Set up a ‘web’ area by placing two large boxes or firm pillows a few feet apart. Use masking tape to string yarn back and forth between the two structures, creating a low, crisscrossing maze pattern (the sticky spider web).
The goal is to cross from one side to the other. You can grade the activity up and down by spacing the spider webs.
Find a safe vertical surface, like a sliding glass door, or just a regular wall. Use the masking tape to create a square “construction zone” frame on the surface, right at your child’s eye level.
Have your child pinch off small pieces of playdough and roll them into little balls using their thumb and index finger (this is the “cement”).
Ask your child to stick a playdough ball onto the back of a craft stick (the “brick”).
Now, have them press the craft stick firmly onto the wall inside the taped zone so it sticks. Challenge them to build straight rows of bricks from the bottom up to fill the whole square!
Safety Tip: Always supervise to ensure playdough is not eaten. Test a small piece of masking tape on your wall first to make sure it doesn’t damage paint or wallpaper when removed.
This activity is a fun, physically engaging game that helps children practice controlling their body movements and aiming. By rolling sock “balls” up a ramp into baskets of different distances, they learn to adjust the force of their throws to reach a specific target.
Create the Ramp: Lean a piece of sturdy cardboard or a couch cushion against a laundry basket to create a ramp.
Set up the Targets: Place 2-3 additional laundry baskets or boxes in a line behind the ramp basket, each one a little farther away.
Assign Point Values (Optional): Write point values on pieces of paper (e.g., “10” for the closest, “25” for the middle, “50” for the farthest) and tape them to the front of each basket.
Mark the Start Line: Use a piece of tape to mark a starting line on the floor a few feet in front of the ramp.
Prepare the “Balls”: Roll up several pairs of socks to create soft, safe balls.
Play the Game: The player stands behind the tape line and tries to roll the sock balls up the ramp and into the baskets.
Keep Score: After rolling all the socks, tally up the points from the baskets they landed in. You can play multiple rounds and try to beat your high score!
This fun, competitive game is designed to work on several key skills:
Oral Motor Skills: Blowing through a straw helps strengthen the muscles of the lips, cheeks, and mouth, which are important for speech and feeding. It also helps with breath control.
Eye-Hand Coordination & Visual Tracking: Players must visually track the moving cotton ball and coordinate their movements to blow it in a specific direction.
Social Interaction: When played with a partner, it encourages turn-taking, following rules, and good sportsmanship.
Set the Field: On a flat table or floor, create a rectangular playing area. Use the tape to mark two small goals at opposite ends of the field.
Prepare for Kick-off: Place a single cotton ball in the center of the field.
Get Ready: Each player gets one straw. Players should position themselves at opposite ends of the field, near their own goal.
Play Ball!: On the count of “three, two, one, GO!”, players use their straws to blow air at the cotton ball. The goal is to blow the ball into the opponent’s taped goal area.
Rules of the Game:
No touching the cotton ball with the straw, hands, or any part of the body. Only air power is allowed!
If the ball goes off the side of the table, place it back in the center for a new kick-off.
Winning the Game: Keep score! The first player to score a predetermined number of goals (e.g., 5 or 10) is the winner.
Steps:
Safety Tip:
Ensure the playing area is clear of trip hazards. When using the long stick, remind the child to keep a safe distance from others and always supervise play.
