Pipe Cleaners - Page 4 of 14

Tee-Weave Card Creator

Steps:

Fold three index cards tightly in half to create one thick, sturdy base. Press hard along the fold for maximum resistance.
Use the hole puncher to squeeze and punch 6 to 8 starter holes along the edges of the folded card. Squeezing the puncher requires strength!
Hold the thick card steady with your helper hand to keep it stabilized on the table.
Pick up one golf tee using a strong pincer grasp. Aim the tee at one of the punched holes.
Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the tee completely through the layered cardboard base. Remove the tee.
Repeat this forceful piercing action until all punched holes have been filled with tees and then removed.
Pick up a stiff pipe cleaner and use your fingertips to lace it through the newly pierced holes, creating a colorful pattern.

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees have pointed ends. Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child pushes the tee straight down into the card, away from the face or body.

Tension Track Push

Steps:

Twist three pipe cleaners together tightly to create 4-5 thick, stiff ‘resistance bands.’
Stretch and secure these bands tightly across the sturdy cardboard base using masking tape underneath.
The bands should be spaced out to create narrow tracks for the beans.
Place the beans and craft sticks in the container. Ask the child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand.
Pick up one bean using a neat pincer grasp. Load it onto the tip of the craft stick.
Aim the loaded stick at the cardboard track between two tight bands.
Use a strong, controlled push to slide the bean under the taut pipe cleaner band.
Continue pushing the bean along the track until it reaches the end. Repeat until all tracks are filled with beans.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Beans, pipe cleaners, and small cardboard pieces are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Tension Net Drop

Steps:

Adult Prep: Twist two pipe cleaners tightly together to make 3 to 4 thick, sturdy “bands.”
Stretch the pipe cleaner bands across the container opening. Crisscross them to create a tight, resistant net.
Use masking tape to anchor the ends firmly to the container sides.
Place the buttons and craft sticks nearby. Ask your child to pick up a button using their pincer grasp.
Hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand. This provides proximal stability.
Use the craft stick to aim the button at the resistant pipe cleaner net.
Encourage a strong, controlled push to send the button popping through the network.
Repeat until all buttons are successfully dropped inside.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Buttons, pipe cleaners, and craft sticks are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Vertical Fuzzy Line Clip

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to color 3 or 4 pipe cleaners and matching clothespins (e.g., green, blue, pink).
Adult Prep: Tightly stretch the pipe cleaners vertically across the container opening. Secure the ends firmly with tape or punch holes in the container rim to anchor the pipe cleaners.
Place the pom-poms and colorful clothespins nearby. Encourage your child to sit stably at the table.
Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the ‘fence.’
Use the working hand to select a clothespin. Squeeze it open hard with a strong finger pinch.
Aim the clothespin and clip it onto the pipe cleaner line that matches its color. Now, clip a pom-pom onto the clothespin for decoration!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The small pom-poms and pipe cleaner pieces are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Cardboard Connector Links

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut the cardboard into 6 to 8 small, sturdy building shapes, such as squares or strips.
Use the markers to draw small target dots near the edges of each cardboard link.
Encourage your child to twist each pipe cleaner tightly into a small, stiff ring or loop. Place these finished rings in the container.
Challenge your child to hold one cardboard link firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the surface.
Squeeze the hole puncher forcefully onto each marker dot to create connection holes. Squeezing hard provides deep strength input!
Now, hold two punched cardboard links together, lining up the holes perfectly.
Use a pipe cleaner ring to link them by pushing the stiff ring through both holes. Continue linking to build a strong 3D structure.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The small pipe cleaner pieces and cardboard punch-outs are choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended.