Craft Sticks - Page 7 of 17

Tension Gate Stick Pull

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use the scissors to cut a 3-inch wide slot into the container lid. Make sure this slot is wide enough for the craft stick to pass through easily.
Adult Prep: Tightly crisscross pieces of yarn over this slot. Secure the ends of the yarn firmly onto the underside of the lid using masking tape. The yarn should create a dense, resistant ‘gate.’
Press a large lump of firm playdough into the bottom of the container base to create a heavy anchor.
Help your child push one craft stick deep into the playdough until it stands upright and feels stable.
Put the container lid on the base. Push the standing stick until its top end is firmly jammed against the tight yarn gate. Feel the resistance!
Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to prevent it from tipping during the pull.
Use a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger) to grab the exposed tip of the stick. Pull the stick straight up and out through the resistant yarn gate.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Playdough and craft sticks are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Wet Sponge Target Post

Steps:

Soak the sponge fully in water. Wring it out hard until it is only damp. Press the dense sponge firmly into the container base.
Use a craft stick to poke five starter holes straight through the resistant sponge. This creates the narrow targets.
Place the container on a stable table. Hold the container steady with your helper hand.
Pick up one pom-pom using a neat pincer grasp. Place it directly over a target hole.
Use the craft stick as a piston. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the pom-pom through the resistant sponge.
Repeat this powerful pushing action until all the pom-poms are posted inside the container.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and kept away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Resistance Stick Tangle

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut several 18-inch strips of yarn. Tightly wrap each yarn strip around a craft stick until only the ends are exposed.
Secure the wrapped yarn tightly to the craft stick using small, strong strips of masking tape. Press the tape down hard for maximum resistance.
Place all the secured, tangled sticks into the plastic container. Decorate the container using markers.
Sit stably at a table. Use your helper hand to hold the container firmly steady to keep it from tipping.
Use your working hand to grip the exposed end of one craft stick with a strong pincer grasp.
Challenge yourself to pull the stick straight up and out of the resistant yarn tangle. Feel the effort! Drop the rescued stick into a pile.
Repeat this process until all the sticks have been successfully pulled free from the tangle.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of yarn and masking tape pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child uses materials only as intended.

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

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.