Learning to do more with my fingers and hands

These activities are suitable for children aged 15-25 months and align with stage 3 of the Developmental Journal Babies Visual Impairment (DJVI).

On this page

Safety first

These activities are designed for children who are blind or partially sighted.

Please supervise your child at all times during the activity.

Please ensure the floor is clean and clutter free, checking the room for trip, slip or fall hazards.

Please ensure you have adequate space to carry out the activities.

Please regularly check any equipment used for wear and tear and follow manufactures instruction.

Please use materials, equipment or toys as per manufacturers guidelines.

Please be aware that any items named in the activities are suggestions only and if you deem these items not suitable for your child’s age, stage or safety, then do not use it.

Please stop any activity if your child becomes unwell, upset or you’re unsure whether the activity is being completed correctly.

For additional advice on making your home safer for your child, please see our home safety advice.

What you'll need

Different size toys, containers, pegboard, finger puppets

Activity

It’s important that your child explores different sized shapes using a pincer grip (thumb and finger). Support your child to take objects out of containers, packets, boxes and tubs, to increase fine motor control.

Developing the pincer grip can be supported through the following activities:

Encourage your child to open a screw-type container and remove suitably safe sized objects.
Using hand and finger puppets.
Increase fine motor activities by making items smaller and harder to grip. For example, picking up counters, cubes, beads, coins, and small food items like when eating from a box of raisins.
Ask your child to pick up smaller objects using the pincer grip. For example, playing with a pegboard.
Put toys in a bag or box and ask your child to pull them out.
Introduce complex toys which require pressing, turning, and pulling motions.

Please supervise your child at all times while completing any of these activities.