Hole Puncher - Page 7 of 10

Stick Weave Loom

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use the hole puncher to make 10 to 12 holes evenly around the edge of the paper plate.
Help your child push a craft stick straight through each punched hole. The sticks should stand up firmly like fence posts.
Show your child how to stabilize the paper plate with their helper hand to keep it steady on the table.
Take one pipe cleaner and curl the end slightly to create a dull ‘needle’ point for safe threading.
Challenge your child to weave the pipe cleaner through the sticks following an ‘over, under, over, under’ pattern.
Continue weaving the pipe cleaner until the entire stick fence is connected by the colorful web. Try different colored pipe cleaners for the next round.

Safety Tip:
Close adult supervision is required. Ensure that the ends of the pipe cleaners are curled to prevent scratches. Small pieces of cut pipe cleaner pose a potential choking hazard.

Cardboard Punch Art

Steps:

Decorate a small cardboard square using the markers. Draw simple lines or fun shapes on your canvas.
Place the cardboard flat on a sturdy table. Hold it firmly with your helper hand for stability.
Take the hole puncher and aim it at the cardboard. Squeeze hard to punch holes all over the decorated piece.
Try using only your dominant hand to squeeze the puncher. The cardboard provides great resistance!
Gather the pipe cleaners from the container. Curl one end of a pipe cleaner into a loop to create a dull ‘needle.’
Thread the pipe cleaner through the punched holes. Create colorful patterns as you weave in and out.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise this activity closely. Hole punchers can pinch fingers if hands are misplaced. The small cardboard punch-outs and pipe cleaner pieces are small objects. They pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Slot & Stitch Sculpture

Steps:

Prepare the structure ‘parts’ by cutting several index cards into different shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles). Then, cut small, narrow slots (about 1/4 inch deep) into the edges of each card. (Adult help required for cutting slots.)
Challenge your child to connect the slotted cards by sliding them into each other to create a 3D structure, like a tall building, a bridge, or a fun abstract sculpture.
Using the hole puncher, encourage your child to punch several holes around the edges of the assembled structure. Remind them to hold the structure steady with one hand while squeezing the puncher with the other to strengthen their grasp.
Give your child long pieces of yarn. Demonstrate how to weave the yarn through the punched holes to ‘stitch’ the structure together, reinforcing the corners and decorating their sculpture with color.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise the use of child-safe scissors. Yarn and small pieces of index card can pose a choking hazard for children who still mouth objects; ensure all pieces are kept away from the mouth.

Stick Flag Thread

Steps:

Use markers to color the craft sticks in three different colors (e.g., red, blue, green).
An adult should cut the paper roll into 3-inch sections. Use a hole puncher to create 6 to 8 holes randomly around each section.
Help your child take index cards and draw a matching colored dot on each one. Cut a small slit into the center of each card (these are your flags).
Challenge your child to hold the paper roll steady with their helper hand. They use their other hand to thread a colored stick straight through one of the holes.
Once the stick is threaded, they must find the matching colored index card flag. Ask them to slide the flag onto the exposed end of the stick.
Continue threading sticks and matching flags until the entire paper roll is covered in colorful flags!

Safety Tip:
Adults must handle the scissors and hole puncher during preparation. Supervise the activity to ensure the child does not put the craft sticks near their eyes or mouth.

Ribbon Ring Tie

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use the hole puncher to create 8 to 10 holes evenly around the rim of the plastic container. Cut the ribbon into short, 6-inch strips.
Place the container on the table. Encourage your child to use their non-dominant hand to hold the container steady (proximal stability).
Take one ribbon strip and thread one end through a punched hole using their dominant hand’s fingertips.
Challenge your child to grasp both ribbon ends tightly with their thumb and pointer finger, pulling them to tie a simple knot or loop around the edge of the container.
Repeat this process, tying colorful ribbons onto every hole around the container to create a decorative, ‘fringed’ look.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is essential. Small pieces of ribbon pose a choking hazard if placed in the mouth. Ensure the child focuses only on the tying task.