Mac and Shake

Mac and Shake

Poke a hole in the container’s lid.

The hole should provide enough resistance to make it challenging for the child to insert the macaroni inside.

Have the child insert large macaroni one at a time through the hole in lid into the container.

To work on finger translation, ask the child to collect two macaroni pieces at a time and store one in his/her palm while inserting the other into the container.

The child should use one hand to hold the container and the other one to insert the items.

Children enjoy listening to the sound the container makes when they shake it.

This activity can be done using other items such as coins, beans, or smaller macaroni.

 

Colorful Bookmark

Colorful Bookmark

Let the child trace or draw a 3″ x 10″ rectangle (if you want to work on cutting curves, you may draw wiggly lines instead of straight ones). Have the child cut the rectangle out.

Using a single hole hole-puncher, assist the child in punching a hole in the top part of the rectangle. Then, have the child thread a piece of yarn through the hole.

Using the markers and stickers, let the child decorate the bookmark and make it colorful.

Additional ideas for decorating the bookmark:
1. Have the child crumble small pieces of tissue paper
2. Cut/trace a 2.5″ x 9″ rectangle with white printer paper, and glue onto the center within the 3″ x 10″ construction paper.
3. Have the child cut out pictures that he likes from newspaper and magazines
4. Laminate the bookmarks to preserve them!

Dream Catcher

Dream Catcher

Help the child to cut out a large circle from the center of the paper plate, leaving about 1-inch from the edge, and creating an outer ring.

Using the hole puncher, ask the child to punch holes around the outer ring you have created.

Give the child a large piece of yarn (you can also use more than one piece of yarn) and ask him to lace the yarn through the holes going diagonally.

Punch It

Punch It

For this activity, you might want to use a one hole or a shaped hole puncher.

Have the child punch random holes on stiff paper/index cards using the hole puncher.

Promote the child to alternate squeezing the lever with their thumb and first finger, then thumb and middle finger, and so on. This will help in developing the small muscles of their hands in addition to thumb opposition.