Sticky Twig Nest Builder

Sticky Twig Nest Builder

Steps:

  • Wrap a piece of masking tape around the end of a small branch with the sticky side facing out.
  • Spread colorful feathers, yarn, and small pieces of construction paper on a table.
  • Help your child hold the branch firmly at the clean end.
  • Ask them to press the sticky end down onto the items to pick them up.
  • Once the twig is covered, they must use their fingers to peel the items off.
  • Place the rescued items into a plastic container to build a soft bird nest.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they handle small twigs or branches to prevent any pokes or scratches. Ensure the yarn pieces are short to avoid any tangling.

Beaded Joint Dancer

Beaded Joint Dancer

Steps:

  • Draw a person or animal on construction paper with markers.
  • Cut out the head, body, and limbs as separate pieces.
  • Use a hole puncher to make a hole at each limb joint.
  • Punch matching holes on the shoulders and hips of the body.
  • Thread a piece of yarn through the holes to join pieces.
  • Tie the yarn loosely so the dancer can move its limbs.
  • Slide beads onto the yarn ends to add color and weight.
  • Use masking tape to hang your dancer on a door.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they use a hole puncher to prevent finger pinches. Keep small beads away from younger siblings to avoid choking.

Sticky Line Wall Art

Sticky Line Wall Art

Steps:

  • Secure the construction paper onto the sturdy cardboard base with masking tape.
  • Use masking tape to secure the cardboard vertically onto a wall or door at your child’s chest height.
  • Use the markers to draw a simple line, shape, or path onto the paper for your child to follow.
  • Challenge your child to hold the glue bottle. Squeeze firmly to trace a thick, continuous line of glue over the marker path.
  • Encourage your child to pick up the dry beans using only their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
  • Press the beans firmly into the wet glue line, following the shape until the entire path is covered. Press hard for heavy work!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans are small, hard objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a simple dot on one felt strip and a matching dot on one index card.
  • Place the felt strip flat. Roll the felt tightly around the pencil to create a dense, resistant cylinder.
  • Remove the pencil carefully while holding the felt roll firmly with your helper hand to keep the shape.
  • Pick up the paper clip using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
  • Slide the paper clip onto the felt cylinder to secure the roll. This requires effort and focus.
  • Set the finished felt scroll onto the Index Card that has the matching marker dot. Repeat for all felt strips.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips and felt scraps pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Foam Spike Pom-Pom Insert

Foam Spike Pom-Pom Insert

Steps:

  • Secure the foam sheet firmly onto a piece of construction paper using masking tape. This stabilizes the work surface.
  • Use a marker to draw 10 to 15 short, straight lines (these are your ‘spike’ targets) randomly across the foam sheet’s surface.
  • Challenge your child to hold the foam steady with their helper hand. Use child-safe scissors to snip along each drawn marker line. Squeezing through the resistant foam requires strong effort!
  • Pick up one pom-pom using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Carefully aim the soft pom-pom at one of the newly snipped slits. Use controlled force to push the pom-pom halfway into the slit, turning the foam into a colorful, spiky cushion.
  • Repeat this inserting action until the entire foam surface is covered in pom-pom ‘spikes’.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required when using scissors. Ensure that the child uses the scissors only for cutting the foam. Small pom-poms are used in this activity and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Collect all small materials immediately after play.