Proximal Stability - Page 27 of 48

Resistant Yarn Unravel

Steps:

Press a large lump of firm playdough onto the heavy block to create a dense base.
Wet a long piece of yarn slightly to increase the friction and resistance.
Tightly wrap the damp yarn all the way around the playdough-covered block. Leave a small yarn tail sticking out.
Place the wrapped block on a stable table. Hold the base firmly steady with your helper hand.
Use your working hand to pinch the yarn tail with a strong pincer grasp.
Pull the yarn steadily and forcefully to unravel it from the resistant playdough anchor.
Repeat the wrapping and unwrapping process to continue the heavy work challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Yarn and playdough are small objects. They pose a choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure the child maintains a stable seated position while pulling.

Balloon Barrier Stick Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Carefully cut one small hole (just big enough for a pom-pom) in the center.
Adult Prep: Cut the knot end off the balloon. Stretch the remaining balloon piece tightly over the hole, creating a taut, resistant membrane. Secure the balloon edges underneath the cardboard using masking tape.
Place the pom-poms and craft sticks in the container. Ask your child to pick up one pom-pom using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Load the pom-pom onto the tip of the craft stick by pushing the stick gently through the center of the pom-pom.
The child holds the cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand. This provides stability for the working hand.
Aim the pom-pom toward the center of the taut balloon barrier. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick and pom-pom through the resistant membrane.
Repeat this push-and-poke action until all the prepared pom-poms have successfully popped through the barrier.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation.

Playdough Pothole Punch

Steps:

Firmly press a large lump of playdough onto the back of a paper plate.
The plate should be upside down and the playdough acts as a resistant base.
Pick up one golf ball tee using your thumb and pointer finger.
Hold the paper plate steady with your non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Aim the blunt end of the tee at the playdough.
Use strong, controlled force to press the tee into the playdough, creating a deep ‘pothole.’
Repeat the punching action until the entire playdough surface is filled with holes.
Try gently twisting the tee as you push it in to change the resistance.

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

Foil Freight Slot Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a 1-inch vertical slit down the center of the paper roll. Secure the roll upright onto a piece of cardboard using masking tape.
Give your child small squares of aluminum foil. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the foil into smaller pieces for heavy work input.
Challenge your child to squeeze and crumple each foil piece tightly into a small, dense ‘cargo ball.’ Squeezing hard builds hand strength.
Hold the paper roll chute firmly steady with your helper hand. This provides proximal stability for the working hand.
Pick up one dense foil ball using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). Aim the ball at the narrow slit.
Use a controlled push to feed the foil cargo completely through the slot. Drop it into the container below. Repeat until all cargo is delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small, dense foil balls pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the foil is crumpled tightly to avoid sharp edges.

Foam Corduroy Road Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut the Foam Sheet into several small strips (about 1 inch wide and 3 inches long). Roll each strip tightly into a narrow tube and secure the seam with masking tape.
Use masking tape to secure these foam tubes vertically onto the piece of sturdy cardboard. Arrange them close together to look like a ‘corduroy road’.
Cut the pipe cleaners into short, stiff 3-inch segments. Place these ‘cords’ in the plastic container.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand. This provides stability for the pushing hand.
Use a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger) to pick up one pipe cleaner cord.
Aim the cord at the top opening of a foam tube. Push the pipe cleaner straight down until it travels completely through the resistant foam tube. Repeat until all the tubes are filled!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation. The short pipe cleaner pieces are small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.