5 Minute Friday - Chip Clips!
It’s summer BBQ season! Before you use up all your chip clips sealing bags of snacks, set a few aside for playtime—because these simple tools offer amazing fine motor benefits!
Babies
Stick magnetic chip clips on the fridge to hold lightweight toys or fabric strips. This encourages babies to sit upright while reaching, building core strength, postural control, and upper body engagement — all through play!
Young Kids
Turn your chip clips into pretend tongs! Have your child use them to pick up pom poms and sort them by color in a muffin tin. This builds fine motor strength, coordination, and the open-close motion needed for scissor skills.
You can also swap traditional game pieces for chip clips! Use them to pick up or move pieces in board games — it’s a great way to sneak in some extra hand strengthening.
Try attaching movement cards or visuals to a climbing rope or wall using a chip clip. This makes active play even more exciting — and adds a little surprise to each movement!
Working on independence with dressing or hygiene tasks? Clip a chip clip to your child’s waistband or shorts and challenge them to reach for it—great for practicing shoulder mobility and body awareness in a playful way.
Big Kids
For older kids, chip clips can add extra challenge to familiar activities.
- Build a cup pyramid using chip clips instead of hands.
- Sort small objects using the clip upside down for extra resistance.
- Time the activity to add a fun competitive twist!
Enjoy these chip clip suggestions, and maybe some yummy summer snacks while you are at it!
About the Author
Maria O’Farrell, MS, OTR/L, is a passionate pediatric occupational therapist dedicated to helping children thrive through compassionate, play-based therapy. She provides individualized support in home and school environments, empowering both children and their families to learn and grow.
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