Theraputty - Page 2 of 2

Cactus Needle Push

Steps:

Press the Theraputty firmly into the bottom of the container. This creates a stable, resistant ‘desert floor’ for your cactus garden.
Break the dry spaghetti into short, 2-inch pieces. Breaking the spaghetti gives the hands extra feedback and motor planning practice.
Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to pick up one spaghetti piece (a ‘needle’).
Push the needle straight down into the putty. Encourage a strong, controlled push to insert it without breaking it.
Plant many needles close together to make a spiky cactus texture. Fill the entire putty surface!
Select a small pom-pom using your precise pincer grasp. Carefully place the pom-pom onto the top of a spaghetti needle to create a colorful ‘cactus flower’.

Safety Tip:
Spaghetti pieces are sharp when broken. Always supervise closely. Uncooked spaghetti, small pom-poms, and putty are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Vertical Garden Push

Steps:

Set up the ‘garden’ by turning the bucket upside down on the floor or table. Take a large handful of Theraputty (or stiff playdough) and press it firmly onto the side of the bucket, making a thick, stable ‘garden bed.’
Show your child how to hold the craft stick using a three-finger grasp (or whatever grip is most comfortable). Explain that they need to ‘plant’ the sticks so they stand up tall.
Encourage your child to press the craft stick deeply into the putty with enough force to make it stick. Remind them to keep their elbow close to their side and push from the shoulder, keeping the wrist stable and slightly extended (bent backward) as they press.
Challenge them to fill the entire putty patch with as many colorful craft sticks as they can ‘plant’! To increase the challenge, use a smaller patch of putty to encourage more precision.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children closely during fine motor activities. Ensure the bucket is stable and will not slide or tip over when the child applies pushing force. Encourage standing or kneeling rather than reaching across the body to promote better posture.

Birthday Cake

1. Prep the Cake Dough Start by having your child “knead” the dough. Encourage them to use both hands to squash, roll, and flatten the play-dough into a thick cake shape. If you have a rolling pin, this is a great time to use it. Pressing down firmly provides calming sensory input to the joints and helps build the hand strength needed for tasks like opening containers or using scissors.

2. Decorate the Cake Once the cake is “baked” (flattened and shaped), it is time to decorate.

The Candles: Have your child push the cut straws into the dough. This requires a nice “pincer grasp” (using the thumb and index finger) and a bit of focus to get them standing upright.
The Sprinkles: Use the rice or sequins to decorate. Picking up these tiny items is excellent for developing precision and coordination.

3. The Birthday Celebration Take a moment to sing a favorite song and let your child “blow out” the candles. This adds a sweet social element to the activity and makes the hard work feel like a game.

4. The Straw Cleanup Challenge After the celebration, have your child pull the straws out. You will notice that some play-dough often gets stuck inside the straw. Give your child an unbent paper clip or a pipe cleaner and show them how to poke the “cake” out from the other end. This is a very focused fine motor task that requires steady hands and patience.

5. Cut and Serve If your child is working on using a knife and fork, use this time to practice. Have them hold the “cake” still with one hand (or a fork) while they use a plastic knife to cut slices. They can then practice the social steps of placing a slice on a plate and “serving” it to you or a favorite stuffed animal.

Why This Helps

This activity covers a lot of ground in one sitting. The initial rolling and squishing provide heavy work that can be very grounding for children. The decorating and straw-cleaning phases focus on fine motor control, while the cutting and serving portion builds independence with utensils and encourages imaginative social play.