Grab It!
Parent sets up simple pick-up and transfer tasks: small objects to grasp, objects to drop into a container, and a peg-in-hole. Covers fine motor pickup, object transfer, and container-insertion milestones at 12-18mo. Three phases: small object pick-up, drop-in-container, and peg/insertion.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Objects must be too large to swallow — use large cereal pieces, soft blocks, or large beads (≥3cm). Have a cup, bowl, or open jar. A shape-sorter or peg board for the third phase is ideal but optional. Stay within arm's reach for safety.
How it works
- 1~30s
Put 3 small objects on the table in front of your child. Don't say anything — just watch. Does your child reach for them? How does they grip — whole-hand raking, or fingers-and-thumb? Does they get the object off the surface successfully? Tell me about all three objects.
Watch for: Child picks up small objects from a flat surface
- 2~40s
Now put the container in front of your child with one of the small objects in their hand (or let them pick one up). Does your child drop the object INTO the container, or just drop it on the table? Try 3 times. Note: does your child aim at the container opening, or is it random? Tell me.
Watch for: Child transfers and releases object into a container
- 3~40s
If you have a shape-sorter, peg board, or any object-in-hole toy: place it in front of your child. Can your child put the peg in the hole, or push the shape through the correct slot? This requires more precision than the container drop. What happens? If no toy, try dropping the object through a cardboard tube — same idea.
Watch for: Child inserts object into a narrow opening or peg into a hole