Finger Strength - Page 7 of 31

The Vertical Sponge Trail

Steps:

Secure a long piece of butcher paper vertically to a wall at your child’s shoulder height using masking tape.
Use a marker to draw a simple, winding path across the paper.
Place a bowl of water on a nearby table or the floor.
Ask your child to soak the sponge and squeeze it until it is damp.
Challenge them to trace the path by squeezing the sponge along the marker line to leave a wet trail.
Encourage them to keep their arm high as they follow the winding road.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended. Ensure that the floor beneath the paper is kept dry to prevent slips or falls.

The Pipe Cleaner Reef Rescue

Steps:

Turn the egg carton upside down on the table.
Use markers to color each bump of the carton a different color.
Use the tip of your scissors to poke a small hole in the top of each bump.
Pick up a pipe cleaner and push it into one of the holes.
Bend the pipe cleaner so it looks like wavy seaweed.
Pick up a bead and slide it onto the pipe cleaner seaweed.
Repeat this for all the holes until your reef is full of color!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using scissors. These should only be used to poke the holes. Beads are a choking hazard; keep them away from younger children and pets.

The Foil Button Press

Steps:

Tear off a large sheet of aluminum foil.
Use both hands to crumple the foil into a flat, thick pancake shape.
Press down hard on the foil with your palm to make it dense.
Give your child a handful of colorful buttons.
Ask them to press each button firmly into the foil surface.
The foil will wrap around the edges to hold the buttons tight!
Try to cover the whole foil pancake with a button pattern.

Safety Tip:
Buttons are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child during play.

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.

Splash Goal Ball Push

Steps:

Tear four long strips of masking tape.
Tape them to a piece of cardboard to make a square goal.
Put the cardboard on a flat, water-safe surface.
Fill the trigger style spray bottle with plain water.
Place a ping pong ball near the start of the cardboard.
Ask your child to squeeze the trigger to spray the ball.
They must aim the stream to push the ball into the goal.
Try moving the ball back to increase the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise water play. Ensure the floor is dry to prevent slips.