Bubble Pop Thread Maze
Purpose
This fun activity works on building hand strength and precision before writing skills develop. Using the golf tee to puncture the bubble wrap requires strong finger force (proprioception). When your child stabilizes the board with one hand and pokes with the other, they are practicing essential bilateral coordination skills. Threading the stick through the tiny holes demands high-level eye-hand coordination and fine motor control. This resistance helps strengthen the tiny muscles in their hands and fingers.
Activity Steps
Steps:
- Adult Prep: Secure a large sheet of bubble wrap tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape. Ensure the plastic bubbles face outward.
- Give your child one golf ball tee. Encourage them to hold the tee using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
- Challenge your child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand. Push the tee straight through one bubble until it makes a satisfying pop, creating a tight hole.
- Continue poking many holes all over the bubble wrap surface to create a challenging, textured ‘maze’ of openings.
- Once many holes are poked, pick up a craft stick. Aim the stick at a hole and push it all the way through the resistant bubble wrap and cardboard.
- Thread the craft sticks into the holes. Continue filling the maze with colorful sticks to create a rigid, unique sculpture.
Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees and craft sticks have pointed ends. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees and craft sticks are small objects and pose a choking hazard for children under five.
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