Distal Finger Control

The Straw Rocket Blast

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a small rectangle of paper, about three inches wide.
Wrap the paper tightly around a pencil to form a neat tube.
Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the paper tube so it does not unroll.
Pinch one open end of the paper tube and fold it down tightly.
Use another piece of tape to seal this folded end completely to make the rocket nose.
Slide the open end of your paper rocket over the end of a straw.
Take a deep breath and blow hard through the straw to launch your rocket!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they use scissors. Ensure they do not run while holding the straws or pencils.

Yarn Ring Orbit Slider

Steps:

Use markers to draw a bright yellow sun in the very center of your paper plate.
Use the hole puncher to click four holes around the outer rim of the plate.
Use scissors to cut two pieces of yarn, each about twelve inches long.
Have your child slide three colorful beads onto each piece of yarn.
Push the ends of the yarn through the opposite holes to create two crossing tracks.
Secure the yarn ends firmly to the back of the paper plate using masking tape.
Ask your child to hold the plate steady on the table with their helper hand.
Use the pinching fingers of their other hand to slide the beads along the tracks from orbit to orbit!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely when they are handling scissors, small beads, or yarn. Store all small pieces safely out of reach after play to prevent any choking hazards.

The Finger Puppet Road Trip

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a small strip of construction paper, about two inches long.
Wrap the paper strip around your child’s index finger to make a cozy ring puppet.
Use your markers to draw a silly smiley face on the paper puppet ring.
Take a large piece of cardboard and draw a winding, curvy road across it.
Place several colorful stickers at different points along the curvy cardboard road.
Have your child hold the cardboard flat with their helper hand to keep it steady.
Slide the paper puppet onto your child’s index finger of their dominant hand.
Ask them to tuck their other three fingers and thumb tightly into their palm.
Challenge them to walk their puppet along the road, stopping to press each sticker!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they are using scissors to cut the paper strip. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges to prevent any minor scrapes.

The Cardboard Compass Navigator

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a large square out of cardboard for your map base.
Draw a colorful landscape with markers including a river and a forest.
Glue a craft stick at each edge of the board and label them North, South, East, and West.
Use a pencil to poke a tiny hole right in the center of your map.
Thread a piece of string through one button and then through the hole in the cardboard.
Tie a thick knot on the back of the board so the button stays attached.
Ask your child to rest their palm on the cardboard without lifting it.
They must use their thumb and index finger to slide the button to different targets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or small buttons.

The Shimmering Mosaic Lid Garden

Steps:

Place the plastic container on a flat table.
Use markers to draw grass and flower stems on the sides of the container.
Put long strips of masking tape across the lid with the sticky side facing up.
Secure the edges of the tape so it stays on the lid.
Have your child pick up one sequin using their thumb and pointer finger.
Press the sequin onto the sticky tape to make a flower on top of the stem.
Continue until the garden on the lid is full of colorful sequin flowers.

Safety Tip:
Sequins are very small and can be a choking hazard, so please supervise your child closely during play.