Skill: Eye-Hand Coordination

The way the eyes guide the hands to do a task. This helps your child catch a ball, write on a line, or stack blocks without knocking them over.

The Balloon Body Bop

The Balloon Body Bop

Steps:

  • Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
  • Tap the balloon into the air to show your child how it floats.
  • Call out a body part like Hand and help them tap it.
  • Try a harder part like Knee or Head to keep the balloon up.
  • See how many times they can tap it before it hits the floor.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is always required when playing with balloons. Balloons and broken pieces are a serious choking hazard. Dispose of any popped pieces immediately to keep your child safe.

The Paper Plate Steering Wheel

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

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

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 Cardboard Ribbon Slider

The Cardboard Ribbon Slider

Steps:

  • Help your child cut a rectangular piece of cardboard about the size of a book.
  • Adult step: Use scissors to poke three narrow slots across the middle of the cardboard.
  • Make sure the slots are just wide enough for your ribbon to pass through.
  • Thread a long piece of ribbon through the first slot from the back to the front.
  • Guide the ribbon back through the second slot, and then out through the third.
  • Tie a small knot at each end of the ribbon so it cannot be pulled all the way out.
  • Use masking tape to secure the cardboard to the table if it slides too much.
  • Have your child use one hand to hold the cardboard and the other to pull the ribbon.
  • Encourage them to pull the ribbon back and forth through the slots until they finish.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using scissors or handling long pieces of ribbon.