Paper Clips - Page 3 of 4

The Card Link Arch

Steps:

Place the paper cup upside down on a flat table.
Pick up two index cards with your helper hand.
Slide a paper clip onto the edges to join the cards.
Repeat this to make a long chain of four or five cards.
Curve the cards over the cup to form a bridge.
Add extra clips to the bottom of the end cards for weight.
Slide the cup out slowly to see if the arch stays up.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the child remains seated at the table and uses only the craft materials.

Layered Card Clip Tower

Steps:

Layer 3 index cards together tightly to make one very thick building block. Secure the edges completely with masking tape.
Use a marker to draw 4 small target dots along one short edge of the layered block where you will insert the clips.
Take two finished layered blocks. Hold them firmly together with your helper hand to keep the pieces aligned and stable.
Pick up a paper clip using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). Push the clip through the marker target dots on both cards, joining the two blocks. This requires focused effort!
Continue connecting the layered cards end-to-end using the paper clips. Build a long, flexible tower or chain structure.
For extra heavy work, try tearing the finished paper clip chain apart after you finish building it.
Try creating a 3D structure by joining the blocks at different angles.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Paper clips are small metal objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure all clips are collected immediately after play.

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Steps:

Use markers to draw a simple dot on one felt strip and a matching dot on one index card.
Place the felt strip flat. Roll the felt tightly around the pencil to create a dense, resistant cylinder.
Remove the pencil carefully while holding the felt roll firmly with your helper hand to keep the shape.
Pick up the paper clip using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
Slide the paper clip onto the felt cylinder to secure the roll. This requires effort and focus.
Set the finished felt scroll onto the Index Card that has the matching marker dot. Repeat for all felt strips.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips and felt scraps pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Clip Line Treasure

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw and cut several small shapes (like fish or stars) from the index cards. Set a long piece of string tautly between two stable points, like chair backs.
Place the paper clips in the container and the paper shapes nearby. Encourage your child to sit stably at the work table.
Ask your child to hold one paper shape steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Challenge them to pick up one paper clip. They must use precise fingertips to squeeze the clip open and secure it onto the edge of the paper shape.
Now, hold the taut string steady with the helper hand. Carefully clip the paper clip (and the paper shape) onto the hanging string line.
Repeat this entire process, clipping all the paper shapes onto the line. Try doing this without letting the string sag or move!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips are choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Cardboard Clip Sculpture

Steps:

First, draw several straight lines or large shapes onto the cardboard using a marker.
Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the cardboard along the drawn lines. Encourage strong pulling and pressing action for maximum heavy work input.
Place the paper clips into the plastic container next to the workspace.
Take two torn cardboard pieces. Hold them together firmly with your non-dominant (helper) hand to keep them steady.
Use your dominant hand to squeeze open a paper clip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
Clip the paper clip onto the edges of the two cardboard pieces to connect them securely. Continue adding pieces to build a chain or a free-standing sculpture.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that the child handles torn cardboard edges carefully, as they can sometimes be sharp. Collect and store all small paper clips immediately after the activity.