Spoon - Page 2 of 5

The Sticky Plate Ball Maze

Steps:

Place your paper plate on a flat table.
Cut three short pieces of yarn using your scissors.
Lay the yarn across the plate to make a winding path.
Use small pieces of masking tape to hold the yarn down.
Place extra strips of tape across the plate with the sticky side facing up.
Put the ping pong ball at the start of the path.
Give your child a spoon to hold.
Ask them to push the ball along the path without touching the sticky tape.
Challenge them to get to the finish line!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put the ping pong ball or masking tape in their mouth.

The Balancing Plate Bead Challenge

Steps:

Place the paper cup upside down on a flat table.
Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the cup to the table.
Carefully set the paper plate on top of the upside-down cup.
Give your child a small bowl of beads and a spoon.
Ask them to scoop one bead and place it on the plate.
Challenge them to add more beads without the plate falling off the cup!

Safety Tip:
Beads are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child. Keep all small materials away from younger siblings.

Spoon Glide Seesaw

Steps:

Tape two long cardboard strips side-by-side to make a wide path.
Draw a colorful zigzag line down the middle with markers.
Place a ping pong ball at the start of the path.
Give your child a spoon.
Ask them to hold the cardboard track with both hands.
Tilt the board left and right to roll the ball.
Use the spoon in one hand to keep the ball on the line.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they use the spoon and ball safely.

Floating Egg Carton Marble Scoop

Steps:

Fill a large bowl halfway with water.
Place an empty egg carton inside the bowl so it floats.
Put a small pile of marbles on the table next to the bowl.
Have your child scoop a single marble using a spoon.
They must carry it and drop it into a specific egg cup.
Challenge them to fill all the cups without sinking the boat.
Try using the other hand to make it harder.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Marbles are a major choking hazard. Keep these materials away from children under 3 years old.

Wet Cardboard Q-Tip Punch

Steps:

Adult Prep: Mix a small amount of tempera paint with water in the bowl until the mixture is thick, but wet enough to saturate the cardboard slightly.
Use the spoon to paint a thick layer of the mixture onto a piece of sturdy cardboard. Let the paint soak in slightly to increase resistance, but keep the surface damp.
Use a marker to quickly draw small target dots randomly across the wet, painted surface.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard firmly steady with their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize the base.
Pick up a Q-Tip using a strong pincer grip (thumb and pointer finger).
Challenge your child to aim the Q-Tip at a marker dot. Use a strong, controlled push to punch the Q-Tip straight through the wet, resistant cardboard surface.
Repeat this firm punching action until all the target dots have been successfully punctured.

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 the child only pushes the Q-Tip into the cardboard, keeping it away from the face, nose, and ears.