Hand Dexterity - Page 7 of 21

The Foil Pan Hockey Challenge

Steps:

Use masking tape to mark a small goal at one end of the pan.
Place one marble at the opposite end of the pan.
Give your child a craft stick to use as a hockey stick.
Ask them to hold the pan with their helper hand to keep it still.
Use the other hand to push the marble toward the goal.
Navigate around obstacles made of tape or blocks!
See how many goals they can score in one minute.

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise children during play and keep small parts away from younger siblings.

Cosmic Antenna Balance

Steps:

Press a medium ball of playdough onto the center of a sturdy cardboard sheet to create the base.
Push three Q-Tips into the playdough at an angle to create a tripod stand.
Place a baking cup upside down on top of the three Q-Tip ends.
Gently rest a fourth Q-Tip across the flat bottom of the upside-down baking cup.
Carefully slide one paper clip onto each end of the horizontal Q-Tip to act as satellite dishes.
Challenge your child to add more paper clips without tipping the whole antenna over!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the structure is built on a flat, stable surface. Keep small parts away from younger siblings.

The Straw Pipe Cleaner Architect

Steps:

Help your child cut the straws into smaller pieces of different lengths using the scissors.
Show them how to slide a pipe cleaner through one straw piece and then into another.
Encourage them to bend the pipe cleaner at the joints to connect the straws at different angles.
Challenge your child to build a simple shape first, like a triangle or a square.
Once they get the hang of it, see if they can build a 3D structure like a house or a pyramid!
They can use longer pipe cleaners to tie pieces together for extra strength.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using scissors. Ensure the ends of the pipe cleaners are tucked in to avoid any sharp pokes.

The Sparkly Pipe Cleaner Spectacles

Steps:

Pick two long pipe cleaners to be the main frames of your glasses.
Bend each pipe cleaner into a circle.
Twist the ends together to lock the shape.
Slide colorful beads onto each circle one by one.
Use a small piece of pipe cleaner to connect the two circles.
Twist a pipe cleaner onto the side of each circle to make the arms.
Bend the ends of the arms to fit over your ears.

Safety Tip:
Beads are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the ends of the pipe cleaners are tucked in so they are not sharp.

The Pipe Cleaner Deep Sea Divers

Steps:

Fill the plastic container about halfway with cool water.
Take a colorful pipe cleaner and bend it into the shape of a little person.
Ask your child to pick up a nut from the pile using their thumb and pointer finger.
Thread the nut onto the pipe cleaner diver’s legs to act as a heavy weight.
Drop the diver into the water to see if it sinks or floats.
Add more nuts and bolts until the diver reaches the very bottom of the tank!
Use another pipe cleaner as a hook to fish the divers back up to the surface.

Safety Tip:
Ensure your child is seated at a stable table. Metal nuts and bolts are small and should be handled with care.