Skill: Hand Dexterity

How skillful and quick the fingers are when handling small objects. Good dexterity helps with tying shoes, handling coins, and manipulating fasteners.

The Paper Roll Marble Plunge

The Paper Roll Marble Plunge

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw three small ‘X’ marks on the side of your long paper roll.
  • Have an adult help you poke a small hole through each ‘X’ mark using a pencil tip.
  • Push one craft stick through each hole so it stretches all the way across the inside of the tube.
  • Wrap a piece of masking tape over the bottom of the paper roll to seal it shut tightly.
  • Stand the roll upright inside a plastic container and drop five marbles into the top of the tube.
  • Slowly pull the bottom craft stick out and listen for the marbles to drop to the next level.
  • Remove the remaining sticks one by one until all the marbles are resting on the bottom tape.
  • Peel the tape away to let the marbles plunge into the container for a grand finale!

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a major choking hazard. This activity is for school-age children, but always keep marbles away from younger siblings.

The Giant Newspaper Chopstick Challenge

The Giant Newspaper Chopstick Challenge

Steps:

  • Lay a large sheet of newspaper flat on the floor.
  • Roll the paper corner to corner as tightly as possible.
  • Use masking tape to secure the ends of the paper log.
  • Make a second log so you have a pair of giant chopsticks.
  • Place a stuffed animal on the floor and a basket nearby.
  • Hold one log in each hand and squeeze the toy between them.
  • Carry the toy carefully and drop it into the basket!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they use the paper logs safely and do not hit others.

The Ribbon Tail Rescue

The Ribbon Tail Rescue

Steps:

  • Use your scissors to cut several pieces of ribbon into short lengths.
  • Clip a colorful clothespin to one end of every ribbon piece.
  • Securely clip the other end of the ribbons to your child’s waistband.
  • Make sure the ribbons hang down like long animal tails.
  • Ask your child to reach around their back with one hand.
  • They must use a strong pinch to open the clothespin and rescue the ribbon tail while keeping their body standing as still as possible.
  • Challenge them to see how many tails they can catch!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put small materials like clothespins or ribbons in their mouth.

The Rainbow Hand Weaver

The Rainbow Hand Weaver

Steps:

  • Trace your child’s hand onto a sturdy piece of cardboard using a marker.
  • Use a hole puncher to make one hole at the tip of each finger and one at the wrist.
  • Tie a long piece of colorful yarn to the hole at the wrist.
  • Show your child how to thread the yarn through the thumb hole first.
  • Encourage them to weave the yarn back to the wrist and then up to the next finger.
  • Continue until every finger is connected to the wrist with a beautiful yarn bridge.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using a hole puncher or handling long pieces of yarn.

The Egg Carton Bridge Weaver

The Egg Carton Bridge Weaver

Steps:

  • Flip your empty egg carton upside down on the table.
  • Use your markers to draw small dots on the very top of each egg cup.
  • Adult step: Use scissors to poke a small, narrow hole through each marker dot.
  • Give your child a pipe cleaner and ask them to push one end into a hole.
  • Encourage them to bend the pipe cleaner over to a different egg cup.
  • Have them push the other end into a second hole to make a bridge.
  • Continue adding pipe cleaners to create a crisscross web over the peaks.
  • Challenge them to see how many colorful bridges they can build without any collapsing!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or pipe cleaners to avoid pokes.