Bilateral Hand Use - Page 25 of 93

The Paper Plate Steering Wheel

Steps:

Draw a colorful dashboard and buttons on your paper plate with markers.
Apply a large dab of glue to the center of the plate’s back.
Press the cap of an empty plastic bottle firmly into the glue.
Allow the glue to dry completely so the wheel stays attached to the handle.
Place several blocks in a zigzag line on the floor to make a path.
Ask your child to hold the bottle and ‘drive’ through the block maze!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they use the materials safely and do not put small blocks in their mouth.

The Paper Plate Pulley

Steps:

Use the hole puncher to make one hole in the middle of your paper plate.
Tape the paper plate to the top of a stable door frame using masking tape.
Thread your string through the hole you made in the plate.
Use the hole puncher to make two small holes near the rim of your paper cup.
Tie one end of the string through the holes in the cup to make a handle.
Fill the cup with a handful of beans to act as cargo.
Stand below the plate and pull the loose end of the string to lift the cup.
Try to lower the cup slowly to the floor without letting it drop or crash!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using long pieces of string to prevent a strangulation hazard.

The Styrofoam Star Map

Steps:

Grab a flat block of Styrofoam and set it on the table.
Use a marker to draw 8 small dots across the foam.
Ask your child to pick up a golf ball tee using their pinching fingers.
Have them push the pointy end of the tee straight into a dot.
Repeat this until all the stars have a pillar standing up.
Now, place a single bead on top of each golf ball tee.
Ask them to move slowly so the beads stay on the pillars.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees have pointed ends and beads are a choking hazard. Keep these materials away from small children and pets.

The Tape Rescue Mission

Steps:

Cut several small strips of masking tape.
Press one strip gently onto your child’s knee.
Ask your child to find the tape on their body.
Encourage them to peel the tape off using their fingers.
Try placing tape on their elbow, foot, or hand next.
Cheer for them as they name each body part!

Safety Tip:
Choking Hazard. This activity involves masking tape which can be torn into small pieces. Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put tape in their mouth.

The Fuzzy Button Link

Steps:

Select several colorful pipe cleaners and a handful of large buttons.
Show your child how to thread a pipe cleaner through a button hole.
Ask them to pull it halfway and twist the end to secure it.
Have them thread the other end through a hole in another button.
Continue connecting buttons with pipe cleaners to form a long link chain.
Challenge your child to see how many links they can add to the chain!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play as buttons and pipe cleaners can be a choking hazard.