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.

Balloon Tap and Cup Sort

Balloon Tap and Cup Sort

Steps:

  • Blow up a balloon and tie it tightly.
  • Place a basket on the carpet filled with five paper cups.
  • Set a second empty basket a short distance away.
  • Ask your child to tap the balloon into the air with their right hand.
  • While it is in the air, they must use their left hand to move one cup.
  • See how many cups they can move before the balloon hits the floor!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required because balloons and their broken pieces are a serious choking hazard for young children.

The Egg Carton Bridge Weaver

The Egg Carton Bridge Weaver

Steps:

  • Flip your empty egg carton upside down on the table.
  • Use your markers to draw small dots on the very top of each egg cup.
  • Adult step: Use scissors to poke a small, narrow hole through each marker dot.
  • Give your child a pipe cleaner and ask them to push one end into a hole.
  • Encourage them to bend the pipe cleaner over to a different egg cup.
  • Have them push the other end into a second hole to make a bridge.
  • Continue adding pipe cleaners to create a crisscross web over the peaks.
  • Challenge them to see how many colorful bridges they can build without any collapsing!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or pipe cleaners to avoid pokes.

The Coffee Filter Magic Flower

The Coffee Filter Magic Flower

Steps:

  • Set out a few white coffee filters on a tray or plastic container.
  • Show your child how to fold the coffee filter in half, then in half again.
  • Mix a few drops of food coloring into small cups of water.
  • Have your child squeeze the eyedropper to soak up the colorful water.
  • Encourage them to carefully drop the water onto the folded edges of the filter.
  • Slowly unfold the wet filter to see a beautiful, colorful pattern.
  • Let the filters dry to create magic flowers or window art!

Safety Tip:
Food coloring can stain clothes and surfaces. Use a tray to keep the water contained. Always supervise your child when using the eyedropper and water.

The Tilted Straw Maze

The Tilted Straw Maze

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a start and finish line on a paper plate.
  • Cut colorful straws into several small pieces using your scissors.
  • Glue the straw pieces onto the plate to build maze walls.
  • Leave enough space between the straws for a marble to roll.
  • Place a marble at the start line once the glue is dry.
  • Hold the plate with both hands and tilt it to move the marble.
  • Try to reach the finish line without the marble falling off!

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise children during play and keep all small materials away from younger siblings.

The Silver Pan Web Weaver

The Silver Pan Web Weaver

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw ten dots around the rim of the pan.
  • Use a pencil to poke a hole through each dot.
  • Tie one end of the yarn to the first hole.
  • Thread the yarn across the pan to another hole.
  • Continue until the silver web is finished!

Safety Tip:
Poking holes with a pencil requires steady hands. Always supervise your child to prevent any pokes to the skin.