SQUEEZE THAT CITRUS!

I'm always looking for ways to help my preschooler develop hand strength (to make his pencil grasp easier to learn). Squeezing citrus is a great exercise! It's fun, productive and tasty, all while building important gripping muscles. 

What you'll need: 

• a cup or bowl
• unflavored water or sparkling water
• lime, lemon, &/or small oranges
• a kid with clean hands
• damp towel

You or your child can massage and roll the citrus on the table before you cut into it (to loosen up the juices). Wash the citrus (it's likely the juices will run across the peel on their way into the cup) and then cut it in half. You may need to start the squeezing process before handing it to your child (if the citrus is still stiff). Help them pour water into a container and demonstrate a little squeeze into the container. Then set them loose! Ideally, they'll enjoy squeezing and tasting the different juices.

Quick Tip: Check your child's hands for cuts & scrapes before you hand them a citrus half (I'm sure you've experienced that open cut burn!). They may want to avoid one hand or just watch you squeeze the first time, until their cut heals. Use the damp towel to quickly wipe your child's hands if they start to hurt or if they just don't like how sticky they feel.