Cardboard - Page 31 of 38

Tight Cardboard Ties

Steps:

Ask an adult to cut 6 to 8 small, sturdy shapes from the cardboard (squares and rectangles work best).
Encourage your child to use markers to decorate and color each cardboard piece.
Help your child break the pipe cleaners into shorter, 4-inch strips. This breaking provides good heavy work input.
Take two cardboard pieces. Hold them together firmly with one hand so the edges overlap.
Use your working hand to wrap one pipe cleaner strip tightly around the overlapping edges, twisting the ends together until the connection is secure.
Continue connecting pieces. Build a 3D structure like a cube, a robot, or a tall, zig-zagging tower.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners can have sharp ends after being cut or broken. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not place these small materials near their mouths, eyes, or ears.

Cardboard Crunch Slot

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use masking tape to fully cover the opening of the plastic container. Cut one very narrow, tight slot (about 1.5 inches long) in the center of the taped lid.
Give your child a piece of firm cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the cardboard into small, jagged, postage stamp-sized pieces. Tearing this resistant material is heavy work!
Ask your child to hold the prepared container firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Pick up one torn, rough cardboard piece. Aim the piece at the narrow slot and turn it until it fits just right.
Use a strong, steady push with the fingertips to send the cardboard piece completely inside the container. Repeat until all the torn pieces are posted!

Safety Tip:
Cardboard scraps and masking tape are potential choking hazards. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child remains seated and does not put materials near their mouth.

Ribbon Slot Stuffing

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use the Scissors to cut three tight, narrow slots (about 1.5 inches long) into the Cardboard or the lid of the Container. Secure the Cardboard/lid tightly using Masking Tape.
Give the child long strips of Ribbon. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the Ribbon into small, stamp-sized pieces. Tearing wakes up the hand muscles!
Ask your child to hold the container steady with their helper hand (proximal stability) while it sits on the table.
Pick up one torn Ribbon piece. Crumple it tightly into a small ball using only their fingertips (working on pincer grasp and in-hand manipulation).
Aim the crumpled ribbon ball at a slot. Use a controlled, firm push with the index finger or thumb to send the ribbon piece completely inside the container. Repeat until the container is full!

Safety Tip:
Ribbon pieces are small objects. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout the activity, as they pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Resistant Rip Mural

Steps:

Secure a large sheet of cardboard vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape.
Place several long strips of masking tape horizontally across the cardboard, sticky side OUT, creating several large, sticky ‘target zones’ or frames.
Give your child a large, flat piece of thick cardboard.
Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the thick cardboard into small, jagged pieces (this requires strong effort!).
Encourage them to pick up one torn piece and firmly press it onto the vertical sticky target, filling the frames to create a textured mural.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the vertical cardboard surface is stable and cannot fall or slide during the activity. Always supervise young children to ensure they do not attempt to ingest torn cardboard or masking tape pieces.

Felt Resistance Wall

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Cut 5 to 6 narrow strips of felt, about 1 inch wide.
Help your child glue the felt strips vertically onto the cardboard. Leave a very narrow gap between each felt strip to create resistant channels.
Once the glue is completely dry, have your child hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep the wall steady.
Challenge your child to pick up a craft stick. Push the stick straight through one of the narrow felt channels. This requires controlled force.
Continue inserting all the sticks into the wall, working to keep the cardboard from tipping or moving during the push.
When finished, gently pull the sticks out (working those muscles again!) and repeat the building process.

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision, especially during the preparation phase involving scissors and glue. Ensure the child pushes the sticks away from their face and body to prevent accidental poking.