Tight Band Tunnel Clip

Tight Band Tunnel Clip

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Twist 4 to 5 pipe cleaners tightly into small, dense resistance loops. Use masking tape to secure the paper roll upright onto the center of the cardboard base.
  • Secure the loops by clipping them firmly onto the top edge of the paper roll using a few clothespins. Ensure the bands are taut and resistant.
  • Challenge your child to sit stably and hold the cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the work.
  • Pick up a clothespin. Encourage a strong, full squeeze to open it wide.
  • Aim the open clothespin and clip it onto the paper roll, positioning it directly underneath one of the tight pipe cleaner bands. Feel the effort!
  • Repeat the squeezing and clipping until the entire visible surface of the paper roll is covered in colorful clothespins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners and clothespins are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are collected immediately after play.

Foil Freight Slot Push

Foil Freight Slot Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a 1-inch vertical slit down the center of the paper roll. Secure the roll upright onto a piece of cardboard using masking tape.
  • Give your child small squares of aluminum foil. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the foil into smaller pieces for heavy work input.
  • Challenge your child to squeeze and crumple each foil piece tightly into a small, dense ‘cargo ball.’ Squeezing hard builds hand strength.
  • Hold the paper roll chute firmly steady with your helper hand. This provides proximal stability for the working hand.
  • Pick up one dense foil ball using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). Aim the ball at the narrow slit.
  • Use a controlled push to feed the foil cargo completely through the slot. Drop it into the container below. Repeat until all cargo is delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small, dense foil balls pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the foil is crumpled tightly to avoid sharp edges.

Sticky Roller Texture Wall

Steps:

  • Tape a large piece of construction paper vertically onto a wall or sturdy door.
  • Use masking tape (sticky side OUT) to create a large shape or design on the paper.
  • Place the dry beans or corn kernels into the plastic container next to your child.
  • Encourage your child to pick up the beans one by one using a strong pincer grasp.
  • Firmly press the beans onto the exposed sticky tape until the design is completely covered.
  • Use the paper roll as a roller. Hold the roll tightly and press down hard onto the textured beans.
  • Roll the paper roll up and down, applying maximum force to press the items deeply into the sticky surface.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans and corn kernels are small, hard objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Felt Tunnel Push

Felt Tunnel Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Cut a strip of felt. Glue it tightly around a short paper roll. Secure the roll standing vertically onto the cardboard base.
  • Place a pom-pom just inside the top opening of the felt tunnel. Hold the cardboard base steady with your helper hand.
  • Pick up a craft stick. Aim the stick straight down at the pom-pom.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick down. Force the pom-pom all the way through the resistant felt tunnel.
  • The pom-pom should pop out the bottom onto the table. Repeat this process until all the pom-poms are pushed through.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a choking hazard for young children. Adults should handle the scissors during preparation.

Tension Tube Push

Tension Tube Push

Steps:

  • First, an adult should use the scissors to cut 5 to 7 short, tight slits (about 1 inch long) across the surface of the paper roll.
  • Help your child take a large piece of playdough and push it firmly into the center of the paper roll. The playdough should be dense and resistant, covering the slits from the inside.
  • Place the paper roll on a table. Challenge your child to hold the paper roll steady with their helper hand to prevent it from moving while pushing.
  • Pick up a pipe cleaner from the container. Encourage your child to aim the pipe cleaner tip at one of the narrow slits.
  • Use a strong, steady push to insert the pipe cleaner completely through the slit and into the resistant playdough core. The playdough holds it in place.
  • Continue pushing the pipe cleaners into all the slots until the entire ‘tension tube’ is full. Then, try pulling them out for an extra workout!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners and pieces of playdough are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child only pushes the pipe cleaners into the designated tube.