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Sponge Squeeze Splash

Steps:

Fill a large bucket or Container halfway with water. Place the Sponge inside to soak.
Place a small, empty Plastic Container about three feet away. This is your target zone.
Have your child kneel or stand stably beside the large water bucket.
Encourage your child to reach in and grab the wet sponge. Lift it carefully over the target container.
Use a strong, firm squeeze with one hand to empty the water into the target. Encourage maximum effort!
Return the empty sponge to the bucket. Repeat the process until the small target container is full.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. This activity involves water, so ensure the playing area is non-slip to prevent falls. Make sure the child does not put the sponge or water near their mouth.

Cardboard Crunch Slot

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use masking tape to fully cover the opening of the plastic container. Cut one very narrow, tight slot (about 1.5 inches long) in the center of the taped lid.
Give your child a piece of firm cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the cardboard into small, jagged, postage stamp-sized pieces. Tearing this resistant material is heavy work!
Ask your child to hold the prepared container firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Pick up one torn, rough cardboard piece. Aim the piece at the narrow slot and turn it until it fits just right.
Use a strong, steady push with the fingertips to send the cardboard piece completely inside the container. Repeat until all the torn pieces are posted!

Safety Tip:
Cardboard scraps and masking tape are potential choking hazards. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child remains seated and does not put materials near their mouth.

Sticky Ribbon Rescue

Steps:

Adult Prep: Tightly wrap a piece of Yarn or Ribbon around a Craft Stick. Secure the ends of the yarn with small, strong strips of Masking Tape.
Place the finished stick and the empty Container on a stable table.
Challenge your child to hold the stick firmly with their helper hand to keep it still.
Encourage your child to use their working hand to pinch an edge of the tape. Pull the tape strip off slowly against the resistance.
Once the tape is peeled, they can unwrap the yarn and drop the ‘rescued’ ribbon into the Container. Repeat with other prepared sticks!

Safety Tip:
Ribbon, yarn, and small pieces of masking tape are choking hazards for children under three. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child remains seated and materials are not placed near the mouth.

Resistant Rip Mural

Steps:

Secure a large sheet of cardboard vertically onto a wall or door using masking tape.
Place several long strips of masking tape horizontally across the cardboard, sticky side OUT, creating several large, sticky ‘target zones’ or frames.
Give your child a large, flat piece of thick cardboard.
Challenge your child to use both hands to tear the thick cardboard into small, jagged pieces (this requires strong effort!).
Encourage them to pick up one torn piece and firmly press it onto the vertical sticky target, filling the frames to create a textured mural.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the vertical cardboard surface is stable and cannot fall or slide during the activity. Always supervise young children to ensure they do not attempt to ingest torn cardboard or masking tape pieces.

Felt Resistance Wall

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Cut 5 to 6 narrow strips of felt, about 1 inch wide.
Help your child glue the felt strips vertically onto the cardboard. Leave a very narrow gap between each felt strip to create resistant channels.
Once the glue is completely dry, have your child hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep the wall steady.
Challenge your child to pick up a craft stick. Push the stick straight through one of the narrow felt channels. This requires controlled force.
Continue inserting all the sticks into the wall, working to keep the cardboard from tipping or moving during the push.
When finished, gently pull the sticks out (working those muscles again!) and repeat the building process.

Safety Tip:
Maintain constant adult supervision, especially during the preparation phase involving scissors and glue. Ensure the child pushes the sticks away from their face and body to prevent accidental poking.