Proximal Stability - Page 44 of 46

Resistant Tear Feed

Steps:

Prep the surface: Use masking tape to secure several large pieces of construction paper tightly onto a piece of cardboard.
Place the cardboard upright on a chair or stand it vertically against a wall. Put the container on the floor below the paper.
Show your toddler how to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable while working.
Encourage them to grab a corner of the paper and use a strong pull to rip the construction paper off the resistant cardboard base.
Once ripped free, challenge them to drop the torn pieces directly into the container on the floor. Repeat until the cardboard is clear!

Safety Tip:
Constant, close adult supervision is essential for this age group. Ensure the toddler does not put torn pieces of paper or masking tape in their mouth, as these pose a choking hazard.

Sticky Forest Build

Steps:

Help your child prepare the “tree trunk” by cutting a large rectangle of Cardboard. Poke 6-8 small holes (parent task) across the surface to create spots for branches.
Place the Cardboard upright on a table. Encourage your child to use one hand to stabilize the Cardboard (hold it steady!) while using the other hand to poke or thread the Pipe Cleaners through the holes to create the tree’s branches. Put the excess Pipe Cleaners in a small Container.
Present small, sticky Velcro dots or small cut strips of Velcro. Challenge your child to peel the Velcro and stick these ‘leaves’ or ‘fruit’ onto the Pipe Cleaners. Encourage them to use their thumb and pointer finger (Pincer Grasp) to handle the small pieces.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise the use of small materials like Pipe Cleaners and Velcro dots, ensuring they are not placed in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Spoon Obstacle Delivery

Steps:

Create a path on the floor by spacing out 4-5 Boxes. Use different sizes of boxes to create a varied, low obstacle maze.
Place the Stuffed Animal (the customer!) at the finish line. Give your child the Spoon and have them balance the Ping Pong Ball on it.
Challenge your child to walk or step carefully through the maze without letting the “delivery” fall off the spoon. If it drops, they must return to the starting point to try again.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the path is clear of trip hazards. Make sure the boxes used as obstacles are sturdy enough not to collapse when bumped.

Twisty Cap Match

Steps:

Use markers to draw matching colors or simple patterns (like stripes or dots) onto the plastic bottle caps and the tops of the bottles.
Place one small button inside each empty plastic bottle. This gives auditory feedback when the cap is removed.
Challenge your child to hold the bottle firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Use the dominant hand to pick up the cap and twist it tightly onto the matching bottle. Focus on smooth, repetitive wrist twisting.
Once all caps are on, practice twisting them off quickly to ‘rescue’ the buttons inside. Put the buttons back in the container to start a new round.

Safety Tip:
Buttons are small items. Always supervise children closely during this activity to prevent a choking hazard.

Cotton Cloud Transfer

Preschool child kneeling on a wooden floor doing a cotton ball transfer activity with a spoon and colored bowls, improving coordination and motor skills.

Steps:

Use Masking Tape to mark a starting point (Bowl 1) and a finish line (Bowl 2) about three feet apart on a table or floor.
Fill the first Bowl with 10-15 Cotton Balls, leaving the second Bowl empty. Use a small amount of water to slightly dampen the cotton balls if extra challenge is needed for stability.
Challenge your child to use the Spoon to scoop one Cotton Ball at a time and slowly carry it across the designated space and drop it into the empty Bowl without dropping it.
Encourage them to keep their non-dominant hand resting on the table or floor for stability (the ‘helper hand’) while scooping and transferring.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the bowls are stable and non-slip to prevent frustration. Always provide close supervision during fine motor activities.