Vertical Brick Layers
Purpose
This activity helps strengthen little hands and fingers while working on shoulder stability by building "up high" on a wall or door. It’s great for coordination and pretending to be a construction worker!
Activity Steps
Find a safe vertical surface, like a sliding glass door, or just a regular wall. Use the masking tape to create a square “construction zone” frame on the surface, right at your child’s eye level.
Have your child pinch off small pieces of playdough and roll them into little balls using their thumb and index finger (this is the “cement”).
Ask your child to stick a playdough ball onto the back of a craft stick (the “brick”).
Now, have them press the craft stick firmly onto the wall inside the taped zone so it sticks. Challenge them to build straight rows of bricks from the bottom up to fill the whole square!
Safety Tip: Always supervise to ensure playdough is not eaten. Test a small piece of masking tape on your wall first to make sure it doesn’t damage paint or wallpaper when removed.
