Bilateral Hand Use - Page 14 of 93

Zigzag Cardboard Explorer

Steps:

Use a marker to draw a wide zigzag line across your flat cardboard.
Adult: Carefully cut along this line using your scissors to create a narrow slot.
Tape the ends of the cardboard to two small boxes so the board is raised.
Fold an index card in half and draw a little person on the top part.
Slide the bottom half of the index card into the cardboard slot.
Hold the board with your helper hand to keep it steady.
Use your other hand to slide the character from one end to the other!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are playing with scissors or small cardboard pieces.

Baking Cup Tightrope Balance

Steps:

Place two large, heavy boxes about two feet apart on the floor.
Use masking tape to secure a long piece of yarn between the two boxes.
Make sure the yarn is very taut and about six inches off the ground.
Give your child a stack of colorful paper baking cups.
Show them how to turn a cup upside down and rest the center on the yarn.
Challenge them to place five cups in a row without any of them tipping over!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure the yarn is used safely and boxes are stable.

The Supine Tape Rescue

Steps:

Place two sturdy boxes about two feet apart on a carpeted floor.
Stretch several long strips of masking tape between the boxes with the sticky side facing down toward the floor.
Press lightweight treasures like ribbons, feathers, and paper clips onto the sticky tape bridge.
Ask your child to lie on their back on the floor between the two boxes, looking up at the tape.
Encourage them to reach up with one hand to peel a treasure off the tape.
Challenge them to use their other hand to hold a basket as they rescue all the treasures!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put any small items like paper clips in their mouth.

The Silver Foil Starry Night

Steps:

Place a piece of flat cardboard inside the bottom of an aluminium foil pan.
Secure the cardboard with masking tape so it stays firmly in place.
Flip the pan over so the bottom is facing up toward your child.
Hand your child a golf ball tee and show them how to hold it like a pencil.
Encourage them to poke the tee through the foil to create small ‘stars’ across the pan.
Challenge them to poke holes to form a simple shape like a circle or a square!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using golf ball tees. They have pointed ends and should be handled with care. Ensure your child remains seated during the activity to prevent accidents.

The Newspaper Crane Challenge

Steps:

Help your child roll a large sheet of newspaper into a tight, long rod.
Use several pieces of masking tape to keep the paper rod from unrolling.
Tape a small box firmly to one end of the long newspaper rod.
Scatter several small blocks on the floor in front of your child.
Ask your child to hold the handle end of the rod with both hands.
Challenge them to reach out and use the box to scoop up one block.
Have them lift the block and carry it to a target box on the floor.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the play area is clear of sharp furniture while your child moves the long rod.