Fine Motor Control - Page 32 of 86

The Craft Stick Picture Puzzle

Steps:

Line up five or six craft sticks side-by-side on a flat table.
Place a long strip of masking tape across the back to hold them together.
Flip the sticks over so the tape is on the bottom.
Ask your child to draw a simple picture across all the sticks using markers.
Carefully peel the masking tape off the back.
Mix up the craft sticks so the picture is out of order.
Challenge your child to put the sticks back in the right order to reveal the picture!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child while they use markers to ensure they stay on the craft sticks. Check the sticks for splinters before starting the activity.

The Styrofoam Star Map

Steps:

Grab a flat block of Styrofoam and set it on the table.
Use a marker to draw 8 small dots across the foam.
Ask your child to pick up a golf ball tee using their pinching fingers.
Have them push the pointy end of the tee straight into a dot.
Repeat this until all the stars have a pillar standing up.
Now, place a single bead on top of each golf ball tee.
Ask them to move slowly so the beads stay on the pillars.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees have pointed ends and beads are a choking hazard. Keep these materials away from small children and pets.

The Fuzzy Button Link

Steps:

Select several colorful pipe cleaners and a handful of large buttons.
Show your child how to thread a pipe cleaner through a button hole.
Ask them to pull it halfway and twist the end to secure it.
Have them thread the other end through a hole in another button.
Continue connecting buttons with pipe cleaners to form a long link chain.
Challenge your child to see how many links they can add to the chain!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play as buttons and pipe cleaners can be a choking hazard.

The Sticky Straw Chimney

Steps:

Tape the bottom of a paper roll to a stable table.
Wrap masking tape around the roll with the sticky side out.
Give your child a bunch of colorful straws to hold.
Have them press each straw vertically onto the sticky tape.
Ask them to build a full circle of straws around the roll.
Drop fluffy cotton balls through the top of your straw chimney.
See if you can catch the balls as they pop out!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put straws or cotton balls in their mouth.

The Card Link Arch

Steps:

Place the paper cup upside down on a flat table.
Pick up two index cards with your helper hand.
Slide a paper clip onto the edges to join the cards.
Repeat this to make a long chain of four or five cards.
Curve the cards over the cup to form a bridge.
Add extra clips to the bottom of the end cards for weight.
Slide the cup out slowly to see if the arch stays up.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the child remains seated at the table and uses only the craft materials.