Stickers - Page 4 of 7

Tower Sticker Challenge

Steps:

Prepare the target: Stack 3 to 4 empty Boxes on top of each other to create a stable, eye-level tower. Cover the tower sides with Paper and secure the paper firmly using Masking Tape.
Pre-peel the Stickers: Carefully peel most of the backing off 10-15 large Stickers (like dot stickers or large shapes) and place them securely onto the edge of the table or highchair tray, leaving a small corner for the child to grasp.
Challenge the Pincer Grasp: Encourage your child to use only their thumb and pointer finger to peel the rest of the Sticker off the table edge.
Attach the Stickers: Guide the child to walk over to the tower. Encourage them to use their helper hand to stabilize the Box while the dominant hand presses the sticker firmly onto the paper surface. Try to cover all sides of the tower!

Safety Tip:
Due to the risk of choking, constant, close adult supervision is required during this activity, as small stickers and paper pieces can easily be placed in the mouth by toddlers.

Vertical Tape Relief

Steps:

Secure a flat piece of cardboard vertically onto a wall or door at your child’s eye level. Use extra masking tape to anchor it.
Use markers to draw a simple picture or design, like a big tree or an animal shape, on the cardboard.
Give the child long strips of masking tape. Encourage them to tear the tape into many small, 1-inch squares.
The child should use both hands for tearing. Drop the finished small pieces into the plastic container.
Pick up one small tape piece using only the thumb and pointer finger (pincer control).
Challenge your child to press the sticky side of the tape piece firmly onto the drawn shape. Strong, controlled pressure is needed.
Continue layering the tape pieces until the entire drawing is covered, creating a textured relief artwork. Add stickers for eyes or details.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Ensure the vertical cardboard is secured firmly to prevent it from falling. Always monitor children to ensure they do not attempt to place torn tape pieces in their mouths.

Coil Wrap Precision

Steps:

Use markers to color the craft sticks with different patterns or colors. This makes the finished product more visually appealing.
Place the colored craft stick flat on the table and hold it firmly with your helper hand to keep it from rolling (proximal stability).
Take one pipe cleaner. Use the fingertips of your dominant hand to tightly wrap the pipe cleaner around the craft stick, creating neat, tight coils.
Try to wrap the coil as close and tight as possible. When one pipe cleaner is finished, secure the end and wrap a new one until the stick is covered.
Open the container of small stickers. Use your precise pincer grasp to peel one sticker off the backing.
Challenge yourself to place the small sticker exactly onto one of the tight pipe cleaner coils. Use a firm press to secure it. Fill the coils with colorful stickers!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the child maintains good seated posture (feet flat on the floor) to support the fine motor movements. Check the ends of the pipe cleaners for sharp edges before starting.

Tacky Tape Puzzle Pull-Off

A preschooler uses fine motor skills and a pincer grasp to pull a pom-pom off tacky masking tape on a vertical surface, demonstrating the Tacky Tape Puzzle Pull-Off activity for improved shoulder stability and hand strength.

Steps:

Tape a piece of construction paper vertically to a door or wall using masking tape. This is your ‘puzzle board.’
Use small loops of masking tape to stick several pom-poms and stickers onto the construction paper. Make sure they are secure enough to stay put but loose enough to be pulled off with some effort.
Challenge your preschooler to ‘rescue’ the materials from the tacky tape! Encourage them to stand and use both hands—one hand to stabilize the paper and the other hand to pull the items off using a pincer grasp.
For an added challenge, hide small plastic animals or lightweight blocks under larger pieces of tape, requiring more effort and bilateral hand use to tear the tape away.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise vertical activities to ensure the child does not climb or lean heavily on the surface. Check that the masking tape used does not damage the wall or door finish upon removal.

Dinosaur Feet

The purpose of this activity is to promote visual motor skills and spatial awareness, as it pertains to directionality (i.e. above, below, to the right of, to the left of, etc.).

Preparation:

Step 1: Cut out colored paper into “dinosaur feet.”
Step 2: Arrange stickers on one dinosaur foot.
Step 3: Have your child imitate the exact pattern with stickers on the opposite foot.