Hand Dexterity - Page 5 of 21

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Steps:

Wash and dry an empty plastic bottle.
Remove the label so you can see inside clearly.
Use a hole puncher to make six holes around the top of the bottle.
Punch six more holes near the bottom of the bottle.
Cut several pieces of yarn into long strips.
Tie a bead to one end of a yarn piece to act as a star.
Thread the yarn through a top hole and pull it across to a bottom hole.
Add more beads as you weave through different holes.
Crumple small strips of index cards and push them into the bottle first to act as planets.
Challenge your child to weave the yarn so the stars rest on the planets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using a hole puncher. Beads are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings.

Paper Plate Target Disc

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut three circles from a single paper plate. These are your flying discs.
Decorate each disc with bright markers to make them easy to see.
Place your laundry basket in the middle of a clear floor area.
Use masking tape to mark a start line a few feet away from the basket.
Have your child stand behind the line and hold a disc with one hand.
Show them how to hold the cardboard base steady with their other hand to act as a launch pad.
Ask them to use their index finger to flick the paper disc toward the basket.
Challenge them to get all three discs inside the basket in a row!
Move the start line further back once they become an expert launcher.

Safety Tip:
Always ensure the play area is clear of breakable items before launching your paper discs. Adult supervision is recommended to manage the use of scissors.

The Masking Tape Ribbon Tangle

Steps:

Start by taping one end of a long ribbon to a flat table using a small piece of masking tape.
Stretch the ribbon across the table and place another piece of tape over it every few inches to create a tangled path.
Ask your child to use their fingertips to find the edge of each piece of tape.
Encourage them to peel the tape up to rescue the ribbon from the table.
Once the ribbon is free, show them how to roll it up into a small bundle using both hands.
Place the finished ribbon roll into a basket and repeat with a different color!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put masking tape or ribbon in their mouth. Ensure the table has smooth edges to prevent any scratches.

The Blooming Paper Water Lily

Steps:

Fill your aluminium foil pan with one inch of water.
Draw a flower with several pointed petals on the construction paper.
Use your scissors to cut out the flower shape.
Fold each petal toward the center until the flower is closed.
Use a marker to draw a small heart in the center.
Place the folded flower gently onto the surface of the water.
Watch as the petals slowly open to reveal the secret heart!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play to ensure they stay safe and the floor stays dry.

The Growing Newspaper Tree

Steps:

Take two large sheets of newspaper and lay them flat on the floor.
Overlap the edges slightly and use a piece of masking tape to hold them together.
Start at one end and roll the newspaper up into a very long, tight tube.
Wrap another piece of tape around the bottom of the tube to keep it from unrolling.
Hold the tube steady with one hand and use your scissors to cut four long slits from the top down to the middle.
Reach into the center of the tube and gently pull the paper upward.
Watch as your tree grows taller and taller as you pull the strips out!
Use your hands to fluff out the paper branches to finish your tree.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors to keep them safe.