The Wet Tissue Mosaic

The Wet Tissue Mosaic

Steps:

  • Help your child tear tissue paper into small bits.
  • Fill the squirt bottle with a little water.
  • Let your child spray the dry erase board.
  • Ask them to press the paper bits onto the wet board.
  • Watch as the paper stays in place!
  • Try to cover the whole board with different colors.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses small pieces of paper. Always supervise your child. Ensure they do not put paper in their mouth.

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Steps:

  • Stand your branch inside the container using a large lump of playdough.
  • Encourage your child to tear strips of tissue paper with both hands.
  • Ask them to crumple the paper into small balls using only their fingertips.
  • Have your child pick up a clothespin and squeeze it open.
  • They must trap a tissue paper leaf inside the clothespin.
  • Challenge them to clip the leaf onto a twig on the branch.
  • Continue until the branch is full of colorful tissue paper leaves!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper and playdough can be a choking hazard. Watch for sharp twigs on the branches.

Tissue Paper Rope Art

Tissue Paper Rope Art

Steps:

  • Use both hands to tear the tissue paper into long strips (about 1 inch wide). Place the finished strips in the plastic container.
  • Take one strip. Hold one end steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to twist the paper tightly. Turn it into a stiff, resistant rope.
  • Use a marker to draw a simple shape or a winding path onto the construction paper base.
  • Squeeze the glue bottle to trace a thick line of glue over the marker path.
  • Carefully press the twisted paper rope onto the wet glue line. Continue twisting and gluing until the entire path is filled with the colorful rope.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper, if crumbled tightly, can be a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Mummy Hand Wrap

Mummy Hand Wrap

Steps:

  • Prep several sheets of tissue paper and show your child how to tear it into long, ribbon-like strips. Tearing is a great workout for the small hand muscles!
  • Help your child secure the end of one tissue paper strip onto the stuffed animal’s leg or arm using a small piece of masking tape.
  • Challenge them to use two hands to carefully wrap the ‘mummy bandage’ all the way around the stuffed animal until it is fully covered (or mummified!).
  • When the toy is wrapped, secure the final end with another piece of tape, then enjoy the fun process of unwrapping and tearing off the bandages!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during tearing activities to ensure paper is not put into the mouth. Keep the play area tidy, as tissue paper can become a slipping hazard if left scattered on the floor.

Tissue Tear Treasures

Tissue Tear Treasures

Steps:

  • Help your child draw a large, simple shape (like a star, a big letter, or a cloud) onto the construction paper. This will be the canvas for the ‘treasure’ art.
  • Present the tissue paper. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the tissue paper into small strips or pieces. Focus on using the thumb and index finger to initiate the tear.
  • Show the child how to crumple those small pieces into tiny, tight balls (treasures!). This step heavily promotes strong intrinsic muscles and a precise pincer grasp.
  • Apply glue along the lines of the drawn shape. Encourage the child to pick up the crumpled tissue balls and press them onto the glue, filling in the shape until the ‘treasure’ collage is complete.

Safety Tip:
Supervise closely during this activity. Ensure the child uses glue appropriately (dot, not a large glob). Because this activity involves very small pieces of paper, teach the child to keep them on the table, not near the mouth.