Clothespins - Page 3 of 8

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Steps:

Stand your branch inside the container using a large lump of playdough.
Encourage your child to tear strips of tissue paper with both hands.
Ask them to crumple the paper into small balls using only their fingertips.
Have your child pick up a clothespin and squeeze it open.
They must trap a tissue paper leaf inside the clothespin.
Challenge them to clip the leaf onto a twig on the branch.
Continue until the branch is full of colorful tissue paper leaves!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper and playdough can be a choking hazard. Watch for sharp twigs on the branches.

The Yarn Cross Clip Challenge

Steps:

Take a large, flat piece of Cardboard. Use Masking Tape to secure it to a table.
Cut several long pieces of Yarn. Tape the ends to the edges of the cardboard.
Stretch the yarn in different directions so they stretch across the middle of the board.
Make sure the yarn pieces cross each other to create several X shapes.
Give your child a handful of Clothespins. Use Markers to draw a dot on each pin.
Challenge your child to find a spot where two pieces of yarn cross.
They must reach across the board and clip a clothespin exactly on that X.
Encourage them to keep their helper hand resting on the cardboard corner for stability.
Once all the X spots are clipped, see if they can un-clip them with one hand!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges. Keep small clothespins away from younger children who might swallow them.

The Hanger Puppet Parade

Steps:

Draw three colorful characters on construction paper using your markers.
Carefully cut out each character using your scissors.
Cut three pieces of yarn, each about five inches long.
Tie one piece of yarn to the top of each paper character.
Hold the hanger steady with your non-dominant hand.
Pinch a clothespin to clip the yarn to the bottom bar of the hanger.
Hold the hanger’s hook and move it slowly from left to right.
See your puppets parade through the air!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using scissors and yarn to ensure safety.

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip

Steps:

Use markers to decorate 4 or 5 paper cups. Draw colorful faces or stripes on the outside.
Place the heavy bean bag flat onto a stable surface like a table or the floor.
Ask your child to press down firmly on the bean bag with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Use the dominant hand to pick up a clothespin. Squeeze it open using a strong finger pinch.
Aim the open clothespin and clip one paper cup onto the side of the resistant bean bag. The bag should hold the cup securely.
Repeat the squeezing and clipping action until all the decorated cups are attached to the heavy anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Clothespins and small pom-poms (if used) are small objects. They pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Tight Band Tunnel Clip

Steps:

Adult Prep: Twist 4 to 5 pipe cleaners tightly into small, dense resistance loops. Use masking tape to secure the paper roll upright onto the center of the cardboard base.
Secure the loops by clipping them firmly onto the top edge of the paper roll using a few clothespins. Ensure the bands are taut and resistant.
Challenge your child to sit stably and hold the cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the work.
Pick up a clothespin. Encourage a strong, full squeeze to open it wide.
Aim the open clothespin and clip it onto the paper roll, positioning it directly underneath one of the tight pipe cleaner bands. Feel the effort!
Repeat the squeezing and clipping until the entire visible surface of the paper roll is covered in colorful clothespins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners and clothespins are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are collected immediately after play.