Material: Tongs

The Confetti Cupcake Decorator

Boy using tongs to drop punched paper dots into paper baking cups glued to cardboard

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw three big circles on your cardboard.
  • Glue a baking cup onto each circle to make the cupcake base.
  • Have your child use the hole puncher on colorful paper to make dots.
  • Squeeze some glue into the bottom of each baking cup.
  • Ask your child to pick up the paper dots using the tongs.
  • Challenge them to drop the sprinkles into the cups to decorate the treats.
  • Use their helper hand to keep the cardboard steady while they work.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure safety. Small paper dots can be a choking hazard for younger children.

The Foil Pond Tongs Task

The Foil Pond Tongs Task

Steps:

  • Lay a sheet of cardboard on a flat table.
  • Draw four large blue circles on the cardboard with your markers.
  • Tear off four squares of aluminium foil using both hands together.
  • Crumple each foil square into a small, shallow bowl shape.
  • Place one foil bowl inside each blue circle on the cardboard.
  • Give your child a pair of tongs and a container of pom-poms.
  • Ask them to squeeze the tongs to pick up one pom-pom.
  • Carefully drop the pom-pom into a foil pond.
  • Challenge them to fill every pond without tipping the foil bowls over!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads and pom-poms can be a choking hazard.

Newspaper Log Tongs Balance

Girl using tongs to balance a pom-pom on top of a rolled newspaper log taped on a table

Steps:

  • Help your child roll a single sheet of newspaper into a tight, long log.
  • Use masking tape to secure the ends and the middle of the log so it stays firm.
  • Repeat this to make three logs and lay them parallel on a flat table.
  • Hand your child a pair of tongs and a basket of colorful pom-poms.
  • Challenge them to pick up one pom-pom and carefully set it on top of a newspaper log.
  • Continue until each log is covered in a row of fuzzy pom-poms!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Pom-poms are a choking hazard. Keep them away from mouths.

The Vertical Cloud Garden

Boy reaching up with tongs to drop a cotton ball into a paper cup taped to the wall

Steps:

  • Help your child pick four colorful paper cups for their wall garden.
  • Use your masking tape to stick the bottom of each cup to a wall.
  • Make sure the cups are at your child’s shoulder height to work those muscles.
  • Place a basket of soft cotton balls on the floor nearby.
  • Give your child the tongs and show them how to squeeze and pick up one ball.
  • Challenge them to reach up and drop the cotton ball into a cup!
  • Try using only their left hand for two cups and their right hand for the others.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put cotton balls in their mouth.

The Balloon Tongs Catch

The Balloon Tongs Catch

Steps:

  • Blow up a bright balloon and tie it securely.
  • Place an empty basket on the floor across the room.
  • Give your child a pair of sturdy tongs to hold.
  • Toss the balloon gently into the air for them.
  • Challenge your child to squeeze and catch the balloon using only the tongs.
  • Have them carry the balloon carefully and drop it into the basket.
  • If the balloon drops, they must start over from the beginning.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Discard any popped balloon pieces immediately to prevent a choking hazard.