Markers - Page 23 of 46

Tear & Thread Cardboard Chain

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard. Use the hole puncher to create 8 to 10 holes evenly around the edges of the board.
Give your child strips of sturdy cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the strips and crumple the pieces into tight, dense balls. Drop the finished balls into the container.
Pick up one colorful pipe cleaner. Help your child push the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the center of one dense cardboard ball. This creates a ‘loaded pin’.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard frame steady with their helper hand. Thread the loaded pin through one punched hole in the frame. Pull the pipe cleaner through.
Weave the pin back through the next open hole, linking the crumpled cardboard ball to the frame. Repeat this process until all the crumpled pieces create a colorful chain around the border.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn cardboard and cut pipe cleaners are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Resistant Gate Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the foam sheet tightly onto the cardboard piece for maximum stability.
Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, short slits (about 1.5 inches long) randomly across the foam surface. Ensure the slits are very tight.
Encourage your child to use both hands to bend and twist the pipe cleaners into small, rigid shapes like tight coils, flat squares, or stiff hooks. Ensure they are strong.
Challenge your child to hold the stable cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand.
Pick up one rigid pipe cleaner shape. Aim the shape at a narrow slit and use a strong, controlled push to insert the entire shape through the resistant foam gate. Feel the effort!
Repeat this forceful pushing and threading action until all the slits have been successfully filled with colorful pipe cleaner shapes.

Safety Tip:
Adults must handle the scissors for cutting the narrow slits. Supervise closely as children manipulate pipe cleaners, ensuring the ends are tucked or curled to prevent scratches while pushing.

Cardboard Hole Punch Pegging

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut several Q-Tips into short, 1-inch pegs. Fold a piece of thick cardboard firmly in half to create maximum resistance.
Use a marker to draw 8-10 target dots across the surface of the folded cardboard where the child should aim to punch.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand. Using strong finger force, squeeze the hole puncher onto each marker dot, creating a tight hole.
Once the holes are punched, place the short Q-Tip pegs into the container. Encourage your child to pick up one peg at a time using a neat pincer grasp.
Hold the cardboard steady with the non-dominant hand. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the Q-Tip peg straight through the resistant hole.
Continue this firm pushing action until all the punched holes have been successfully filled with colorful pegs.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Cut Q-Tips and small cardboard scraps are choking hazards for children under five. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation. Ensure the child only pushes the Q-Tip pegs into the designated holes and keeps materials away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Felt Maze Nut Grab

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw a simple maze or winding path onto the felt sheet.
Cut one small drop hole (slightly bigger than a nut) at the end of the maze. Secure the felt tightly over the container opening using masking tape.
Place the container on a stable table. Put the nuts next to the maze start point.
Use your non-dominant hand (the helper hand) to hold the container firmly steady.
Pick up the tongs using a strong pincer grasp. Squeeze the tongs open and gently grab one nut.
Carefully follow the path with the tongs. Press down firmly to maneuver the heavy nut through the resistant felt maze.
Once you reach the drop hole, let go of the nut and hear it clink into the box! Repeat until all the treasure is collected.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Nuts and bolts are very small, hard objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Resistant Foam Pin Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use a marker to draw several guide dots onto the foam sheet. Use masking tape to secure the foam tightly onto the sturdy cardboard base.
Help your child bend or roll several pipe cleaners until they are stiff, short pieces. These are your ‘resistant pins.’
Ask your child to hold the cardboard base firmly steady on the table using their non-dominant (helper) hand.
Pick up a resistant pin using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Aim the tip of the pin at a marked dot. Use a controlled, strong push to drive the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the dense foam and into the cardboard base.
Repeat this forceful pushing action until all the marked dots have been successfully filled with colorful pins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.