16 activities
Stack the Cups
Build a tower together and knock it down!
1. Sit on the floor with your toddler and 3-5 plastic cups or blocks.
2. Stack them up one at a time, narrating as you go: "One... two... three!"
3. Let your toddler knock the tower down — this is the best part for them.
... See full activity in the app
3-5 plastic cups or soft blocks
Easy
Crayon Marks
Hold a chunky crayon and make very first marks on paper.
1. Tape a large piece of paper to the table or floor so it doesn't slide.
2. Offer your child a chunky, easy-to-grip crayon (triangular crayons work well).
3. Show them by making a mark yourself: "Look! I made a line!"
... See full activity in the app
Large paperChunky crayonsTape
Easy
Tear and Rip
Tear soft paper into pieces for fine motor strengthening.
1. Give your child a piece of soft, easy-to-tear paper — tissue paper, thin newspaper, or construction paper.
2. Show them how to tear: hold with both hands and pull apart. "Riiiiip!"
3. Let your child try. Even crumpling counts — squeezing paper strengthens the whole hand.
... See full activity in the app
Tissue paper or thin construction paper
Moderate
Bead Maze
Slide large beads along wires on a bead maze toy.
1. Set a bead maze toy in front of your child (beads permanently attached to wires — they cannot come off).
2. Show them how to push a bead along the wire with one finger: "Push! The bead goes around!"
3. Let your child try. Watch if they use one finger, a pinch, or their whole hand.
... See full activity in the app
Bead maze toy (beads permanently attached to wires)
Moderate
Unwrap Surprise
Unwrap paper to find a hidden toy inside.
1. Loosely wrap a small toy in tissue paper or a thin cloth. Don't tape it tightly — make it easy to unwrap.
2. Hand it to your child: "There's a surprise inside! Can you find it?"
3. Watch as your child pulls, tears, and peels the paper away. "You're unwrapping it!"
... See full activity in the app
Small toysTissue paper or thin cloth
Advanced
Spoon Practice
Let your toddler practice scooping and eating with a spoon independently.
1. Give your child a small toddler spoon and a bowl of thick food (oatmeal, yogurt, mashed potatoes).
2. Show them how to scoop: dip the spoon, lift it, bring it to your mouth.
3. Let your child try on their own — expect mess!
... See full activity in the app
toddler spoonthick food in a bowl
Easy
Sticker Fun
Peel stickers from a sheet and place them on paper for a pinch-and-stick challenge.
1. Get a sheet of large, easy-peel stickers (at least 1 inch diameter).
2. Peel the corner of a sticker to give your child an edge to grab.
3. Show them how to pinch and pull the sticker off: "Peel it!"
... See full activity in the app
large sticker sheetspaper
Moderate
Dough Squish
Squish, poke, roll, and pull apart playdough or homemade dough.
1. Make simple dough: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup water (add food coloring if desired).
2. Give your child a ball of dough on a tray or table.
3. Show them different actions: "SQUISH it flat! POKE it with your finger! PULL it apart!"
... See full activity in the app
playdough or homemade dough
Moderate
Turn the Knob
Practice turning doorknobs, jar lids, and dials to build wrist rotation skills.
1. Find safe things your child can turn: a large jar lid (loosely placed), a toy with a dial, a play kitchen knob.
2. Place your hand over theirs and show the turning motion: "Turn! Like this!"
3. Let them try alone: "Can you turn it?"
... See full activity in the app
jar with loose lidwind-up toy or toy with dial
Advanced
Zip and Pull
Practice zipping and unzipping large zippers on jackets, bags, or pillowcases.
1. Find an item with a large, easy-to-grab zipper: a jacket, a pencil case, a sleeping bag.
2. Start with unzipping (easier than zipping): hold the bottom, let your child pull the zipper down.
3. Say, "Pull! Zzzzzip!" Name the sound.
... See full activity in the app
jacket or bag with large zipper
Advanced
Post the Ring
Thread large rings or discs onto a vertical post or dowel.
1. Use a stacking ring toy or a paper towel holder as the post.
2. Show your child how to hold a ring and slide it over the post: "Put it on!"
3. Start with just 1-2 rings. Add more as they master it.
... See full activity in the app
stacking ring toy or paper towel holder
Advanced
Finger Puppet Chat
Put finger puppets on and have a conversation — the puppet talks, baby talks back.
1. Put a simple finger puppet on your index finger (or make one from a sock or paper).
2. Make the puppet "talk" to your child: "Hello! I'm Mr. Bear! What's your name?"
3. Let your child touch and explore the puppet.
... See full activity in the app
finger puppets
Advanced
Wipe and Wash
Give your toddler a cloth to wipe surfaces — a self-care skill that builds hand strength.
1. Give your child a small damp cloth after a meal or snack.
2. Show them how to wipe the highchair tray: back and forth, pressing down.
3. Say, "Wipe wipe wipe! You're cleaning!"
... See full activity in the app
small cloth
Advanced
Crayon Scribble Art
Free scribbling with thick crayons on large paper
1. Tape large paper to the table.
2. Give your child thick, washable crayons.
3. Show how to press and drag: "Make marks!"
... See full activity in the app
thick crayonslarge papertape
Easy
Chalk Draw
Draw with sidewalk chalk outdoors
1. Give your child thick sidewalk chalk.
2. Show how to draw on the pavement.
3. Let them scribble freely.
... See full activity in the app
sidewalk chalk
Moderate
Water Color Paint
Paint with water on pavement or paper for mess-free art
1. Give your child a cup of water and a wide paintbrush.
2. Show how to dip and paint on pavement or dark paper.
3. "Look! You are painting! The water makes it dark!"
... See full activity in the app
cup of waterwide paintbrushdark paper or pavement
Easy