Skill: Fine Motor Control

Using the small muscles in the hands and wrists to make precise movements. This is the foundation for almost all school tasks, like drawing, writing, and using tools.

The Shaving Cream Marble Maze

The Shaving Cream Marble Maze

Steps:

  • Fill a Ziplock bag with shaving cream and a little food coloring.
  • Seal the bag and squish it to mix the color.
  • Place a marble inside the bag and seal it again.
  • Use a marker to draw a winding path on the bag.
  • Tape the bag flat to the table with masking tape.
  • Use your index finger to push the marble along the path.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Ensure the Ziplock bag is sealed tightly to avoid leaks.

The Sticky Plate Ball Maze

The Sticky Plate Ball Maze

Steps:

  • Place your paper plate on a flat table.
  • Cut three short pieces of yarn using your scissors.
  • Lay the yarn across the plate to make a winding path.
  • Use small pieces of masking tape to hold the yarn down.
  • Place extra strips of tape across the plate with the sticky side facing up.
  • Put the ping pong ball at the start of the path.
  • Give your child a spoon to hold.
  • Ask them to push the ball along the path without touching the sticky tape.
  • Challenge them to get to the finish line!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put the ping pong ball or masking tape in their mouth.

The Tiny Pom-Pom Tree Grove

The Tiny Pom-Pom Tree Grove

Steps:

  • Use a pair of scissors to cut small, three-inch circles from your cardboard pieces.
  • Have your child use the hole puncher to click a single hole right in the center of every circle.
  • Slide one pipe cleaner through the hole and twist the bottom so the tree stands up tall.
  • Bend the top of the pipe cleaner into several little branches that point in different directions.
  • Ask your child to pick up a colorful pom-pom using only their thumb and pointer finger.
  • Carefully set the pom-pom on a branch so it stays perfectly balanced without any glue.
  • Challenge them to see how many pom-poms they can add to their tiny forest!

Safety Tip:
Pom-poms are a choking hazard. Please supervise your child closely and ensure they do not put them in their mouth.

The Golf Tee Yarn Trail

The Golf Tee Yarn Trail

Steps:

  • Place a block of Styrofoam on a flat table.
  • Use markers to draw several small circles on the foam.
  • Pick up a golf ball tee using your pinching fingers.
  • Push the tee straight down into one of the circles.
  • Repeat this until every circle has its own mountain.
  • Tie the end of a long piece of yarn to the first tee.
  • Guide the yarn around the other tees to make a trail.
  • Pull the yarn tight to see your colorful design!

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees have sharp points. Please watch your child closely to keep them safe. Small items like tees and yarn can be a choking hazard.

Vertical Yarn Rescue Mission

Vertical Yarn Rescue Mission

Steps:

  • Tape a large piece of cardboard vertically onto a wall at your child’s shoulder height.
  • Place a small stuffed animal against the cardboard.
  • Crisscross long pieces of yarn over the toy to trap it against the board.
  • Use several strips of masking tape to secure the yarn ends to the cardboard edges.
  • Ask your child to stand in front of the board with their feet planted firmly.
  • Challenge them to rescue the toy by peeling the tape and unweaving the yarn.
  • Encourage them to use one hand to hold the toy and the other to pull the yarn.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using long pieces of yarn to prevent any risk of entanglement. Ensure the cardboard is taped securely so it does not fall.