Resistant Rip Mural

Resistant Rip Mural

Steps:

  • Secure a large sheet of cardboard vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape.
  • Place several long strips of masking tape horizontally across the cardboard, sticky side OUT, creating several large, sticky ‘target zones’ or frames.
  • Give your child a large, flat piece of thick cardboard.
  • Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the thick cardboard into small, jagged pieces (this requires strong effort!).
  • Encourage them to pick up one torn piece and firmly press it onto the vertical sticky target, filling the frames to create a textured mural.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the vertical cardboard surface is stable and cannot fall or slide during the activity. Always supervise young children to ensure they do not attempt to ingest torn cardboard or masking tape pieces.

Stick Bridge Clip

Stick Bridge Clip

Steps:

  • Prep the “bridge” by using masking tape to secure 5 to 7 craft sticks in a row onto the underside of a sturdy, stable table (or a sturdy chair seat).
  • Place the pile of clothespins within easy reach on the floor beneath the table.
  • Challenge your child to lie on their back on the floor, directly under the table, facing the craft sticks. This is the starting position.
  • Encourage your child to reach up and squeeze open one clothespin at a time. They must aim carefully to clip the pin onto the ‘bridge’ (the craft stick).
  • Continue until every stick is covered in colorful clothespins. To repeat, they can clip them all off and start again!

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision. Clothespins are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children who might still place items in their mouths. Ensure the table used is stable and cannot tip over during the activity.

Plate Spin Targets

Plate Spin Targets

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw 4-6 small, bright dots (targets) randomly across the surface of the paper plate.
  • Flip the plate over. Use masking tape to secure a craft stick firmly to the center back as a spin handle.
  • Have your child place the plate on the table. They use one hand to grasp the craft stick handle.
  • Challenge your child to spin the plate quickly using their hand (practicing forearm rotation).
  • While the plate is spinning, they must try to quickly tap the center of a colored dot using the pointer finger of their other hand.
  • Try switching hands! Use the non-dominant hand to spin and the dominant hand to tap the moving targets.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the plate and handle are securely fastened. Supervise closely to ensure the child keeps their fingers clear of the spinning parts to avoid minor scrapes.

The Sticky Spider Crawl Maze

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.

Vertical Brick Layers

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.