Intrinsic Muscle Development - Page 5 of 18

Pom-Pom Pin Bouquet

Steps:

Secure the sponge firmly onto the piece of cardboard using masking tape underneath. This creates a stable and resistant base.
Place 2 or 3 pom-poms into the container. Challenge your child to thread these pom-poms onto one pipe cleaner, pushing them toward the center.
Hold the cardboard base firmly steady with your non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Use a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger) to grip the exposed end of the pipe cleaner pin.
Aim the pin at the sponge. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the pipe cleaner straight down into the resistant sponge base.
Repeat this threading and pushing process until your colorful pom-pom bouquet fills the entire sponge garden.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms and cut pipe cleaners are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Foil Shape Sticker Sculptures

Steps:

Use masking tape to secure the construction paper vertically onto a wall or sturdy door at your child’s eye level.
Tear off small squares of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to squeeze and crumple the foil intensely into dense, stiff, 3D shapes.
Use masking tape to anchor the stiff foil shapes firmly onto the vertical construction paper, creating a textured sculpture.
Peel the stickers or sequins using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Aim the sticky item at the foil surface. Use a firm, controlled press to secure the sticker onto the stiff foil shape, feeling the heavy work input.
Continue peeling and pressing items until the foil sculpture is completely covered in colorful texture.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Sequins and small stickers are very small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Resistant Cardboard Push Pucks

Steps:

Tear the cardboard into several small, jagged strips.
Fill the container halfway with water.
Soak the cardboard strips in the water completely until they are soft.
Squeeze and wring the wet strips hard to remove excess water. This is heavy work!
Squish the damp cardboard strips together into a firm, flat ‘puck.’ Press it onto the table.
Hold the cardboard puck steady with your helper hand.
Use a Q-Tip to aim and push a hole straight through the soft, resistant puck.
Repeat the pushing action until the entire cardboard puck is full of holes.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Q-Tips are small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are kept away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Cardboard Hole Punch Pegging

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut several Q-Tips into short, 1-inch pegs. Fold a piece of thick cardboard firmly in half to create maximum resistance.
Use a marker to draw 8-10 target dots across the surface of the folded cardboard where the child should aim to punch.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand. Using strong finger force, squeeze the hole puncher onto each marker dot, creating a tight hole.
Once the holes are punched, place the short Q-Tip pegs into the container. Encourage your child to pick up one peg at a time using a neat pincer grasp.
Hold the cardboard steady with the non-dominant hand. Use a strong, controlled push to insert the Q-Tip peg straight through the resistant hole.
Continue this firm pushing action until all the punched holes have been successfully filled with colorful pegs.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Cut Q-Tips and small cardboard scraps are choking hazards for children under five. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation. Ensure the child only pushes the Q-Tip pegs into the designated holes and keeps materials away from the mouth, nose, and ears.

Resistant Foam Pin Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use a marker to draw several guide dots onto the foam sheet. Use masking tape to secure the foam tightly onto the sturdy cardboard base.
Help your child bend or roll several pipe cleaners until they are stiff, short pieces. These are your ‘resistant pins.’
Ask your child to hold the cardboard base firmly steady on the table using their non-dominant (helper) hand.
Pick up a resistant pin using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Aim the tip of the pin at a marked dot. Use a controlled, strong push to drive the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the dense foam and into the cardboard base.
Repeat this forceful pushing action until all the marked dots have been successfully filled with colorful pins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.