Bowl - Page 2 of 4

Sponge Stack Tilt

Steps:

Fill the bowl with water. Place the foam sponges inside to soak them fully.
Set the plastic container upside down on the floor to use as a narrow stacking platform.
Ask your child to kneel in front of the platform. This helps stabilize their core.
The child gently squeezes one sponge over the bowl to remove excess water.
Using both hands together, the child carries the damp sponge and stacks it carefully onto the container base.
Continue stacking sponges one by one. Count how many sponges they can stack before the tower falls over.

Safety Tip:
Since the floor might get wet, ensure the child is kneeling on a non-slip mat or towel to prevent accidental slips during movement.

Quiet Scoop Game

Steps:

Place the bowl full of dry beans on one side of the table and the empty container on the other side.
Explain the rule: The child uses the spoon to scoop one bean and tries to carry it over to the container.
The child must listen for the ‘Stop Sound’ (the adult rolling the dice nearby). If they hear the dice clatter while moving, they must immediately freeze the spoon in the air.
The child must hold the spoon perfectly still until the adult says ‘Go.’ This teaches impulse control and sustained focus.
If they spill the bean during the freeze, they must return the bean to the starting bowl and begin the scoop again.
Once the container is full, count how many trips were successfully completed before the next round.

Safety Tip:
Due to the use of small beans, constant adult supervision is required throughout the activity. Ensure all beans are collected and stored safely after play to prevent choking hazards.

Cotton Cloud Transfer

Preschool child kneeling on a wooden floor doing a cotton ball transfer activity with a spoon and colored bowls, improving coordination and motor skills.

Steps:

Use Masking Tape to mark a starting point (Bowl 1) and a finish line (Bowl 2) about three feet apart on a table or floor.
Fill the first Bowl with 10-15 Cotton Balls, leaving the second Bowl empty. Use a small amount of water to slightly dampen the cotton balls if extra challenge is needed for stability.
Challenge your child to use the Spoon to scoop one Cotton Ball at a time and slowly carry it across the designated space and drop it into the empty Bowl without dropping it.
Encourage them to keep their non-dominant hand resting on the table or floor for stability (the ‘helper hand’) while scooping and transferring.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the bowls are stable and non-slip to prevent frustration. Always provide close supervision during fine motor activities.

Frozen Dessert Relay

Preschool girl strengthens core and hand muscles by lying prone and scooping colorful pom-poms with an ice cream scoop.

Steps:

Place the empty Paper Cup about 12-18 inches in front of or slightly off to the side of your child (this will be the ‘sundae dish’).
Have your child lie on their tummy (prone position) on the floor, resting on their forearms. Place the Bowl filled with Pom-poms (‘ice cream flavors’) right next to their chest.
Challenge your child to use the Ice Cream Scoop to load one pom-pom, then lift their arm to reach and drop the pom-pom into the Paper Cup. Encourage them to keep their bellies on the floor while they reach and scoop!
When they have filled the cup, try moving the cup to the opposite side of their body to encourage a big cross-body reach (crossing midline) while maintaining their stable tummy position.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Ensure the playing surface is clear and that your child maintains a comfortable prone position. Always monitor to prevent mouthing of small objects like pom-poms.

Treasure Hunt Sensory Bin

This sensory bin activity provides the child with a fun chance to build trust with messy textures through play.

Preparation:

Step 1: Pour sensory bin fillers (cornmeal was used in this photo but you can also use sand, beans, and rice).

Step 2: Hide gems/coins in the sand.

Step 3: Provide tongs for your child to use to retrieve the treasure & place in a separate bowl/treasure box. For an increased challenge, have the child close their eyes and search for the treasure with their hands.