Fine Motor Control - Page 28 of 73

Sticky Twig Nest Builder

Steps:

Wrap a piece of masking tape around the end of a small branch with the sticky side facing out.
Spread colorful feathers, yarn, and small pieces of construction paper on a table.
Help your child hold the branch firmly at the clean end.
Ask them to press the sticky end down onto the items to pick them up.
Once the twig is covered, they must use their fingers to peel the items off.
Place the rescued items into a plastic container to build a soft bird nest.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they handle small twigs or branches to prevent any pokes or scratches. Ensure the yarn pieces are short to avoid any tangling.

Beaded Joint Dancer

Steps:

Draw a person or animal on construction paper with markers.
Cut out the head, body, and limbs as separate pieces.
Use a hole puncher to make a hole at each limb joint.
Punch matching holes on the shoulders and hips of the body.
Thread a piece of yarn through the holes to join pieces.
Tie the yarn loosely so the dancer can move its limbs.
Slide beads onto the yarn ends to add color and weight.
Use masking tape to hang your dancer on a door.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they use a hole puncher to prevent finger pinches. Keep small beads away from younger siblings to avoid choking.

The Masking Tape Web Rescue

Steps:

Place a small stuffed animal inside a plastic basket.
Stretch several long strips of masking tape across the top of the basket in a web pattern.
Make sure the tape is pulled tight so it stays in place during the rescue.
Hand your child the safety scissors and show them where to start cutting the web.
Challenge them to cut through every tape strip until the opening is clear for the toy.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors to ensure they stay safe. Ensure the basket is stable to prevent slipping.

Foil Gem Treasure Rescue

Steps:

Help your child cut small squares of aluminum foil using safety scissors.
Wrap one bead inside each piece of foil to make a treasure gem.
Squeeze the foil tightly so the bead is hidden.
Place each foil gem into a separate slot in the ice cube tray.
Give your child the tweezers to hold with their dominant hand.
Ask them to move the gems into the aluminum foil pan.
Once moved, use both hands to unwrap the foil and find the beads.

Safety Tip:
Beads and small foil pieces are choking hazards. Always supervise your child closely during this activity. Ensure all beads are collected after play.

The Paper Plate Ring Toss

Steps:

Help your child use the scissors to cut the center out of four paper plates to make rings.
Tape a paper roll vertically onto the center of a sturdy piece of cardboard to create a post.
Use markers to decorate the rings and the post with bright colors.
Place the target on the floor and mark a starting line with masking tape a few feet away.
Ask your child to stand behind the line and try to toss the rings onto the post.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required while using scissors. Ensure the play area is clear of toys to prevent tripping.