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The Gravity Trap Challenge

Step 1: Set the Foundation. Have your child build a medium-sized tower (about 10-15 blocks tall) on a sturdy surface. This foundation needs to be stable enough to handle tension.

Step 2: Create the Lever. Place an index card onto one of the upper layers of the tower, allowing a small portion of the card to hang slightly over the edge. This will be the unstable platform.

Step 3: Tie the Trap. Guide your child to tie a long piece of string to a block at the very base of the structure. Then, loop the string up and over the edge of the index card ‘lever’ created in Step 2.

Step 4: Place the Keystone. Identify one specific ‘keystone’ block and balance it precariously on the index card, positioned directly over the string loop. This is the block that must fall first.

Step 5: Execute the Plan! Have your child move several feet away, holding the free end of the string. The goal is to apply tension or a quick, smooth pull on the string to dislodge the keystone block, initiating a chain-reaction collapse of the entire tower. They must judge the exact force needed for success!

Step 6: Assess and Adjust. Discuss what worked and what didn’t. Did the tower fall as planned? If not, sequence the steps again and troubleshoot the structure or the tension.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the activity area is clear of trip hazards. Supervise closely when children are handling string to prevent accidental wrapping around the neck or fingers.

Foil Comet Toss

Steps:

Tear a piece of aluminum foil off the roll. Use strong, bilateral hand movements to rip the resistant foil.
Use both hands and fingertips to crumple the foil into the smallest, tightest ball possible. This is your heavy ‘Comet.’
Repeat this process until you have 5 to 6 foil comets ready in your container.
The adult will use masking tape to hang the cardboard target from the ceiling or a doorway. Ensure it swings freely at the child’s chest level.
Challenge your child to stand still. Use the non-dominant hand to gently tap the cardboard, making it swing slowly.
Throw the foil comets one by one at the moving target. Practice grading the force of the throw to hit the center of the swinging target.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the aluminum foil is crumpled very tightly to eliminate any sharp, exposed edges. Supervise closely during throwing to ensure the child aims away from faces or breakable objects.

Flying Unicorn

Step 1: Cut out a picture of a unicorn.

Step 2: Glue it on a paper plate.

Step 3: Hole punch around the edges of the plate.

Step 4: Lace string through each hole, and tie a knot to secure it in place.

Step 5: Option to curl the strings, add jewels, or color the unicorn for more fine motor opportunities.

Step 6: Watch the strands fly in the air as you spin & wave it around! Enjoy!

DIY Abacus Counting Frame (Rack Rack)

This activity provides many benefits while creating the abacus and while playing with the finished product.

To create the abacus:

Use 2 toilet paper rolls or cut a paper towel roll in half.

Use the pencil to mark and puncture equal height dots on each paper roll. The pipe cleaners will be attached there.

Cut the pipe cleaners to be equal length. Each one should be about 6 inches in length.

Insert one side of the pipe cleaner to the top hole on the paper roll.

Put 10 beads on the 1st pipe cleaner, and repeat these last 2 steps until you put all the pipe cleaners in the holes, and string all the pipe cleaners.

Insert the other end of the pipe cleaner into the 2nd paper roll.

Let your child be a part of putting this together to promote pincer grasp, bilateral hand use, and eye-hand coordination.

Don’t have pipe cleaners? Use a string instead.

Don’t have beads? Use Cheerios or buttons.

While playing with the abacus, the child gets to practice these skills as well.

Construction Paper Guitar

Using a large piece of cardboard or construction paper, draw the shape of the guitar’s body. If the child is able to draw it by himself, allow him to do so. Otherwise, let the child trace your drawing, using a thick marker.

Ask the child to cut out the shape, following the lines. Depending on the child’s skill level, make the line thicker, and provide support as needed. Once the child cuts out the guitar’s shape out, ask him to draw or trace a circle in the middle of the guitar’s body. You can use a round object to help with drawing an accurate shape.

Instruct the child to cut out the circle, providing support as needed.

Using a single hole puncher, carefully have the child punch three holes on either side of the circle he just cut. Using 3 rubber bands, ask the child to cut through them so they are now one long string.

Instruct the child to thread each rubber band across 2 parallel holes, and tie on each end. Provide support as needed for tying the rubbers in place.

Using another piece of cardboard or construction paper, ask the child to draw or trace a rectangle. Instruct the child to cut it out, and use the glue and tape to attach it to the top part of the guitar’s body. To make the guitar look more life like, ask the child to draw lines continuing from the bands up the stem of the guitar.