Executive Functioning

The Silver Trap Button Rescue

Steps:

Place a handful of colorful buttons at the bottom of a small bowl.
Tear a sheet of aluminum foil large enough to cover the bowl.
Wrap the foil tightly over the top of the bowl.
Use masking tape around the edges to keep the foil secure.
Use a pencil to poke five small holes in the foil.
Give your child a pair of tweezers to hold.
Ask them to hold the bowl steady with their helper hand.
Challenge them to fish the buttons out through the small holes!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons and tweezers can be a choking hazard. Keep all materials away from the mouth.

The Tilted Button Slider

Steps:

Use your markers to draw a winding path on a flat piece of cardboard.
An adult should use scissors to cut a narrow slot along the entire path.
Ensure the slot is wide enough for a button to slide but not fall through.
Place a single large button on the board at the starting line.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant helper hand.
Have them use their dominant index finger to slide the button along the track.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play as buttons are a significant choking hazard.

Balloon Blast Ping Pong Path

Steps:

Cut several long strips of cardboard and bend them into U-shaped arches.
Use masking tape to stick these arches onto a flat table to make a tunnel path.
Place a ping pong ball at the very beginning of the path.
Blow up a bright balloon but do not tie the end shut.
Pinch the balloon neck tightly with your fingers to keep the air inside.
Hold the balloon behind the ball and point the opening at it.
Slowly let go of the pinch to release a blast of air.
Try to blow the ball through every single cardboard arch to the finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are playing with balloons. If a balloon pops, pick up and throw away the broken pieces immediately. These can be a choking hazard.

The Cardboard Box Pinball Goal

Steps:

Open the shoe box and remove the lid to create your play arena.
Cut small strips of cardboard from the lid to make bumpers.
Tape the bumpers inside the box at different angles using masking tape.
Cut a paper straw into three pieces and tape them down as obstacles.
Use your markers to draw point values like 10 or 50 on the bumpers.
Hold the box with both hands and place the ping pong ball inside.
Tilt the box slowly to roll the ball and hit every bumper target!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors. Ensure the box edges are smooth to prevent any small scratches during play.

The Button Logic Grid

Steps:

Use a marker to draw a three-by-three grid on the cardboard.
Collect nine buttons in three different colors from your container.
You will need three red, three blue, and three yellow ones.
Explain that each color only goes once in every row.
Each color also only goes once in every column.
Place one button in a corner to start the game.
Ask your child to place the rest of the buttons.
Encourage them to check their work for any double colors.
Check the final work together to see if it is correct!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Buttons are a choking hazard for younger siblings.