Markers - Page 9 of 53

The Cardboard Yarn Harp

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a large rectangle from your cardboard.
Cut a square out of the middle to make a frame.
Let your child decorate the cardboard frame using bright markers.
Tape one end of a piece of yarn to the back of the frame.
Wrap the yarn around the frame to create several harp strings.
Secure the other end of the yarn with masking tape.
Ask your child to hold the frame steady with their helper hand.
Challenge them to squeeze and clip clothespins onto the yarn strings.
Encourage them to cross their arm over to clip the opposite side!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors. Ensure the cardboard edges are smooth to prevent minor scrapes.

The Finger Puppet Road Trip

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a small strip of construction paper, about two inches long.
Wrap the paper strip around your child’s index finger to make a cozy ring puppet.
Use your markers to draw a silly smiley face on the paper puppet ring.
Take a large piece of cardboard and draw a winding, curvy road across it.
Place several colorful stickers at different points along the curvy cardboard road.
Have your child hold the cardboard flat with their helper hand to keep it steady.
Slide the paper puppet onto your child’s index finger of their dominant hand.
Ask them to tuck their other three fingers and thumb tightly into their palm.
Challenge them to walk their puppet along the road, stopping to press each sticker!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they are using scissors to cut the paper strip. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges to prevent any minor scrapes.

The Fuzzy Felt Sorting Nest

Steps:

Use scissors to cut your colorful felt sheets into small, one-inch squares.
Use your markers to color the bottom of each cup in the egg carton a different color.
Place all the colorful felt squares into a pile on the table next to the egg carton.
Hand your child the tweezers and show them how to squeeze them with their thumb and pointer finger.
Challenge your child to pick up one felt square at a time using the tweezers.
Ask them to place the felt square into the egg carton cup that matches its color!
Repeat this playful process until all the felt pieces are sorted into their matching nests.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or handling small tweezers.

The Brave Cardboard Shield

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a large, sturdy circle out of a piece of cardboard.
Let your child decorate the front of the shield using their favorite colorful markers.
An adult should poke two small holes near the center of the cardboard circle.
Thread a piece of ribbon through the holes and tie a knot to make a handle.
Have your child slide their arm through the ribbon handle and hold the shield tight.
Stand a few feet away and gently toss soft pom-poms toward the child.
Challenge your child to move the shield to block every single pom-pom!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the play area is clear of furniture to prevent falls while your child moves around to block the pom-poms.

Zigzag Beam Clip Challenge

Steps:

Lay out three long strips of cardboard in a zigzag line on the floor.
Use masking tape to stick the cardboard firmly to the ground.
Use markers to draw five small circles along the cardboard path.
Place a paper cup at the very end of the line.
Fill a plastic container with colorful pom-poms and place it at the start.
Give your child a handful of paper clips to hold in one hand.
Ask your child to walk slowly along the cardboard beam.
As they walk, they must place one pom-pom inside each drawn circle.
While standing on the beam, they must use pincer fingers to slide a paper clip onto the paper cup.
If they step off the cardboard, they have to go back to the start!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the floor area is clear of other toys to prevent tripping. Make sure the cardboard is taped flat so it is not slippery.