Buttons - Page 4 of 10

The Noodle Button Tunnel

Steps:

Cut a piece of yarn about three feet long using your scissors.
Tie one end of the yarn to a sturdy chair leg.
Thread the other end through the center of a pool noodle.
Place your buttons in the aluminium foil pan at the start.
Hold the loose end of the yarn tight so it stays straight.
Ask your child to slide a button onto the yarn.
They must push it all the way through the pool noodle tunnel.
Have them drop the buttons into different baking cups at the finish line!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small buttons are a choking hazard. Keep all small materials away from children who still place objects in their mouths.

The Button Balance Scale

Steps:

Lay a pencil flat on a table. Use a small piece of masking tape to stop it from rolling.
Place the middle of the ruler on top of the pencil. It should tilt back and forth like a seesaw.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to pick up a single button from your collection.
Place the button gently on one end of the ruler.
Now, try to place a second button on the other side to balance the weight.
When the ruler stays level without touching the table, your child has mastered the challenge of finding the center of gravity.
Keep adding buttons to see how many the scale can hold before it tips.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Buttons are a choking hazard. Keep them away from small children and pets at all times.

The Balancing Button Pendulum

Steps:

Tape one end of the string to the top of a doorway.
Use the hole puncher to make two holes in the paper cup.
Tie the other end of the string through the holes to hang the cup.
Place five buttons inside the cup to give it a little weight.
Set up three cardboard strips as pins on the floor nearby.
Pull the cup back and release it to knock the pins down.
Try to keep the buttons inside the cup during the swing!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the doorway is clear of traffic and the string is not left unattended to prevent tripping.

Ribbon Bridge Button Slide

Steps:

Secure a large piece of cardboard to a flat table using masking tape.
Cut four pieces of ribbon, each about three inches long.
Tape both ends of each ribbon piece to the cardboard to create small, tight bridges.
Space the bridges out in a straight or winding line across the board.
Place a colorful button at the start of the bridge path.
Challenge your child to use their thumb and pointer finger to slide the button under each bridge.
They must push the button all the way to the end without lifting it off the cardboard!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small buttons are a choking hazard. Keep materials away from the mouth.

Floating Sponge Button Stack

Steps:

Fill the aluminium foil pan halfway with water.
Place the sponge gently on top of the water so it floats.
Put a small bowl of buttons next to the pan.
Ask your child to pick up one button using their thumb and pointer finger.
Challenge them to place the button carefully onto the center of the floating sponge.
See how many buttons they can stack before the sponge tips or sinks!
Try placing buttons on the corners of the sponge to see how it wobbles.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play. Buttons are small and are a choking hazard. Ensure your child does not put them in their mouth.