Felt - Page 3 of 5

Felt Tunnel Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a strip of felt. Glue it tightly around a short paper roll. Secure the roll standing vertically onto the cardboard base.
Place a pom-pom just inside the top opening of the felt tunnel. Hold the cardboard base steady with your helper hand.
Pick up a craft stick. Aim the stick straight down at the pom-pom.
Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick down. Force the pom-pom all the way through the resistant felt tunnel.
The pom-pom should pop out the bottom onto the table. Repeat this process until all the pom-poms are pushed through.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a choking hazard for young children. Adults should handle the scissors during preparation.

Felt Tapestry Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 tight, narrow, horizontal slits into the felt sheet.
Secure the felt tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape on all edges. Tape the cardboard base firmly onto the table.
Take two pipe cleaners and twist them tightly together to create one stiff, thick ‘needle’ for threading.
Hold the cardboard base steady with your helper hand. Use a strong pincer grasp to pick up the end of the stiff pipe cleaner needle.
Challenge your child to thread the pipe cleaner straight through one tight felt slit. Push it completely through, feeling the resistance of the fabric.
Continue threading the pipe cleaner into the remaining slits, creating a dense, woven tapestry pattern across the felt surface.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Ensure all materials are used only as intended.

Fuzzy Force Sculpture

Steps:

Secure the felt sheet firmly onto the cardboard using masking tape. Stand the cardboard upright against a wall or chair.
Place the pile of pipe cleaners in the container nearby. Encourage your child to pick up one fuzzy stick.
Use both hands together to bend and twist the pipe cleaner into a tight, dense shape, like a small coil or spiral. Bending requires strength!
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand to provide stability for the surface.
Challenge them to press the bent pipe cleaner firmly onto the felt surface until it sticks.
Continue bending and pressing fuzzy sticks to create a unique sculpture, like an animal or a colorful abstract design.
Try switching the hands used for bending and stabilizing to give both sides a workout.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners can have sharp ends after cutting or twisting. Ensure the child does not place materials near their mouth, eyes, or ears.

Felt Resistance Wall

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Cut 5 to 6 narrow strips of felt, about 1 inch wide.
Help your child glue the felt strips vertically onto the cardboard. Leave a very narrow gap between each felt strip to create resistant channels.
Once the glue is completely dry, have your child hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep the wall steady.
Challenge your child to pick up a craft stick. Push the stick straight through one of the narrow felt channels. This requires controlled force.
Continue inserting all the sticks into the wall, working to keep the cardboard from tipping or moving during the push.
When finished, gently pull the sticks out (working those muscles again!) and repeat the building process.

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision, especially during the preparation phase involving scissors and glue. Ensure the child pushes the sticks away from their face and body to prevent accidental poking.

Fuzzy Target Toss

Preschool girl practices crossing midline by peeling pom-poms off a velcro felt target taped to a kitchen cabinet door for shoulder strengthening.

Prepare your materials! Place a small circle of Velcro (the hook side is usually best) on the back of several pom-poms. Place the loop side of the Velcro on a large piece of Felt to create your target.

Use Masking Tape to secure the Felt target to a vertical surface, like a door or the side of a tall bookshelf.

Place the target high enough so your child has to reach up or slightly across their body to aim.

Have your child stand back a few feet and gently toss the pom-poms at the target. Cheer them on as they try to get the fuzzy items to stick!

After all the pom-poms are tossed, have your child practice peeling them off. Encourage them to use both hands—one to stabilize the felt, and the other to peel the pom-pom.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the target surface is stable. If your child is jumping or reaching high, spot them gently. Always supervise to ensure pom-poms are not placed in the mouth.