Step 1: Cut out a picture of a unicorn.
Step 2: Glue it on a paper plate.
Step 3: Hole punch around the edges of the plate.
Step 4: Lace string through each hole, and tie a knot to secure it in place.
Step 5: Option to curl the strings, add jewels, or color the unicorn for more fine motor opportunities.
Step 6: Watch the strands fly in the air as you spin & wave it around! Enjoy!
Buttoning is a fun fine motor skill to work on! It is more motivating when it involves our children’s favorite characters; in this case, Noodle & Pals from Super Simple Songs on YouTube!
Here, we created peek-a-boo buttoning boards that progressed from easy to more challenging buttoning skills.
Step 1: Cut up a piece of cardboard of your desired size (Our cardboard is the blue & white checkered print in the photo).
Step 2: Cut felt to your desired size. Ensure there will be enough overlap between the felt pages when you close the buttoning board.
Step 3: Glue the edge of the felt to the edges of the backside of the cardboard.
Step 4: Glue/sew the buttons on one side of one of the felt pages.
Step 5: Cut out slits to match the sizes of your buttons on the other felt page.
Step 6: Optional – take a marker & outline the edges of the button openings (the slits you just cut), so it makes it easier to visually identify the location of the buttonhole opening.
Step 7: Print, cut & glue on your child’s favorite character at the top of the cardboard sheet.
As always, ensure safety in all activities. Provide assistance and supervision as needed.
Enjoy!
Step 1: Take an empty cardboard box & glue construction paper around it. This simplifies the exterior to eliminate distractions.
Step 2: Use any toy or item in the house, so long as it is safe, to put in the box. Make sure the toy or item has an identical partner (i.e. use 2 identical markers, 2 identical stuffed animals, etc.).
Step 3: Place each toy or item inside the box (3-6 toys/items at a time), and keep the toy’s/item’s identical partners right next to you, so the child does not see them.
Step 4: Lay the box on a horizontal surface.
Step 5: Take any of the toys/items right next to you, and place 1 of them on top of the box.
Step 6: Ask, “Which one of these (the toys/items inside the box) feels like what this (the toy/item on top of the box) looks like?”
Step 7: Have the child reach into the box to feel all items, making sure they do not see.
Step 8: Have them place their answer on top of the box in order to see if they got it right.
Step 9: Repeat until they have correctly identified all items.
This activity was inspired by our kiddo’s favorite movie involving a strong sisterly bond, a talking snowman, and the journey to discovering their strengths.
Blue Snowflake
Step 1: Fold construction paper in half.
Step 2: Fold it in half, again.
Step 3: Cut small snips off the corners & edges of your folded paper.
Step 4: Unfold & enjoy your magical snowflake!
Step 5: Try a new cutting & folding pattern to see which you like best.
Purple Snowflake
Step 1: Outline the shape of a snowflake with a marker.
Step 2: Trace the outline with glue from a glue bottle.
Step 3: Sprinkle salt on the glue & discard the extra salt that landed elsewhere on the paper.
Step 4: Let dry.
Step 5: Use watercolor paint to dab the salted lines & watch the magic travel through the snowflake!
Use the provided Dr. Seuss’s Hat shape template (download here) or draw your own on a construction paper with markers.
To work on snipping, cut long strips of red construction paper, and mark short lines for the child to snip (see image).
Provide the child with the hat template and the red paper stripes.
Instruct the child to snip on the lines.
Have the child glue the pieces that he cut into the hat template. If needed, provide the child with visual cues where to glue the pieces.
