Tear off a large, square piece of aluminum foil (about 12 inches per side). Tearing this resistant material gives hands a great workout.
Use two hands to crumple the foil. Squeeze it intensely into the smallest, tightest ‘river rock’ ball possible.
Set up the target: Use masking tape to secure two small paper cups firmly inside the large plastic container.
Stand back slightly from the target container. Carefully toss the heavy foil rock, aiming for one of the narrow paper cup targets.
Repeat this process until you have used all the foil. Try tossing from different angles or distances for an extra challenge.
Safety Tip: Always supervise children closely during this activity. Ensure the foil pieces are crumpled tightly into balls before handling to eliminate sharp edges. Remind the child to stay behind the toss line during play.
Use markers to color the entire outside surface of the paper roll (toilet paper or paper towel size) with bright colors. Encourage using both hands to stabilize the roll while coloring.
An adult should draw several straight lines (about 1 inch long) around the bottom edge of the roll, spaced about a quarter-inch apart. These are the guides for snipping.
Encourage your child to use their non-dominant hand firmly inside the roll to keep it steady (proximal stability) while using the scissors to carefully snip along each marked line.
Once the bottom is fully snipped, gently bend the strips outward to create a fringe (the ‘legs’ or ‘wiggly hair’).
Finish the craft by gluing two wiggle eyes onto the top section of the roll to complete your Paper Roll Snip Monster!
Safety Tip: Always provide direct adult supervision when using scissors. Ensure that any small pieces, such as wiggle eyes, are properly glued or immediately removed from the workspace to prevent choking in children under 5.
This color-coding activity provides the child with a fun chance to address fine motor skills and bilateral coordination.
Preparation:
Step 1: Draw different code sheets, such as the one shown in the picture.
Step 2: Cut a portion of the pool noodle.
Step 3: Have insert the golf ball tees into the pool noodle to imitate the code.
*Be sure to provide necessary assistance as the bottom of the golf ball tee is pointed.
This hatching egg activity provides the child with a fun chance to address fine motor skills and bilateral coordination.
Preparation:
Step 1: Draw a chick’s face on an oval-shaped construction paper.
Step 2: Cut the oval-shaped brown construction paper into cracks & tape it together onto the chick’s face.
Step 3: Have the child use both hands to pull off the brown eggshell from the baby chick.
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.
Preparation:
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.
Tips and Grading Options:
Warm-Ups:
Insert popsicle sticks through slits on a coffee cup lid.
Insert coins into piggy banks.
Pick out buttons from playdough.
To make it easier:
Start with fewer buttons.
Create larger buttoning hole openings.
Highlight the buttoning hole openings by drawing around them (such as the black markings in the photo).
Use larger buttons.
Demonstrate how to button & use simple language.
To make it more challenging:
Increase the number of buttons.
Create smaller buttoning hole openings.
Use smaller buttons.
Use fabric with busy patterns.
Use fabric with flimsier material.
As always, ensure safety in all activities. Provide assistance and supervision as needed.
