Body Awareness - Page 5 of 9

The Paper Plate Balancing Act

Steps:

Place a paper plate on top of your child’s head.
Encourage them to stand still and find their balance.
Carefully set one paper cup on the center of the plate.
Ask your child to walk slowly across the room.
Challenge them to reach a target like a couch or chair.
Once they are steady, add a second cup to the stack!
See how many cups they can balance before the stack wobbles off.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the walking path is clear of toys or rugs that could cause a trip.

The Rainbow Hand Weaver

Steps:

Trace your child’s hand onto a sturdy piece of cardboard using a marker.
Use a hole puncher to make one hole at the tip of each finger and one at the wrist.
Tie a long piece of colorful yarn to the hole at the wrist.
Show your child how to thread the yarn through the thumb hole first.
Encourage them to weave the yarn back to the wrist and then up to the next finger.
Continue until every finger is connected to the wrist with a beautiful yarn bridge.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using a hole puncher or handling long pieces of yarn.

The Over-Head Balloon Drop

Steps:

Place a soft pillow on the floor for your child to lie on.
Set a large basket about a foot behind your child’s head.
Ask your child to lie on their back and squeeze a balloon between their ankles while holding the pillow sides.
Encourage them to lift their legs up and over their head.
The goal is to drop the balloon into the basket without using their hands!
Try it again and see how many times they can score in a row.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the area behind the child’s head is clear of hard furniture or sharp edges.

The Textured Cardboard Path

Steps:

Help your child cut several long strips of cardboard to make the path.
Use masking tape to secure the strips to the floor in a straight line.
Glue small pieces of soft sponge and rough yarn along the path.
Ask your child to take off their shoes and socks.
Have them walk slowly while keeping their feet inside the cardboard edges.
Encourage them to describe how each section feels as they step on it!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to prevent slips or falls while they walk on the textured path. Make sure the cardboard is taped down firmly to the floor.

The Sticky Landing Fan

Steps:

Place three long strips of masking tape on the floor, sticky side up.
Set a colorful feather on the floor about two feet away from the tape.
Give your child a paper plate to hold with both hands.
Show them how to wave the plate up and down to create wind.
Help them fan the feather toward the sticky tape landing pad.
Watch as the feather flies through the air and sticks to the tape!
Ask your child to use their fingers to peel the feather off and start again.

Safety Tip:
Choking Hazard. Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put feathers or masking tape in their mouth.