Grasp - Page 6 of 33

The Paper Cup Secret Sounds

Steps:

Line up six empty paper cups on a table.
Put a small handful of rice into two cups.
Fill two more cups with dry beans and the last two with oats.
Place an index card over the top of each cup and secure it tightly with masking tape.
Use markers to draw a small secret symbol on the bottom of each cup to mark the pairs.
Mix the cups up and ask your child to shake them one by one.
Challenge your child to find the two cups that make the exact same sound!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely when using rice or beans to prevent them from putting items in their mouth.

The Balancing Plate Bead Challenge

Steps:

Place the paper cup upside down on a flat table.
Use a small piece of masking tape to secure the cup to the table.
Carefully set the paper plate on top of the upside-down cup.
Give your child a small bowl of beads and a spoon.
Ask them to scoop one bead and place it on the plate.
Challenge them to add more beads without the plate falling off the cup!

Safety Tip:
Beads are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child. Keep all small materials away from younger siblings.

The Palm-Flip Treasure Drop

Steps:

Use masking tape to secure a paper cup to the edge of a sturdy table.
Place a small pile of coins on the table next to the cup.
Ask your child to rest their forearm on the table with their palm facing down.
Place one coin on the back of their hand.
Encourage them to rotate their wrist until the palm faces up so the coin sits in their palm.
If they feel wobbly, have them use their other hand to help stabilize the arm.
Finally, use a pincer grasp to drop the coin into the cup!

Safety Tip:
Coins are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child. Do not let them put coins in their mouth.

The Spinning Ribbon Wand

Steps:

Cut three colorful ribbons into two-foot lengths.
Wrap the ends of the ribbons around the top of a craft stick.
Secure the ribbons tightly with a piece of masking tape.
Ask your child to hold the stick in their dominant hand.
Encourage them to twist their wrist to make the ribbons spiral.
Challenge them to draw big circles in the air with the wand.

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child at all times when using long ribbons to avoid entanglement. Keep scissors out of reach after the ribbons are cut.

The Paper Plate Pulley

Steps:

Use the hole puncher to make one hole in the middle of your paper plate.
Tape the paper plate to the top of a stable door frame using masking tape.
Thread your string through the hole you made in the plate.
Use the hole puncher to make two small holes near the rim of your paper cup.
Tie one end of the string through the holes in the cup to make a handle.
Fill the cup with a handful of beans to act as cargo.
Stand below the plate and pull the loose end of the string to lift the cup.
Try to lower the cup slowly to the floor without letting it drop or crash!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using long pieces of string to prevent a strangulation hazard.