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.

Resistant Foam Pin Push

Resistant Foam Pin Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use a marker to draw several guide dots onto the foam sheet. Use masking tape to secure the foam tightly onto the sturdy cardboard base.
  • Help your child bend or roll several pipe cleaners until they are stiff, short pieces. These are your ‘resistant pins.’
  • Ask your child to hold the cardboard base firmly steady on the table using their non-dominant (helper) hand.
  • Pick up a resistant pin using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Aim the tip of the pin at a marked dot. Use a controlled, strong push to drive the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the dense foam and into the cardboard base.
  • Repeat this forceful pushing action until all the marked dots have been successfully filled with colorful pins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Cardboard Stick Weave Challenge

Steps:

  • Decorate a piece of sturdy cardboard using markers. Draw many small dots or shapes across the surface to mark your targets.
  • Hold the cardboard firmly steady with your helper hand. Use the hole puncher to punch a hole onto every marked dot. Squeezing the puncher requires strong effort!
  • Pick up one craft stick. Hold the cardboard steady with one hand.
  • Aim the tip of the craft stick at one of the newly punched holes. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the stick all the way through the resistant hole.
  • Continue weaving the craft stick in and out of different holes to create a fun pattern. Fill the entire cardboard piece with colorful sticks.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the child uses the hole puncher safely, keeping fingers clear of the mechanism. Check craft sticks for splintering before use.

Felt Pocket Clip Drop

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut a piece of felt that covers the container opening. Cut 6 to 8 very tight, narrow vertical slits into the felt.
  • Secure the felt tightly over the container opening using masking tape around the rim. The felt should be firm.
  • Place the pom-poms in a bowl. Practice squeezing a clothespin open using a strong two-finger pinch.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one pom-pom by securing it gently inside the open clothespin.
  • Hold the container firmly steady with their non-dominant hand. This stabilizes the base.
  • Aim the clothespin and pom-pom at a narrow felt slit. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the pom-pom completely into the pocket.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Sticky Sludge Squeeze

Sticky Sludge Squeeze

Steps:

  • Mix about half a cup of oats with a small amount of water in the plastic container. Stir until you have a thick, resistant, soupy mixture (the ‘sludge’).
  • Secure the construction paper vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape. This is your target canvas.
  • Tear off several small pieces of masking tape. Place them on the paper, sticky side facing OUT, to create a simple shape or path.
  • Hold the eyedropper using your thumb and pointer finger. Squeeze the bulb hard to draw up the resistant oat sludge.
  • Stabilize the paper with your helper hand. Aim the dropper at the sticky tape targets.
  • Squeeze the dropper forcefully to release the thick sludge onto the sticky tape. Continue this until all the sticky spots are covered.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the child only uses the mixture and eyedropper as intended. Oats pose a potential choking hazard if ingested.

Foam Slot Tongs

Foam Slot Tongs

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use markers to draw one narrow, horizontal slit (about 2 inches long) onto the container lid. Carefully cut the slit using scissors. Secure the lid shut with masking tape.
  • Use scissors to cut the foam sheets into many small, 1-inch squares. Drop the cut squares into the small container.
  • Place the target container flat on the table. Encourage your child to hold the container firmly with their helper hand to stabilize it.
  • Pick up the tongs. Use the tongs to grab one foam square using a strong pincer grip.
  • Carefully aim the foam piece toward the narrow slot. Push the foam piece completely through the slot and drop it inside the container.
  • Continue transferring all the foam pieces into the slot until the small container is empty.

Safety Tip:
Since this activity involves small foam pieces and the use of scissors during preparation, constant, direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of foam are a choking hazard for children under five.