Construction Paper - Page 4 of 26

Tear & Thread Cardboard Chain

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard. Use the hole puncher to create 8 to 10 holes evenly around the edges of the board.
Give your child strips of sturdy cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the strips and crumple the pieces into tight, dense balls. Drop the finished balls into the container.
Pick up one colorful pipe cleaner. Help your child push the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the center of one dense cardboard ball. This creates a ‘loaded pin’.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard frame steady with their helper hand. Thread the loaded pin through one punched hole in the frame. Pull the pipe cleaner through.
Weave the pin back through the next open hole, linking the crumpled cardboard ball to the frame. Repeat this process until all the crumpled pieces create a colorful chain around the border.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn cardboard and cut pipe cleaners are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Felt Punch Mosaic Art

Steps:

Secure the felt sheet firmly onto the cardboard using masking tape on all edges. This creates a stable punching surface.
Show your child how to hold the hole puncher. Challenge them to squeeze the puncher hard to create many small, round felt pieces (confetti).
Transfer the punched felt confetti into a small container.
Use the glue bottle to draw a simple design or shape onto the construction paper.
Use the tweezers to pick up the tiny felt circles. Encourage a strong, controlled pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Carefully transfer and press the felt pieces onto the wet glue design until the shape is completely filled.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The small felt pieces and cardboard punch-outs are very small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Sticky Roller Texture Wall

Steps:

Tape a large piece of construction paper vertically onto a wall or sturdy door.
Use masking tape (sticky side OUT) to create a large shape or design on the paper.
Place the dry beans or corn kernels into the plastic container next to your child.
Encourage your child to pick up the beans one by one using a strong pincer grasp.
Firmly press the beans onto the exposed sticky tape until the design is completely covered.
Use the paper roll as a roller. Hold the roll tightly and press down hard onto the textured beans.
Roll the paper roll up and down, applying maximum force to press the items deeply into the sticky surface.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans and corn kernels are small, hard objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Foil Shape Sticker Sculptures

Steps:

Use masking tape to secure the construction paper vertically onto a wall or sturdy door at your child’s eye level.
Tear off small squares of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to squeeze and crumple the foil intensely into dense, stiff, 3D shapes.
Use masking tape to anchor the stiff foil shapes firmly onto the vertical construction paper, creating a textured sculpture.
Peel the stickers or sequins using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Aim the sticky item at the foil surface. Use a firm, controlled press to secure the sticker onto the stiff foil shape, feeling the heavy work input.
Continue peeling and pressing items until the foil sculpture is completely covered in colorful texture.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Sequins and small stickers are very small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Spiral Stick Rotator

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a piece of construction paper to fit the container lid. Secure this paper tightly onto the lid with masking tape.
Cut one tight, narrow slot (about 1.5 inches long) into the center of the taped paper lid. This is your resistant slot.
Use markers to draw tight, colorful stripes or a spiral design around several craft sticks. Make sure the designs are dense.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Pick up a striped stick. Challenge them to gently push the end of the stick into the narrow slot.
They must twist the stick repeatedly (rotating their forearm) to guide the colored pattern through the resistant slot.
Continue twisting and pushing until the entire stick is posted inside. Repeat this with all the prepared sticks!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the narrow slot is only used for the craft sticks. Collect any small pieces of torn paper or tape immediately.