Hand Dexterity

The Ribbon Tail Balloon Catch

Steps:

Blow up a bright balloon and tie it tightly.
Cut four long strips of ribbon using your scissors.
Tape the ribbons to the bottom of the balloon.
Toss the balloon high into the air.
Ask your child to catch the balloon by the ribbons.
See how many times they can catch it before it lands!

Safety Tip:
Always watch your child when playing with balloons. Broken pieces are a choking hazard. Throw away any popped balloons right away.

The Cardboard Compass Navigator

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a large square out of cardboard for your map base.
Draw a colorful landscape with markers including a river and a forest.
Glue a craft stick at each edge of the board and label them North, South, East, and West.
Use a pencil to poke a tiny hole right in the center of your map.
Thread a piece of string through one button and then through the hole in the cardboard.
Tie a thick knot on the back of the board so the button stays attached.
Ask your child to rest their palm on the cardboard without lifting it.
They must use their thumb and index finger to slide the button to different targets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or small buttons.

Under-Table Starry Night

Steps:

Draw many colorful dots across a flat piece of cardboard using your markers.
Use a pen to poke a small hole through the center of every dot.
Find a stable low table and tape the cardboard to the underside with masking tape.
Help your child lie down on their back underneath the table.
Hand them a pile of Q-tips to hold in their helper hand.
Challenge them to push a Q-tip into every star hole they see above.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the table is stable and the area is clear of hard objects. Always supervise your child while they are lying under the furniture.

The Balancing Cardboard Bird

Steps:

Draw a large bird shape on a piece of cardboard with your markers.
Make sure the bird has wide wings that curve forward past the beak.
Use your scissors to carefully cut the bird shape out of the cardboard.
Place one coin on the very front tip of each bird wing.
Use masking tape to secure the coins firmly to the cardboard wings.
Hold the bird by the body and rest the beak on your fingertip.
Watch as the bird balances perfectly in the air without falling!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using scissors. Coins are a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings who might put things in their mouths.

The Masking Tape Spoon Scraper

Steps:

Start by sticking several long strips of masking tape onto a flat piece of cardboard.
Press the tape down very firmly so it is flat and tight.
Give your child a sturdy spoon to use as their scraping tool.
Ask them to use the edge of the spoon to lift the tape.
Encourage them to peel every piece of tape off the board completely.
Have them use their other hand to hold the cardboard steady while they work.
Finally, they can crumple the sticky tape into a ball to finish.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using the spoon to ensure it is used safely.