Tongs - Page 2 of 7

The Tongs and Tower Reach

Steps:

Place a bucket on a sturdy table or chair.
Put three bean bags on the floor next to a step stool.
Have your child stand safely on the step stool.
Ask them to hold the tongs with their favorite hand.
Challenge them to reach down and grab a bean bag with the tongs.
They must carefully stand back up and drop the bean bag into the bucket.
Repeat until all the bean bags are rescued!

Safety Tip:
Always ensure the step stool is on a flat surface and place it near a wall or adult for extra support if needed.

Foamy Pan Treasure Search

Steps:

Fill the aluminium foil pan with a thick layer of shaving cream. Spread it out to cover the whole bottom.
Sprinkle a handful of colorful sequins all over the foam. Use your fingers to push them down so they are hidden.
Give your child the tongs and the empty plastic container.
Ask your child to use the tongs to search through the foam and find the hidden gems.
Once they find a sequin, they must pick it up and drop it into the plastic container.
See if they can find all the colors of the rainbow!

Safety Tip:
Shaving cream can be irritating to the eyes. Always supervise closely. Ensure your child does not place the shaving cream or sequins in their mouth. Wash hands thoroughly after play.

Putty Pancake Decorators

Steps:

Give your child a large chunk of Theraputty or stiff playdough. Encourage them to use both hands to squeeze, mash, and roll it into a thick ‘pancake’ on the paper plate. Press hard for heavy work!
Ask your child to hold the paper plate firmly steady with their helper hand to keep the ‘pancake’ from sliding.
Pick up the tweezers or tongs. Use a strong pincer grasp to grab one small bead at a time.
Carefully aim the bead. Push it firmly and precisely into the resistant putty surface to create a colorful design or pattern.
Repeat the process until the entire putty pancake is covered in decorative beads. Try using different colors or sizes of beads.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Beads and Theraputty/Playdough are small objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Sticky Sequin Tongs Pull

Steps:

Squeeze several small, thick dots of liquid glue onto a sturdy piece of cardboard.
Press one sequin firmly into the center of each wet glue dot. Let the glue set for 15 minutes until it is very tacky and resistant.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant (helper) hand to stabilize the base.
Use the tongs to firmly pinch one sequin. Encourage them to hold the tongs like a pencil.
Use a strong, controlled pull to peel the sticky dot completely off the cardboard surface.
Transfer the rescued sequin and drop it precisely into the empty container target. Repeat until all the dots are pulled free!

Safety Tip:
Sequins and small glue dots are tiny materials. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all small pieces are collected immediately after play, as they pose a choking hazard.

Paper Nugget Transfer Challenge

Steps:

Tear the construction paper into small strips using both hands together.
Use only your fingertips to crumple each strip tightly into a dense, hard paper ‘nugget.’ Squeeze hard for maximum strength input!
Place the finished nuggets on the table. Set the paper cup nearby as your target.
Hold the paper cup steady with your helper hand to keep it stable.
Pick up the tongs. Squeeze them open with a strong finger pinch to grab one paper nugget.
Carefully transfer the nugget and drop it precisely into the waiting paper cup target. Repeat until all nuggets are sorted.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The small, crumpled paper pieces pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are collected immediately after play.