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 Stocking Bean Bag Rescue

The Stocking Bean Bag Rescue

Steps:

  • Place one bean bag into the toe of a long stocking.
  • Hold the top of the stocking with your helper hand.
  • Use your dominant hand to find the bean bag through the fabric.
  • Use your fingers to pinch and push the bean bag up the leg.
  • Slide the bag all the way to the top opening.
  • Take the bean bag out and switch hands to try again!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Check the bean bag for any tears or loose beads before starting.

The Cardboard Ring Squeezer

The Cardboard Ring Squeezer

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw three big circles on a piece of construction paper.
  • Color each circle a different color using your markers.
  • Take an empty paper roll and use your scissors to cut it into four rings.
  • Place a pile of colorful pom-poms on the table.
  • Show your child how to hold one cardboard ring between their thumb and fingers.
  • Squeeze the ring to make it flat like a pair of tweezers.
  • Use the flattened ring to pinch a pom-pom.
  • Carry the pom-pom and drop it into the matching colored circle on the paper.
  • See how fast you can sort all the fuzzy pom-poms!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they use scissors. Small pom-poms can be a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings.

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.