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 Shape Rescue

Preschooler crossing midline to peel an orange foam shape from a wall, an occupational therapy activity for bilateral hand use and motor planning.

Steps:

  • Use Masking Tape to create a large rectangle outline (the “Rescue Zone”) on a sturdy wall or door at eye level for your child.
  • Cut various simple shapes (squares, triangles, circles) from Foam Sheets or Construction Paper. Using small rolled pieces of tape, stick these shapes randomly onto the wall *outside* the Rescue Zone.
  • Challenge your child to “rescue” the shapes by carefully peeling them off the wall. Encourage them to use one hand to stabilize the wall (the helper hand) while the other hand peels the shape.
  • Once rescued, the child must carry the shape and place it *inside* the taped Rescue Zone. They can match colors or simply stack them inside the boundary.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the working surface is clean and safe, and always supervise when the child is reaching high or standing near a door frame.

Tee Time Smash

Steps:

  • Set up the ‘smashing station’ by placing the block of Styrofoam on a sturdy, non-slip surface, like a placemat on the kitchen table or floor.
  • Show your child how to place the blunt end of a golf tee onto the Styrofoam block. They must use their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize and hold the Styrofoam steady.
  • Using a spoon held like a hammer, encourage your child to tap the golf tee until it pushes all the way into the Styrofoam. They must grade their force to ensure the tee is fully embedded.
  • Once all the tees are smashed in, switch roles! Have your child use their finger tips or the back of the spoon to pull the tees back out, working on fine motor control and pincer grasp.

Safety Tip:
Ensure close supervision to prevent the child from putting the golf tees in their mouth or throwing the spoon. This activity requires moderate force, so make sure the table is stable.

Sticky Web Art

Sticky Web Art

Steps:

  • Select a clean, sturdy wall or door frame. Place a large piece of masking tape vertically to act as an anchor point.
  • Create a ‘sticky web’ or vertical canvas by attaching strips of masking tape across the anchored piece, ensuring the sticky side faces OUT toward the child.
  • Provide a bowl of pom-poms, crumbled tissue paper, and wiggle eyes. Encourage the child to peel and stick these items onto the sticky web. Challenge them to reach high and low to activate different muscle groups.
  • Discuss the textures and colors they are adding. This is a great way to work on bilateral coordination by having one hand stabilize the body while the other hand works to place the materials precisely.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise the activity. Ensure the floor area is clear, especially if your child is reaching up on their toes. When removing the tape, peel it off slowly and carefully to prevent paint damage.

Tacky Tape Puzzle Pull-Off

A preschooler uses fine motor skills and a pincer grasp to pull a pom-pom off tacky masking tape on a vertical surface, demonstrating the Tacky Tape Puzzle Pull-Off activity for improved shoulder stability and hand strength.

Steps:

  • Tape a piece of construction paper vertically to a door or wall using masking tape. This is your ‘puzzle board.’
  • Use small loops of masking tape to stick several pom-poms and stickers onto the construction paper. Make sure they are secure enough to stay put but loose enough to be pulled off with some effort.
  • Challenge your preschooler to ‘rescue’ the materials from the tacky tape! Encourage them to stand and use both hands—one hand to stabilize the paper and the other hand to pull the items off using a pincer grasp.
  • For an added challenge, hide small plastic animals or lightweight blocks under larger pieces of tape, requiring more effort and bilateral hand use to tear the tape away.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise vertical activities to ensure the child does not climb or lean heavily on the surface. Check that the masking tape used does not damage the wall or door finish upon removal.

Nuts and Bolts Tripod Grasp

Activity Steps

  1. Preparation: Place a variety of nuts and bolts on a table or tray. If your child is new to this skill, start with just 2 or 3 large pairs to keep it successful and frustration-free.

  2. Sort and Match: Ask your child to dig through the pile to find a “match” (one nut and one bolt that fit together). This helps them practice visual discrimination to tell the difference between sizes.

  3. The Assembly: Have your child hold the bolt steady in one hand (their “helper hand”). With their dominant hand, encourage them to pick up the nut using their thumb, index, and middle finger. This is the tripod grasp.

  4. Twist and Turn: Ask them to screw the nut onto the bolt. Watch to see if they can use their fingers to rotate the nut rather than moving their whole arm or shoulder.

  5. Unscrew: Once they are all assembled, taking them apart is just as valuable! It uses different muscle groups and extends the play.