The Upright Clip Fence

The Upright Clip Fence

Steps:

  • First, cut a rectangular piece of cardboard to use as your sturdy base.
  • Lay a long strip of masking tape across the cardboard with the sticky side up.
  • Secure the ends of the tape so the strip stays perfectly flat.
  • Use your markers to draw a winding path directly onto the sticky tape.
  • Hand your child the tweezers and a pile of colorful paper clips.
  • Challenge them to pick up a clip and press its narrow edge onto the tape.
  • They should follow the marker line until the path is covered with standing clips.
  • Once finished, they can use their fingers to pluck the clips off.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small paper clips are a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings.

Paper Cup Balance Track

Paper Cup Balance Track

Steps:

  • Line up six paper cups upside down in a row on a flat table.
  • Use masking tape to secure each cup base to the table so they do not move.
  • Use a bright marker to draw a simple line across the top of all the cups to create a path.
  • Place a ping pong ball on the first cup in the line.
  • Hand your child a spoon and ask them to hold it with their dominant hand.
  • Challenge them to use the spoon to gently push the ball along the marker path from one cup to the next.
  • See if they can reach the final cup without the ball falling off the track!
  • If the ball falls, have them pick it up using their pincer fingers and start again.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they use the spoon and ball safely.

Buggy Rope Slide

Buggy Rope Slide

Steps:

  • Securely tape one end of the rope to the top of a stable doorway.
  • Let the other end of the rope hang down to the floor.
  • Use markers to draw small, silly bugs on the index cards.
  • Help your child slide a paper clip onto the edge of each card.
  • Place all the bug cards into a basket near the rope.
  • Ask your child to clip one bug onto the very bottom of the rope.
  • Challenge them to use both hands to slide the bug card all the way to the top!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure the rope is used safely and does not become tangled.

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Steps:

  • Wash and dry an empty plastic bottle.
  • Remove the label so you can see inside clearly.
  • Use a hole puncher to make six holes around the top of the bottle.
  • Punch six more holes near the bottom of the bottle.
  • Cut several pieces of yarn into long strips.
  • Tie a bead to one end of a yarn piece to act as a star.
  • Thread the yarn through a top hole and pull it across to a bottom hole.
  • Add more beads as you weave through different holes.
  • Crumple small strips of index cards and push them into the bottle first to act as planets.
  • Challenge your child to weave the yarn so the stars rest on the planets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using a hole puncher. Beads are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings.

Paper Plate Target Disc

Paper Plate Target Disc

Steps:

  • Use your scissors to cut three circles from a single paper plate. These are your flying discs.
  • Decorate each disc with bright markers to make them easy to see.
  • Place your laundry basket in the middle of a clear floor area.
  • Use masking tape to mark a start line a few feet away from the basket.
  • Have your child stand behind the line and hold a disc with one hand.
  • Show them how to hold the cardboard base steady with their other hand to act as a launch pad.
  • Ask them to use their index finger to flick the paper disc toward the basket.
  • Challenge them to get all three discs inside the basket in a row!
  • Move the start line further back once they become an expert launcher.

Safety Tip:
Always ensure the play area is clear of breakable items before launching your paper discs. Adult supervision is recommended to manage the use of scissors.