Proximal Stability - Page 20 of 47

Foil Maze Marble Glide

Steps:

Lay out the aluminum foil pan on a flat table.
Take three pipe cleaners and bend them into curvy, wavy lines.
Use masking tape to secure the pipe cleaners inside the pan as walls.
Place a marble at one end of the winding path.
Use a pointer finger to gently push the marble through the maze.
Try to keep the marble inside the pipe cleaner borders the whole time.
When you finish, tilt the pan to roll the marble back to the start.

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all marbles are collected and stored out of reach after the activity.

Cardboard Tunnel Connectors

Steps:

Use markers to draw several long strips (about 1 inch wide) onto the sturdy cardboard.
Challenge your child to use both hands to roll one cardboard strip tightly into a narrow tube or ‘tunnel.’ Secure the tube seam completely with masking tape.
Repeat this process until you have four or five finished cardboard tubes. Encourage tight rolling for resistance.
Take two pipe cleaners and twist them together tightly to create one stiff, thick connector stick. Repeat this step for each join you plan to make.
Ask your child to hold one cardboard tube firmly steady with their helper hand. Push one stiff connector halfway into the end of the first tube.
Pick up a second cardboard tube. Use a strong, controlled push to slide the second tube onto the exposed end of the connector. Continue joining the tubes to build a long, rigid tunnel structure.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Adults should manage the scissors for cutting the cardboard strips.

Spiral Twist Core Threading

Steps:

Adult Step: Secure the paper roll horizontally onto the cardboard base using strong masking tape. This creates a stable ‘dowel’ for twisting.
Use the markers to draw colorful stripes or dots onto several index cards. Cut the decorated cards into long, narrow strips (about 1/2 inch wide).
Take one paper strip. Use your fingertips to curl and twist the strip tightly around itself to create a stiff, narrow spiral shape.
Secure the end of the paper spiral with a small amount of glue to keep the resistant shape from unrolling. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make a pile of colorful spirals.
Hold the cardboard base firmly steady with your non-dominant hand. Pick up a paper spiral with your working hand.
Aim the spiral at the paper roll. Use a continuous twisting motion (like screwing in a lightbulb) to thread the spiral onto the roll, pushing it along the core.
Continue twisting and pushing the colorful spirals until the entire paper roll is covered in dense, textured art. Then, try unwinding them!

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Adults should manage the scissors for preparation. Ensure the child remains seated stably to focus on the fine motor movements and to prevent the board from tipping.

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

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.