Sponge - Page 2 of 4

Resistant Cardboard Push Pucks

Steps:

Tear the cardboard into several small, jagged strips.
Fill the container halfway with water.
Soak the cardboard strips in the water completely until they are soft.
Squeeze and wring the wet strips hard to remove excess water. This is heavy work!
Squish the damp cardboard strips together into a firm, flat ‘puck.’ Press it onto the table.
Hold the cardboard puck steady with your helper hand.
Use a Q-Tip to aim and push a hole straight through the soft, resistant puck.
Repeat the pushing action until the entire cardboard puck is full of holes.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Q-Tips are small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are kept away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Wet Sponge Target Post

Steps:

Soak the sponge fully in water. Wring it out hard until it is only damp. Press the dense sponge firmly into the container base.
Use a craft stick to poke five starter holes straight through the resistant sponge. This creates the narrow targets.
Place the container on a stable table. Hold the container steady with your helper hand.
Pick up one pom-pom using a neat pincer grasp. Place it directly over a target hole.
Use the craft stick as a piston. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the pom-pom through the resistant sponge.
Repeat this powerful pushing action until all the pom-poms are posted inside the container.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and kept away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Sponge Weight Release

Steps:

Place a large empty bucket on one side of the room. Place a lightweight stuffed animal target inside.
Fill a separate container halfway with water. Soak the sponge until it is heavy and saturated.
Encourage your child to pick up the wet sponge using a strong, whole-hand grasp.
Have them carry the heavy sponge over to the empty bucket/target zone. They must maintain stability while transporting the weight.
Once positioned over the target, challenge your child to squeeze the sponge as hard as they can. They must release all the water into the target bucket.
Repeat the process of soaking, carrying, and squeezing until the target stuffed animal is soaking wet or the child tires.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. This activity involves water. Ensure the playing area is non-slip to prevent falls, especially during carrying motions. Ensure the child only uses the sponge and water as intended.

Sponge Stick Rotation

Steps:

Fill the bowl with water. Soak the sponge completely. Ask your child to wring the sponge out tightly, making it damp and dense.
Place the damp, dense sponge firmly inside the plastic container to keep it stable on the table.
Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Pick up one craft stick using a comfortable grasp with your working hand.
Aim the flat end of the stick at the sponge. Use a strong, twisting motion to screw the stick halfway into the resistant sponge.
Continue twisting all the craft sticks into the sponge until the surface looks like a prickly cushion.
Challenge your child to reverse the movement: use a strong twist and pull to remove the sticks one by one. Try switching hands for stabilization.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child remains seated while working and only uses the craft sticks for the intended twisting action.

Putty Pat Painters

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a large piece of cardboard target vertically onto a stable wall or door using masking tape.
Use markers to draw a simple target shape, like a large circle, on the cardboard at your child’s chest height.
Help your child press a large lump of Theraputty or stiff playdough firmly onto the flat side of the sponge.
Encourage your child to use their helper hand to stabilize the cardboard target on the wall.
Challenge them to use a strong, controlled ‘pat’ motion to press the putty-covered sponge onto the marked target zone.
Repeat this firm pressing and patting action until the entire marked area is covered in colorful, sticky putty patches.

Safety Tip:
Theraputty and playdough are choking hazards if ingested. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the vertical cardboard target is secured tightly so it cannot fall or shift during the strong patting action.