Fine Motor Control - Page 35 of 73

Tissue Paper Rope Art

Steps:

Use both hands to tear the tissue paper into long strips (about 1 inch wide). Place the finished strips in the plastic container.
Take one strip. Hold one end steady with your helper hand. Use your dominant hand to twist the paper tightly. Turn it into a stiff, resistant rope.
Use a marker to draw a simple shape or a winding path onto the construction paper base.
Squeeze the glue bottle to trace a thick line of glue over the marker path.
Carefully press the twisted paper rope onto the wet glue line. Continue twisting and gluing until the entire path is filled with the colorful rope.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper, if crumbled tightly, can be a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Sticky Sponge Dot Press

Steps:

Place the thick sponge securely inside the plastic container to keep it stable.
Peel the backing off the small sticky Velcro dots. Press them firmly onto the top surface of the sponge.
Pour the small beads or buttons into a separate small pile next to the sponge.
Ask your child to hold the container steady with their helper hand to stabilize the base.
Use their working hand to pick up one bead using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Aim the bead at one of the Velcro targets. Use a strong, controlled press to stick the bead onto the rough Velcro dot.
Repeat the pressing action until all the Velcro dots are successfully covered in colorful beads.

Safety Tip:
Small beads and Velcro pieces are potential choking hazards. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all materials are collected and stored safely after play.

Foil Grip & Transfer

Steps:

Pour water into a small bowl. Add a drop of food coloring to make it a fun color.
Drop the cotton balls into the colored water until they are fully soaked and heavy. Place the wet balls inside the Aluminium Foil Pan.
Hold the foil pan firmly steady with your helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Use the tongs to pick up one heavy, wet cotton ball at a time. Encourage your child to squeeze the tongs hard to grasp the slippery material.
Carefully lift the wet cotton ball and transfer it to the empty plastic container. Drop it inside the target.
Repeat this squeezing and transferring action until the foil pan is completely empty. Count how many successful transfers were made!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small cotton balls can be a choking hazard if ingested. Ensure the child only handles the materials with the tongs or fingers and keeps them away from their mouth.

Corner Fold & Weave Push

Steps:

Give your child a piece of cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the cardboard into rough, postage stamp-sized pieces.
Take one torn cardboard piece. Fold a corner tightly in half, then fold it over one more time to create a dense, narrow point.
Place the finished folded pieces in the plastic container. These are your weaving targets.
Take a pipe cleaner and curl one end into a loop to create a dull ‘needle.’
Hold the folded cardboard piece firmly steady with your helper hand.
Use your dominant hand to grip the pipe cleaner needle with a strong pincer grasp. Push the needle straight through the tight folded point of the cardboard.
Repeat this process, pushing the pipe cleaner through each resistant cardboard fold.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure any cut ends of the pipe cleaners are curled safely before starting the activity.

Wet Sponge Weight Weave

Steps:

Fill the container with water and soak the sponge fully. Wring it out hard so it is damp and dense, then press it firmly back into the container base.
Adult Prep: Tie one bead securely onto the end of a 12-inch piece of yarn. Tie the opposite end of the yarn onto the middle of one craft stick.
Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the base on the table.
Using the working hand, aim the craft stick tip at the sponge. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the stick and the attached yarn/bead completely through the resistant sponge.
Pull the stick back out, feeling the resistance and drag of the yarn as it comes through the wet sponge. Repeat this push and pull action until your child tires.

Safety Tip:
Beads and yarn are small materials. Constant, direct adult supervision is required to ensure these items are not ingested, as they pose a choking hazard.