Construction Paper

The Finger Puppet Road Trip

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a small strip of construction paper, about two inches long.
Wrap the paper strip around your child’s index finger to make a cozy ring puppet.
Use your markers to draw a silly smiley face on the paper puppet ring.
Take a large piece of cardboard and draw a winding, curvy road across it.
Place several colorful stickers at different points along the curvy cardboard road.
Have your child hold the cardboard flat with their helper hand to keep it steady.
Slide the paper puppet onto your child’s index finger of their dominant hand.
Ask them to tuck their other three fingers and thumb tightly into their palm.
Challenge them to walk their puppet along the road, stopping to press each sticker!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they are using scissors to cut the paper strip. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges to prevent any minor scrapes.

The Blooming Paper Water Lily

Steps:

Fill your aluminium foil pan with one inch of water.
Draw a flower with several pointed petals on the construction paper.
Use your scissors to cut out the flower shape.
Fold each petal toward the center until the flower is closed.
Use a marker to draw a small heart in the center.
Place the folded flower gently onto the surface of the water.
Watch as the petals slowly open to reveal the secret heart!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play to ensure they stay safe and the floor stays dry.

The Tummy Time Sun Rays

Steps:

Draw a large sun with long rays on construction paper using your markers.
Use masking tape to secure the paper firmly to the floor so it does not move.
Squeeze small dots of glue along the lines of the sun’s rays.
Ask your child to lie on their stomach on the floor, facing the paper.
Place a paper plate with a small pile of beans right in front of them.
Encourage your child to lift their chest and head up high while they reach for the beans.
Have them use their thumb and pointer finger to pick up one bean at a time.
Challenge them to press the beans into the glue dots to decorate the sun.
Encourage them to switch hands to help both sides of their body get stronger!

Safety Tip:
Choking Hazard: Beans are small objects that can be a safety risk. Always supervise your child during play and ensure all beans are collected afterward.

The Cardboard Ring Squeezer

Steps:

Use markers to draw three big circles on a piece of construction paper.
Color each circle a different color using your markers.
Take an empty paper roll and use your scissors to cut it into four rings.
Place a pile of colorful pom-poms on the table.
Show your child how to hold one cardboard ring between their thumb and fingers.
Squeeze the ring to make it flat like a pair of tweezers.
Use the flattened ring to pinch a pom-pom.
Carry the pom-pom and drop it into the matching colored circle on the paper.
See how fast you can sort all the fuzzy pom-poms!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they use scissors. Small pom-poms can be a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings.

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.