Material: Craft Sticks

Taut String Barrier Push

Taut String Barrier Push

Steps:

  • An adult should cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Use markers to draw a simple picture on the cardboard, like a big car or boat.
  • Wrap several lengths of string or yarn tightly across the cardboard surface. Crisscross the strings both horizontally and vertically to create a resistant ‘gate’ barrier over the picture.
  • Secure the ends of the string firmly with tape on the back of the cardboard. Ensure the strings are taut and resistant.
  • Place the yarn gate barrier flat on a table. Ask your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable.
  • Pick up one craft stick. Challenge your child to use the stick to push and weave straight through the resistant yarn gate until the stick is completely past the barrier.
  • Encourage strong, controlled pushes. Repeat the process to push all the sticks through the resistant strings and fill the picture.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks and small pieces of tape or string are small objects. They pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Foil Rod Roller

Foil Rod Roller

Steps:

  • Tear off a 6-inch sheet of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the resistant material.
  • Use both hands together to strongly crumple and squeeze the foil into a very tight, dense sphere. Focus on making it as hard as a rock!
  • Choose a craft stick. Decorate the stick with markers if desired. Hold the stick firmly using a comfortable grasp.
  • Hold the resistant foil ball steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to aim and push the craft stick straight through the center of the foil sphere.
  • Apply strong, controlled pressure until the stick pushes all the way through to the other side of the foil ball. You have created a Foil Rod!
  • Repeat the process to create several Foil Rods. Challenge your child to connect them end-to-end to build a unique 3D sculpture or tower.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure children compress the foil tightly to avoid sharp edges. Collect all small materials immediately after play, as they pose a potential choking hazard.

Banded Post Stretch

Banded Post Stretch

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of the plastic container to create a stable base.
  • Adult Prep: Twist several pipe cleaners tightly into small, stiff rings or loops. These are your ‘bands’ that need stretching.
  • Have your child insert 6 to 8 craft sticks vertically into the playdough base. Ensure they stand up straight and firmly.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one pipe cleaner band. They must use both hands together to pull and stretch the band open.
  • Hold the container steady with the non-dominant hand. Use the stretched band and aim it carefully onto the top of a standing craft stick.
  • Continue stretching and placing the bands until every craft stick tower is ringed. Try placing multiple bands on one stick for a stack.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners are small and pose a choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child does not place materials near their mouth.

Tight Stick Wedge Push

Tight Stick Wedge Push

Steps:

  • Fold an index card tightly in half lengthwise. This creates a stiff, narrow V-shaped wedge.
  • Press a small lump of Theraputty or stiff playdough firmly down inside the V-wedge. The putty should be resistant.
  • Place the loaded index card wedge flat inside the plastic container to keep it stable on the table.
  • Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
  • Pick up one craft stick. Challenge your child to aim and push the stick straight down into the resistant putty through the narrow V-opening.
  • Encourage strong, controlled pushes until the putty wedge is completely filled with sticks. Pull the sticks out for a reverse challenge.

Safety Tip:
Theraputty, playdough, and craft sticks are small objects. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity to prevent choking hazards for children in this age group.

Ribbon Resistance Unwind

Ribbon Resistance Unwind

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Cut several strips of ribbon (about 12 inches long). Secure one end of a ribbon strip firmly onto a craft stick using a small piece of masking tape.
  • Adult Prep: Tightly wrap the ribbon all the way down the stick until it is completely covered. Secure the loose end of the ribbon/stick assembly firmly inside the plastic container with more masking tape (this anchors the stick).
  • Have your child sit at a table and hold the plastic container steady with their helper hand to prevent it from sliding. This requires proximal stability.
  • Challenge the child to use their working hand to pinch the exposed end of the ribbon. Encourage them to use a strong, controlled pull and unwind motion to free the ribbon from the stick.
  • Once the ribbon is completely unwound, gently peel the starting tape off the stick and wrap a new ribbon tightly around the stick to play again.

Safety Tip:
Ribbon and small pieces of masking tape are small objects. Constant adult supervision is required to prevent choking hazards for children in this age group.