Proprioception - Page 13 of 34

Sticky Stick Pull

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard using masking tape. This is your sticky work surface.
Place 6 to 8 craft sticks flat across the paper. Secure both ends of each stick firmly with a small, tight strip of masking tape. Press the tape down hard to increase resistance.
Encourage your toddler to use their helper hand to hold the cardboard steady on the table, preventing it from slipping while they work.
Challenge them to use their dominant hand to find the edge of the tape strip. Use their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to pinch and pull the tape and the stick off the board in one strong, controlled motion.
Gather all the freed sticks and repeat the entire process! Try using strips of tape that are longer or shorter to change the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn tape and the craft sticks pose a potential choking hazard for toddlers who still place objects in their mouths. Discard all materials immediately after use.

Resistance Trace Bag

Steps:

Adult Prep: Fill a gallon-sized Ziplock Bag halfway with corn kernels. Add a small amount of water to create a thick, dense texture that is resistant to movement.
Seal the bag tightly, ensuring all excess air is removed. Place the sealed bag flat inside a shallow plastic container to stabilize it on the table.
Use a marker to draw simple lines, letters, or shapes (like a circle or a cross) directly onto the outside of the bag.
Challenge your child to use only their pointer finger (finger isolation) to press hard into the bag, tracing the marker lines.
They must use sustained pressure to push the kernels aside, leaving a visible path in the resistant medium. This requires great effort!
When finished, gently shake the bag to reset the kernels. Use a damp paper towel to wipe the marker lines off the bag and start with a new shape.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the Ziplock Bag is sealed completely before use, as corn kernels pose a choking hazard if ingested.

Foam Fortress Pull-Apart

Steps:

Use markers to draw simple shapes onto the foam sheets. Shapes like squares and rectangles work best for building.
Ask an adult to use scissors to cut the foam shapes out. Cut the craft sticks in half if needed.
Hold two foam pieces together so the edges align. Use a marker to dot the spot where you want to connect them.
Take one craft stick. Use strong finger force to push the stick straight through the marked spot, connecting the two foam pieces tightly.
Continue connecting pieces until you build a large structure, like a wall or a tower.
Now for the heavy work! Challenge your child to grab the structure with both hands. Use a strong, steady pull to separate the connected foam pieces, one stick at a time.
Collect all the sticks and foam pieces to build an even bigger structure next time.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Adults must handle the scissors during preparation.

Plate Rim Precision Tweeze

Steps:

Use a marker to draw several small shapes onto the flat center of the paper plate. This is your stacking zone.
Challenge your child to tear the rim off the paper plate. They should aim to tear the thick rim into small, rough, curved pieces. Tearing this resistant material requires strong effort.
Once the rim is completely torn, place the small curved pieces onto the construction paper beside the plate. This is your supply pile.
Ask your child to hold the paper plate steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Use the tweezers to pick up one torn rim piece at a time. The child must grip the piece firmly without squeezing too hard.
Carefully transfer and stack the torn pieces onto the marked area in the center of the plate. Keep the stack balanced and try not to knock it over!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The torn paper pieces are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Ensure the child only uses the tweezers and paper as intended.

Felt Tunnel Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a strip of felt. Glue it tightly around a short paper roll. Secure the roll standing vertically onto the cardboard base.
Place a pom-pom just inside the top opening of the felt tunnel. Hold the cardboard base steady with your helper hand.
Pick up a craft stick. Aim the stick straight down at the pom-pom.
Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick down. Force the pom-pom all the way through the resistant felt tunnel.
The pom-pom should pop out the bottom onto the table. Repeat this process until all the pom-poms are pushed through.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a choking hazard for young children. Adults should handle the scissors during preparation.