Spoon - Page 4 of 5

Spoon Obstacle Delivery

Steps:

Create a path on the floor by spacing out 4-5 Boxes. Use different sizes of boxes to create a varied, low obstacle maze.
Place the Stuffed Animal (the customer!) at the finish line. Give your child the Spoon and have them balance the Ping Pong Ball on it.
Challenge your child to walk or step carefully through the maze without letting the “delivery” fall off the spoon. If it drops, they must return to the starting point to try again.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the path is clear of trip hazards. Make sure the boxes used as obstacles are sturdy enough not to collapse when bumped.

Cotton Cloud Transfer

Preschool child kneeling on a wooden floor doing a cotton ball transfer activity with a spoon and colored bowls, improving coordination and motor skills.

Steps:

Use Masking Tape to mark a starting point (Bowl 1) and a finish line (Bowl 2) about three feet apart on a table or floor.
Fill the first Bowl with 10-15 Cotton Balls, leaving the second Bowl empty. Use a small amount of water to slightly dampen the cotton balls if extra challenge is needed for stability.
Challenge your child to use the Spoon to scoop one Cotton Ball at a time and slowly carry it across the designated space and drop it into the empty Bowl without dropping it.
Encourage them to keep their non-dominant hand resting on the table or floor for stability (the ‘helper hand’) while scooping and transferring.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the bowls are stable and non-slip to prevent frustration. Always provide close supervision during fine motor activities.

Tee Time Smash

Steps:

Set up the ‘smashing station’ by placing the block of Styrofoam on a sturdy, non-slip surface, like a placemat on the kitchen table or floor.
Show your child how to place the blunt end of a golf tee onto the Styrofoam block. They must use their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize and hold the Styrofoam steady.
Using a spoon held like a hammer, encourage your child to tap the golf tee until it pushes all the way into the Styrofoam. They must grade their force to ensure the tee is fully embedded.
Once all the tees are smashed in, switch roles! Have your child use their finger tips or the back of the spoon to pull the tees back out, working on fine motor control and pincer grasp.

Safety Tip:
Ensure close supervision to prevent the child from putting the golf tees in their mouth or throwing the spoon. This activity requires moderate force, so make sure the table is stable.

Beach Cup

This beach cup activity provides the child with a fun chance to build trust with new food items through play and creating.

You can substitute the different ingredients to make your own creation.

Preparation:

Step 1: Squeeze or scoop blue yogurt into a clear cup.

Step 2: Take 2 graham crackers and place them into a ziploc bag. Have the child squeeze, scrunch, and smash the graham crackers into “sand like” pieces.

Step 3: Pour the graham crackers on top of the yogurt.

Step 4: Ask your child to identify characteristics of food item, using their other senses. Provide them with the language to build that connection with the food in their brain.

Is it crunchy?
Is it smooth?
What does it smell like?

Step 5: Top off with an umbrella.

Tip: Cut off the pointed bottom part of the toothpick or assist as needed. Don’t forget the spoon!

Easter Egg Hunt with Spoons

Hide the Easter eggs around the room.

Designate which color eggs each child gets to hunt & place each basket in a corner of the play space.

The child is only allowed to pick up an Easter egg that matches the color they were given, and they must place it on their spoon.

Children will hunt for their eggs, and once they find them, instruct them to use both hands to hold the spoon, as they walk to their designated basket to drop off the egg (to work on bilateral coordination).

If the egg falls on the way over, the child must start over.

This challenges the skills involved in patience, concentration & pacing.

If you want to challenge your children and add more sensory input, place some obstacles in the way (i.e. walking on or over pillows, walking around cones or chairs, etc.).