Blocks - Page 2 of 4

The Stocking Wrecking Ball

Steps:

Place a tennis ball into the toe of a long stocking.
Slide the open end of the stocking over your child’s head like a hat.
The stocking should hang down with the ball near their chest or waist.
Use masking tape to mark a small circle on the floor for your child to stand in.
Help your child build three tall towers using the blocks just outside the circle.
Ask your child to keep their feet inside the tape circle.
Challenge them to swing their body and head to make the ball hit the towers.
Cheer as the blocks tumble down and then build them up again!

Safety Tip:
Ensure your child is in a clear area away from sharp furniture. Adult supervision is required to ensure the stocking does not cover the child’s face or eyes.

The Paper Plate Steering Wheel

Steps:

Draw a colorful dashboard and buttons on your paper plate with markers.
Apply a large dab of glue to the center of the plate’s back.
Press the cap of an empty plastic bottle firmly into the glue.
Allow the glue to dry completely so the wheel stays attached to the handle.
Place several blocks in a zigzag line on the floor to make a path.
Ask your child to hold the bottle and ‘drive’ through the block maze!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they use the materials safely and do not put small blocks in their mouth.

The Rice Pan Bridge Cross

Steps:

Pour Rice into the Aluminium Foil Pan.
Place three Craft Sticks across the pan width to form narrow bridges.
Put a few small Blocks on the table next to the pan.
Give your child the Tongs to pick up one Block.
Challenge them to walk the Block across a Craft Stick bridge.
If the Block falls into the Rice, try again!
Deliver all the Blocks to the other side to win.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when playing with small blocks or rice. These materials can be a choking hazard. Ensure the pan is on a flat surface to prevent spills.

The Sturdy Newspaper Bridge

Steps:

Lay a sheet of newspaper flat on a table.
Start at one corner and roll the paper into a very tight, thin tube.
Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the end.
Repeat this until you have at least ten strong paper tubes.
Place two stacks of blocks about six inches apart on the table.
Tape your paper tubes together to create a flat platform.
Lay the platform across the blocks to form a bridge.
Gently place more blocks on top of the bridge to see how much weight it can hold!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended to help with the building and design of the bridge. Be careful with any small tape pieces that might stick to other surfaces.

Tape-Wrapped Block Unwind

Steps:

Adult Prep: Tightly wrap 3 to 4 blocks completely in masking tape. Cover all surfaces of the block.
Place the wrapped blocks in the plastic container. Tell your child they are ‘tape monsters’ that need rescuing.
Challenge your child to hold the block firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Use the thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to find an edge of the tape strip.
Encourage a strong, controlled pull to peel the sticky tape off the block against the resistance.
Continue pulling and peeling all the tape until the block is fully unwrapped and rescued! Repeat the challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not put tape or small pieces of material in their mouths. Discard small, crumpled tape pieces immediately after peeling.