Skill: Proximal Stability

Strength and steadiness in the center of the body. A stable core and shoulders provide a solid base so the hands can be steady for writing or cutting.

Sticky Line Wall Art

Sticky Line Wall Art

Steps:

  • Secure the construction paper onto the sturdy cardboard base with masking tape.
  • Use masking tape to secure the cardboard vertically onto a wall or door at your child’s chest height.
  • Use the markers to draw a simple line, shape, or path onto the paper for your child to follow.
  • Challenge your child to hold the glue bottle. Squeeze firmly to trace a thick, continuous line of glue over the marker path.
  • Encourage your child to pick up the dry beans using only their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
  • Press the beans firmly into the wet glue line, following the shape until the entire path is covered. Press hard for heavy work!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans are small, hard objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Wet Paper Squeeze Mail

Wet Paper Squeeze Mail

Steps:

  • Tear the index cards into small, postage stamp-sized pieces. Encourage tearing with both hands for strong bilateral input.
  • Place all the torn pieces into the bowl. Cover the paper completely with water and let it soak for five minutes to create resistant pulp.
  • Adult Step: Cut a tight, narrow slot (about 1.5 inches long) into the container lid. Secure the lid shut completely with masking tape.
  • Reach into the bowl and gather a handful of wet paper pulp. Squeeze the pulp as hard as you can over the bowl to remove the water.
  • Hold the container firmly steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to push the dense, wet pulp straight through the narrow slot. Repeat until the container is full!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Torn paper pieces and small wet pulp balls pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Felt Piercing Garden Push

Felt Piercing Garden Push

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw 5 to 7 small target dots randomly across the center of the felt piece.
  • Cut the felt into a square shape. Use masking tape to secure the felt tightly over the container opening, making sure the fabric is taut and resistant.
  • Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand on the table to prevent tipping.
  • Pick up one craft stick. Grip it with a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Aim the stick at a marked target dot. Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the stick straight through the resistant felt.
  • Repeat this powerful pushing action until all the marked dots are filled with sticks, completing your ‘felt garden’.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child pushes the craft sticks into the container and away from their face and body. The stabilizing hand should always be placed on the container base.

Putty Pancake Decorators

Putty Pancake Decorators

Steps:

  • Give your child a large chunk of Theraputty or stiff playdough. Encourage them to use both hands to squeeze, mash, and roll it into a thick ‘pancake’ on the paper plate. Press hard for heavy work!
  • Ask your child to hold the paper plate firmly steady with their helper hand to keep the ‘pancake’ from sliding.
  • Pick up the tweezers or tongs. Use a strong pincer grasp to grab one small bead at a time.
  • Carefully aim the bead. Push it firmly and precisely into the resistant putty surface to create a colorful design or pattern.
  • Repeat the process until the entire putty pancake is covered in decorative beads. Try using different colors or sizes of beads.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Beads and Theraputty/Playdough are small objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Steps:

  • Use markers to decorate 4 or 5 paper cups. Draw colorful faces or stripes on the outside.
  • Place the heavy bean bag flat onto a stable surface like a table or the floor.
  • Ask your child to press down firmly on the bean bag with their helper hand to stabilize it.
  • Use the dominant hand to pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
  • Aim the open clothespin and clip one paper cup onto the side of the resistant bean bag. The bag should hold the cup securely.
  • Repeat the squeezing and clipping action until all the decorated cups are attached to the heavy anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Clothespins and small pom-poms (if used) are small objects. They pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.