The Masking Tape Finger Ladder

The Masking Tape Finger Ladder

Steps:

  • Tape a large piece of cardboard vertically to a wall at your child’s eye level.
  • Use a marker to draw two long vertical lines on the cardboard to look like a ladder frame.
  • Cut ten short strips of masking tape using your scissors.
  • Stick the tape strips between the lines to create the ladder rungs.
  • Ask your child to ‘walk’ their index and middle fingers up the ladder like a tiny person.
  • Once they reach the top, have them use their pinching fingers to peel the top rung off.
  • Continue walking and peeling until every rung is in a pile on the floor!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely during play. Ensure they do not put masking tape in their mouth. Make sure the cardboard is secured firmly to the wall.

Felt Petal Patch Builder

Felt Petal Patch Builder

Steps:

  • Have your child choose two or three colorful sheets of felt to make their garden flowers.
  • Show your child how to use child-safe scissors to cut the felt into small, three-inch squares.
  • Ask them to fold each felt square in half.
  • Snip the corners to create rounded petal shapes.
  • Encourage your child to squeeze the hole puncher to click a hole in the center of each felt piece.
  • Roll a large, heavy ball of playdough using both hands.
  • Press it flat onto a paper plate to make a steady base.
  • Pick up a pipe cleaner.
  • Slide the felt petals onto it one by one using pinching fingers.
  • Push the bottom end of the pipe cleaner deep into the playdough base to plant their finished flower!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely during scissor play. Collect any small felt scraps or playdough bits immediately to prevent choking.

The Sunny Stained-Glass Bag

The Sunny Stained-Glass Bag

Steps:

  • Have your child choose three colors of tissue paper.
  • Ask them to use both hands to tear the paper into small pieces.
  • Have your child squeeze glue onto the front of the Ziplock bag.
  • Use a finger or a scrap of paper to spread the glue flat.
  • Pick up each paper square using a pincer grasp.
  • Press the colorful pieces onto the sticky glue.
  • Cover the whole bag to make a beautiful mosaic pattern.
  • Use masking tape to stick the bag onto a sunny window.

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they use scissors. Make sure they do not place the glue or small paper bits in their mouth.

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

The Wobbly Tightrope Balance

Steps:

  • Use scissors to cut a long cardboard strip, about ten inches long.
  • Use your markers and ruler to draw a straight line down the middle.
  • Color the left side blue and the right side orange.
  • Squeeze two clothespins and clip them to the bottom to make legs.
  • Stand the cardboard strip upright on a flat table.
  • Hand your child a basket of colorful clothespins.
  • Ask them to hold the wobbly cardboard steady with their helper hand.
  • Use their pinching fingers to clip clothespins onto the top edge.
  • Challenge them to match the color of the pins to the cardboard side.
  • Gently place a pom-pom into each clipped pin to finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely during play. Clothespins can pinch little fingers, and pom-poms are a choking hazard.

The Straw Rocket Blast

The Straw Rocket Blast

Steps:

  • Use your scissors to cut a small rectangle of paper, about three inches wide.
  • Wrap the paper tightly around a pencil to form a neat tube.
  • Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the paper tube so it does not unroll.
  • Pinch one open end of the paper tube and fold it down tightly.
  • Use another piece of tape to seal this folded end completely to make the rocket nose.
  • Slide the open end of your paper rocket over the end of a straw.
  • Take a deep breath and blow hard through the straw to launch your rocket!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they use scissors. Ensure they do not run while holding the straws or pencils.