Plastic Container

Putty Spool Force Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Press a large lump of stiff playdough firmly into the bottom of the container to create a stable base.
Adult Prep: Twist 5 to 6 short pieces of yarn tightly into small loops. Embed these yarn loops halfway into the surface of the playdough, ensuring they are resistant.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the base on the table.
Pick up one craft stick. Encourage a firm, three-finger or pincer grip on the stick.
Aim the stick at a resistant yarn loop embedded in the playdough base.
Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick straight through the yarn and deep into the resistant playdough. Feel the effort!
Repeat this action until all the yarn loops have a stick pushed through them. Pull them out quickly for extra heavy work!

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

Tape-Wrapped Block Unwind

Steps:

Adult Prep: Tightly wrap 3 to 4 blocks completely in masking tape. Cover all surfaces of the block.
Place the wrapped blocks in the plastic container. Tell your child they are ‘tape monsters’ that need rescuing.
Challenge your child to hold the block firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Use the thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) to find an edge of the tape strip.
Encourage a strong, controlled pull to peel the sticky tape off the block against the resistance.
Continue pulling and peeling all the tape until the block is fully unwrapped and rescued! Repeat the challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not put tape or small pieces of material in their mouths. Discard small, crumpled tape pieces immediately after peeling.

Wet Paper Squeeze & Drop

Steps:

Tear the newspaper into small strips using both hands. Focus on strong, controlled pulls.
Fill the bucket halfway with water. Submerge the newspaper strips until they are fully saturated and mushy.
Grab a large handful of wet paper. Squeeze the paper tightly over the bucket to remove the water. Aim for maximum effort!
Squeeze the remaining damp paper firmly into dense, hard balls (your ‘fortress rocks’).
Place the empty plastic container target nearby. Hold the container steady with your helper hand.
Use your working hand to aim and drop the wet paper ball precisely into the narrow target opening. Repeat until all rocks are delivered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not place wet paper or small pieces of material in their mouths. This activity can be messy; choose a water-safe work area.

Sticky Feather Knockdown Challenge

Steps:

Secure a piece of cardboard vertically onto a stable wall or door using masking tape.
Use strips of masking tape, sticky side OUT, to create a large landing zone at the bottom of the cardboard.
Lightly secure several feathers across the upper area of the cardboard using small pieces of masking tape. They should be easy to knock off.
Fill the trigger style spray bottle with water. Encourage the child to hold the bottle firmly.
Aim the stream of water directly at one of the feather targets. Squeeze the trigger hard to knock the feather down.
The goal is to aim the feather so it falls into the sticky landing zone below. Repeat until all feathers are rescued.
Collect the rescued feathers and repeat the challenge by sticking them back onto the cardboard.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the child aims the water stream only at the target and never towards people or electrical outlets. Confirm the cardboard is securely fastened and cannot fall during play.

Tissue Paper Rope Art

Steps:

Use both hands to tear the tissue paper into long strips (about 1 inch wide). Place the finished strips in the plastic container.
Take one strip. Hold one end steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to twist the paper tightly. Turn it into a stiff, resistant rope.
Use a marker to draw a simple shape or a winding path onto the construction paper base.
Squeeze the glue bottle to trace a thick line of glue over the marker path.
Carefully press the twisted paper rope onto the wet glue line. Continue twisting and gluing until the entire path is filled with the colorful rope.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper, if crumbled tightly, can be a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.