Intrinsic Muscle Development - Page 14 of 23

Clothespin Weight Tower

Steps:

Place the foam sheet flat on a stable table. Put the pom-poms and clothespins into the container nearby.
Show your child how to use one hand to firmly hold the foam sheet steady on the table. This is the helper hand.
Use the working hand to squeeze open one clothespin. Carefully clip one pom-pom securely inside the open pin.
Clip the weighted clothespin firmly onto the edge of the foam sheet. Encourage placing the clips close together.
Once all pom-poms are clipped on, challenge your child to carefully lift the foam sheet using their fingertips. Can they carry the sheet without dropping the weighted clips?

Safety Tip:
Clothespins and pom-poms are small items. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity to prevent choking hazards.

Pipe Cleaner Ring Drop

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use the scissors to cut a strip of construction paper that fits over the container opening. Secure this paper firmly with masking tape.
Adult Prep: Cut one very narrow, tight slit (about 1.5 inches long) in the center of the secured paper strip to create a resistant mail slot.
Give your child the pipe cleaners. Encourage them to use both hands to bend and twist each pipe cleaner into a tight, stiff ring or loop.
Ask your child to hold the prepared container firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Pick up one stiff pipe cleaner ring. Challenge your child to thread the ring straight through the narrow, resistant slit using a strong, controlled push.
Repeat this process until all the loops have successfully been dropped inside the container.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners are a choking hazard if ingested. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure any cut or broken ends are collected immediately as they may be sharp.

Tight Cardboard Ties

Steps:

Ask an adult to cut 6 to 8 small, sturdy shapes from the cardboard (squares and rectangles work best).
Encourage your child to use markers to decorate and color each cardboard piece.
Help your child break the pipe cleaners into shorter, 4-inch strips. This breaking provides good heavy work input.
Take two cardboard pieces. Hold them together firmly with one hand so the edges overlap.
Use your working hand to wrap one pipe cleaner strip tightly around the overlapping edges, twisting the ends together until the connection is secure.
Continue connecting pieces. Build a 3D structure like a cube, a robot, or a tall, zig-zagging tower.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners can have sharp ends after being cut or broken. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not place these small materials near their mouths, eyes, or ears.

Sticky Ribbon Rescue

Steps:

Adult Prep: Tightly wrap a piece of Yarn or Ribbon around a Craft Stick. Secure the ends of the yarn with small, strong strips of Masking Tape.
Place the finished stick and the empty Container on a stable table.
Challenge your child to hold the stick firmly with their helper hand to keep it still.
Encourage your child to use their working hand to pinch an edge of the tape. Pull the tape strip off slowly against the resistance.
Once the tape is peeled, they can unwrap the yarn and drop the ‘rescued’ ribbon into the Container. Repeat with other prepared sticks!

Safety Tip:
Ribbon, yarn, and small pieces of masking tape are choking hazards for children under three. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child remains seated and materials are not placed near the mouth.

Tight Coil Stick Art

Steps:

Place one Craft Stick flat on the table. Use your helper hand to hold it steady and still.
Take a Pipe Cleaner. Use your dominant hand to twist it tightly around the stick. Coil the pipe cleaner snugly from end to end.
Continue wrapping new pipe cleaners until the entire Craft Stick is covered in a dense, fuzzy layer. Press the coils close together.
Choose one small sticker from the Plastic Container. Peel the sticker using only your thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
Carefully press the sticker firmly onto the fuzzy, coiled surface of the stick. This requires precise aim and controlled force.
Cover the coiled stick with colorful stickers until you complete your masterpiece. Count how many stickers you placed.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners and small stickers pose a choking hazard. Constant, direct adult supervision is required for children under 5 throughout this activity.