Fire Breathing Dragon Tube

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5), School age (6+)
Play time:: 15 to 20 minutes
Setup:: 2 minutes
Where:: Table

Why it helps

This fun activity helps your child practice controlling their breath while playing. Blowing through the tube builds the small muscles around the mouth. This is very helpful for developing speech and eating skills. Your child will also use both hands to glue and decorate their dragon. It is a great way to work on focus and following steps in order. Plus, they get to see their dragon breathe fire at the end! Choking risk: pom-poms can be a choking hazard. Stay within arm's reach, and keep them away from children who still put things in their mouths.

Steps

Use your markers to draw a silly dragon face on the outside of the paper roll.
Tear the colorful tissue paper into long, thin strips that look like flames.
Put a few dots of glue around the inside rim of one end of the tube.
Press the ends of your tissue paper strips onto the glue dots carefully.
Glue two pom-poms on top of the tube to give your dragon big eyes.
Hold the tube to your mouth and blow hard to make the fire dance!

Safety tip: Always supervise your child while they are using glue and small pom-poms. Ensure the paper roll is clean and free of any staples.

Make it easier

Snip a small cut at the edge of the tissue paper so each strip is easier to start tearing.
Glue the flames around the outside of the tube end instead of inside the rim, where fingers fit more easily.
Keep the flames short and thin so even a soft breath makes them move.

Make it harder

Blow a crumpled tissue ball across the table and between two blocks using only the dragon's breath.
Try a long, slow breath and then short puffs, and notice how the flames move each way.
Draw scales on the dragon in a repeating color pattern, like red, orange, red, orange.

What to watch for

Notice how your child tears the tissue. Pinching with both thumbs close together gives more control than pulling with whole fists.
Watch whether your child can blow out through the tube without puffing the cheeks or sucking air in. Steady breaths come with practice.
If glue on the fingers bothers your child, offer a cotton swab or craft stick to dab it on.

Where this helps in daily life

Tearing paper and pressing small pieces in place use the same two-handed control kids need to open snack wrappers and peel stickers, and steady blowing is the breath control used to cool hot food and blow their nose.

These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.