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.

Foil Maze Marble Glide

Foil Maze Marble Glide

Steps:

  • Lay out the aluminum foil pan on a flat table.
  • Take three pipe cleaners and bend them into curvy, wavy lines.
  • Use masking tape to secure the pipe cleaners inside the pan as walls.
  • Place a marble at one end of the winding path.
  • Use a pointer finger to gently push the marble through the maze.
  • Try to keep the marble inside the pipe cleaner borders the whole time.
  • When you finish, tilt the pan to roll the marble back to the start.

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all marbles are collected and stored out of reach after the activity.

Baking Cup Coin Balance

Baking Cup Coin Balance

Steps:

  • Fill the Aluminium Foil Pan halfway with clear water.
  • Place one Baking Cup carefully onto the water surface.
  • Use a pincer grasp to pick up one coin.
  • Gently drop the coin into the center of the cup.
  • Continue adding coins to see how many it carries.
  • Try to keep the cup from tipping or sinking.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Coins are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected after play.

Putty Cord Threading Art

Putty Cord Threading Art

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw several small target dots randomly across the cardboard surface. Keep the cardboard stable with your helper hand.
  • Squeeze the hole puncher forcefully onto each marker dot. Punch 6 to 8 holes across the cardboard to create your weaving board.
  • Take a large lump of Theraputty. Use strong effort to roll the putty tightly into long, stiff, spaghetti-like cords.
  • Pick up one stiff putty cord. Hold the cardboard firmly steady with your non-dominant hand.
  • Challenge your child to use the stiff cord like a needle. Push the cord straight through one of the narrow punched holes. Pull it all the way through.
  • Continue threading and pushing the putty cords through the holes to create a colorful, textured design.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Theraputty/Playdough is a dense material and poses a choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Spiral Twist Core Threading

Spiral Twist Core Threading

Steps:

  • Adult Step: Secure the paper roll horizontally onto the cardboard base using strong masking tape. This creates a stable ‘dowel’ for twisting.
  • Use the markers to draw colorful stripes or dots onto several index cards. Cut the decorated cards into long, narrow strips (about 1/2 inch wide).
  • Take one paper strip. Use your fingertips to curl and twist the strip tightly around itself to create a stiff, narrow spiral shape.
  • Secure the end of the paper spiral with a small amount of glue to keep the resistant shape from unrolling. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make a pile of colorful spirals.
  • Hold the cardboard base firmly steady with your non-dominant hand. Pick up a paper spiral with your working hand.
  • Aim the spiral at the paper roll. Use a continuous twisting motion (like screwing in a lightbulb) to thread the spiral onto the roll, pushing it along the core.
  • Continue twisting and pushing the colorful spirals until the entire paper roll is covered in dense, textured art. Then, try unwinding them!

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Adults should manage the scissors for preparation. Ensure the child remains seated stably to focus on the fine motor movements and to prevent the board from tipping.

Felt Piercing Garden Push

Felt Piercing Garden Push

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw 5 to 7 small target dots randomly across the center of the felt piece.
  • Cut the felt into a square shape. Use masking tape to secure the felt tightly over the container opening, making sure the fabric is taut and resistant.
  • Ask your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand on the table to prevent tipping.
  • Pick up one craft stick. Grip it with a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Aim the stick at a marked target dot. Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the stick straight through the resistant felt.
  • Repeat this powerful pushing action until all the marked dots are filled with sticks, completing your ‘felt garden’.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child pushes the craft sticks into the container and away from their face and body. The stabilizing hand should always be placed on the container base.