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The Crumple Papers exercise aims to improve hand strength.
Crumple Papers 1
This exercise is aimed at children younger than six years.
For this exercise, one needs an old telephone directory or sheets of any other paper that are as soft as, and about the same size as, a telephone directory page.
The tutor tears a page from the directory and gives it to the learner. The learner must then crumple the piece of paper into a tight ball. It is very important, however, that they use only one hand for this task. The learner may also not press their hand against their body.
The tutor then tears another page from the directory and gives it to the learner to crumple, this time using the other hand.
The learner must crumple at least three sheets of paper with each hand during every practice session.
See the demonstration video below.
Crumple Papers 2
This exercise is aimed at children older than six years.
For this exercise, one uses scrap paper of approximately 8½ by 11 inches (A4-size). The tutor gives the learner one sheet of paper in each hand. The learner must then simultaneously crumple both sheets of paper into tight balls.
It is very important that each hand does its own work. The learner should sit with their hands wide apart so that one hand cannot help the other. The learner may also not press their hands against their body or against any other object, such as a table.
The learner should crumple at least three sheets of paper with each hand during every practice session.
Important note: If the learner finds it difficult to crumple the stiffer paper with both hands simultaneously, they may temporarily be allowed to crumple one sheet at a time until their hands have become stronger. They can then progress to crumpling two sheets of paper simultaneously. If crumpling the stiffer paper with one hand at a time is also too difficult, start with Crumple Papers 1.
See the demonstration video below.
