for younger siblings.

The Coffee Filter Raindrop Race

The Coffee Filter Raindrop Race

Steps:

  • Place six baking cups in a circle on a large paper plate.
  • Fill a small bowl with water and add two drops of food coloring.
  • Lay one coffee filter flat across the top of all the baking cups.
  • Ask your child to hold the eyedropper with their thumb and pointer finger.
  • Squeeze the dropper to pick up some of the colored raindrops.
  • Carefully drop water onto the filter right over each cup target.
  • Watch the water soak through and try to fill each cup equally!

Safety Tip:
Food coloring and small cups can be messy. Always watch your child closely to make sure they do not drink the water.