Material: Craft Sticks

Foam Slit Curtain Push

Foam Slit Curtain Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Cut the foam sheet to fit the cardboard. Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, horizontal slits across the foam. Secure the foam tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape.
  • Sit stably at a table. Use your helper hand to hold the cardboard base firmly steady.
  • Pick up one craft stick using your thumb and pointer finger.
  • Aim the end of the stick at a narrow foam slit. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant foam ‘curtain’.
  • Repeat this action until all the slits are filled with sticks. Try pulling them out quickly for a fun, reverse heavy work challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation.

Resistant Yarn Unwind Challenge

Resistant Yarn Unwind Challenge

Steps:

  • Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of the container to create a heavy anchor base.
  • Decorate a long piece of yarn by pressing sequins or stickers onto it. Use a dot of glue to secure one end of the yarn tightly onto a craft stick.
  • Firmly push the non-glued end of the craft stick deep into the playdough base until it stands upright and feels stable.
  • Help your child tightly wrap the decorated yarn around the standing craft stick until only a small tail hangs free.
  • Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand.
  • Using their dominant hand, they must pull the yarn tail steadily and forcefully to unwind the yarn from the stick and the resistant playdough anchor.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Yarn, sequins, and playdough are small objects and pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are not ingested.

Cardboard Stick Weave Challenge

Steps:

  • Decorate a piece of sturdy cardboard using markers. Draw many small dots or shapes across the surface to mark your targets.
  • Hold the cardboard firmly steady with your helper hand. Use the hole puncher to punch a hole onto every marked dot. Squeezing the puncher requires strong effort!
  • Pick up one craft stick. Hold the cardboard steady with one hand.
  • Aim the tip of the craft stick at one of the newly punched holes. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant hole.
  • Continue weaving the craft stick in and out of different holes to create a fun pattern. Fill the entire cardboard piece with colorful sticks.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child uses the hole puncher safely, keeping fingers clear of the mechanism. Check craft sticks for splintering before use.

Spiral Stick Rotator

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.

Sticky Stick Pull

Sticky Stick Pull

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard using masking tape. This is your sticky work surface.
  • Place 6 to 8 craft sticks flat across the paper. Secure both ends of each stick firmly with a small, tight strip of masking tape. Press the tape down hard to increase resistance.
  • Encourage your toddler to use their helper hand to hold the cardboard steady on the table, preventing it from slipping while they work.
  • Challenge them to use their dominant hand to find the edge of the tape strip. Use their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to pinch and pull the tape and the stick off the board in one strong, controlled motion.
  • Gather all the freed sticks and repeat the entire process! Try using strips of tape that are longer or shorter to change the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn tape and the craft sticks pose a potential choking hazard for toddlers who still place objects in their mouths. Discard all materials immediately after use.