Spiral Stick Rotator

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5), School age (6+)
Play time:: 10 to 15 minutes
Setup:: 10 minutes
Where:: Table

Why it helps

Twisting a pencil back and forth while pushing it through a snug paper hole works forearm rotation, the turning motion used to open jars and turn door knobs. Pushing and pulling against the paper adds steady resistance for the hand and arm. Holding the container still with the helper hand gives both hands a job, and coloring the spiral stripes warms up the pencil grip.

Steps

Before play, cut an X about 1 inch across in the center of the container lid. Tape a square of construction paper over the lid and snap it onto the container.
Use a sharp pencil to poke a small, snug, round hole through the paper over the X.
Wrap masking tape in a spiral down 4 to 6 pencils, like a candy cane stripe. Invite your child to color the stripes with markers.
Ask your child to hold the container steady with the helper hand.
Show your child how to set the end of a pencil in the hole, then twist it back and forth while pushing down so it works its way into the container.
Ask your child to keep twisting until the pencil touches the bottom, then twist it back out the same way. Try every pencil.
When the hole gets loose, tape a new square of paper over it and poke a fresh hole.

Safety tip: Use unsharpened pencils, or push sharpened ones in point first so the point stays inside the container. Keep the scissors with you, since they are only for prep.

Make it easier

Make the hole a little bigger so each pencil turns and slides in with less effort.
Use a capped marker in a bigger hole, since a fat marker is easier to grip and twist than a pencil.
Decorate just two or three pencils for a shorter round.

Make it harder

Twist with the non-dominant hand while the dominant hand steadies the container.
Count the twists it takes to get each pencil to the bottom, then try to use fewer.
Tape a second layer of paper over the hole so every twist and push takes more effort.

What to watch for

Notice whether the twist comes from turning the forearm or from bending the wrist side to side.
Watch whether your child turns palm up and palm down smoothly or in small, jerky steps.
If the scraping sound of the paper bothers your child, tape a piece of felt over the opening instead.