Material: Hole Puncher

Confetti Rainmakers

Confetti Rainmakers

Steps:

  • Invite your child to select several colors of construction paper. Their first job is to use the hole puncher to create a big pile of ‘rain’ or confetti. Encourage them to use both hands to stabilize the paper and squeeze the puncher with strength (great for hand intrinsic muscles!).
  • Place the paper cup next to the confetti pile. Challenge your child to use the tongs to pick up each tiny piece of confetti and drop it into the cup. This requires slow, careful pincer control and focus!
  • When the cup is full, encourage your child to stand up and hold the cup high above their head. Then, they can gently tilt it to make the colorful ‘confetti rain’ fall down, providing visual and proprioceptive input before repeating the scooping process.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the hole puncher is used correctly and supervise closely to prevent pieces of confetti from being placed in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Plate Cymbal March

Plate Cymbal March

Steps:

  • Gather two paper plates (one for each hand). Help your child practice using the hole puncher to create 4 to 6 holes around the edges of each plate. Remind them to hold the plate steady with one hand while punching with the other!
  • Take three pipe cleaners and twist them together tightly to create one thick, sturdy ‘handle’ for each plate.
  • Help your child thread the pipe cleaner handle through two opposing holes on the plate edge. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner handle securely on the front of the plate so it won’t slip.
  • Once both plates have handles, encourage your child to march around the room, clapping the ‘cymbals’ together. Marching helps them integrate both sides of the body while providing great sensory input.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using the hole puncher to prevent them from putting fingers inside the mechanism or attempting to punch clothes.

Flying Unicorn

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!

Christmas Circles Tree

For this activity you will need green (tree), brown (tree trunk), red (ornaments), and yellow (ornaments) construction paper.

Draw different sized circles on the green construction paper. Make sure the circles do not overlap. These will be used to create the tree.

Cut the circles out by following the lines using scissors.

If you have a circle puncher, you can have the child punch circles from the construction paper. This will enhance hand strength.

Instruct the child to use a single hole puncher and punch holes in the yellow and red construction paper. These will be the ornaments on the tree.

Glue the green construction paper circles together in a triangular shape (to resemble a Christmas tree).

Using a pincer grasp, instruct the child to pick up the little yellow and red dots, one at a time, and glue them to the green circles.

Cut a rectangle shape from the brown construction paper. Attach it to the tree as a trunk.

Construction Paper Guitar

Using a large piece of cardboard or construction paper, draw the shape of the guitar’s body. If the child is able to draw it by himself, allow him to do so. Otherwise, let the child trace your drawing, using a thick marker.

Ask the child to cut out the shape, following the lines. Depending on the child’s skill level, make the line thicker, and provide support as needed. Once the child cuts out the guitar’s shape out, ask him to draw or trace a circle in the middle of the guitar’s body. You can use a round object to help with drawing an accurate shape.

Instruct the child to cut out the circle, providing support as needed.

Using a single hole puncher, carefully have the child punch three holes on either side of the circle he just cut. Using 3 rubber bands, ask the child to cut through them so they are now one long string.

Instruct the child to thread each rubber band across 2 parallel holes, and tie on each end. Provide support as needed for tying the rubbers in place.

Using another piece of cardboard or construction paper, ask the child to draw or trace a rectangle. Instruct the child to cut it out, and use the glue and tape to attach it to the top part of the guitar’s body. To make the guitar look more life like, ask the child to draw lines continuing from the bands up the stem of the guitar.