Tongs - Page 3 of 7

Foil Grip & Transfer

Steps:

Pour water into a small bowl. Add a drop of food coloring to make it a fun color.
Drop the cotton balls into the colored water until they are fully soaked and heavy. Place the wet balls inside the Aluminium Foil Pan.
Hold the foil pan firmly steady with your helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Use the tongs to pick up one heavy, wet cotton ball at a time. Encourage your child to squeeze the tongs hard to grasp the slippery material.
Carefully lift the wet cotton ball and transfer it to the empty plastic container. Drop it inside the target.
Repeat this squeezing and transferring action until the foil pan is completely empty. Count how many successful transfers were made!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small cotton balls can be a choking hazard if ingested. Ensure the child only handles the materials with the tongs or fingers and keeps them away from their mouth.

Wet Sponge Kernel Rescue

Steps:

Pour water into the bowl. Drop the corn kernels onto the dry sponge. Soak the sponge fully in the water until it is heavy and saturated.
Use both hands to lift the sponge out of the bowl. Squeeze the sponge hard over the bowl, pressing out all the water and kernels. This is heavy work!
Once the sponge is damp (not dripping), place it flat on the table. The wet kernels should be sticking slightly to the surface.
Hold the sponge steady with your helper hand. Use the tongs to carefully pick up each wet corn kernel one by one.
Transfer the rescued kernels into the empty plastic container. Repeat the soaking and squeezing steps when the sponge gets too dry.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry corn kernels are small, hard objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Felt Maze Nut Grab

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw a simple maze or winding path onto the felt sheet.
Cut one small drop hole (slightly bigger than a nut) at the end of the maze. Secure the felt tightly over the container opening using masking tape.
Place the container on a stable table. Put the nuts next to the maze start point.
Use your non-dominant hand (the helper hand) to hold the container firmly steady.
Pick up the tongs using a strong pincer grasp. Squeeze the tongs open and gently grab one nut.
Carefully follow the path with the tongs. Press down firmly to maneuver the heavy nut through the resistant felt maze.
Once you reach the drop hole, let go of the nut and hear it clink into the box! Repeat until all the treasure is collected.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Nuts and bolts are very small, hard objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Foam Slot Tongs

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw one narrow, horizontal slit (about 2 inches long) onto the container lid. Carefully cut the slit using scissors. Secure the lid shut with masking tape.
Use scissors to cut the foam sheets into many small, 1-inch squares. Drop the cut squares into the small container.
Place the target container flat on the table. Encourage your child to hold the container firmly with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Pick up the tongs. Use the tongs to grab one foam square using a strong pincer grip.
Carefully aim the foam piece toward the narrow slot. Push the foam piece completely through the slot and drop it inside the container.
Continue transferring all the foam pieces into the slot until the small container is empty.

Safety Tip:
Since this activity involves small foam pieces and the use of scissors during preparation, constant, direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of foam are a choking hazard for children under five.

Sticky Bean Rescue

Steps:

Take a handful of Theraputty and hide the dry beans deep inside it. Mash the putty into a firm ball.
Press the putty firmly into the bottom of the plastic container. This keeps the sticky base steady for the rescue mission.
Pick up the tongs. Use them to carefully grip one bean at a time and pull it straight out of the sticky putty.
Transfer the rescued beans into a separate pile on the table. Count how many beans you saved!
If a bean is too deep or stubborn, use a craft stick to gently loosen it from the putty before trying again with the tongs.

Safety Tip:
Beans and Theraputty are small objects. Maintain constant adult supervision during this activity, as these materials pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child washes hands after using the putty.