Skill: Motor Planning

Motor planning is the ability to assess a motor activity, plan and organize how to carry out that motor activity, and finally implement motor skills to achieve that motor activity.

Motor planning leads to the ability to carry out a motor skill automatically after enough practice.

The Over-Head Balloon Drop

The Over-Head Balloon Drop

Steps:

  • Place a soft pillow on the floor for your child to lie on.
  • Set a large basket about a foot behind your child’s head.
  • Ask your child to lie on their back and squeeze a balloon between their ankles while holding the pillow sides.
  • Encourage them to lift their legs up and over their head.
  • The goal is to drop the balloon into the basket without using their hands!
  • Try it again and see how many times they can score in a row.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the area behind the child’s head is clear of hard furniture or sharp edges.

The Tilted Straw Maze

The Tilted Straw Maze

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a start and finish line on a paper plate.
  • Cut colorful straws into several small pieces using your scissors.
  • Glue the straw pieces onto the plate to build maze walls.
  • Leave enough space between the straws for a marble to roll.
  • Place a marble at the start line once the glue is dry.
  • Hold the plate with both hands and tilt it to move the marble.
  • Try to reach the finish line without the marble falling off!

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

The Textured Cardboard Path

The Textured Cardboard Path

Steps:

  • Help your child cut several long strips of cardboard to make the path.
  • Use masking tape to secure the strips to the floor in a straight line.
  • Glue small pieces of soft sponge and rough yarn along the path.
  • Ask your child to take off their shoes and socks.
  • Have them walk slowly while keeping their feet inside the cardboard edges.
  • Encourage them to describe how each section feels as they step on it!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to prevent slips or falls while they walk on the textured path. Make sure the cardboard is taped down firmly to the floor.

The Silver Pan Web Weaver

The Silver Pan Web Weaver

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw ten dots around the rim of the pan.
  • Use a pencil to poke a hole through each dot.
  • Tie one end of the yarn to the first hole.
  • Thread the yarn across the pan to another hole.
  • Continue until the silver web is finished!

Safety Tip:
Poking holes with a pencil requires steady hands. Always supervise your child to prevent any pokes to the skin.

The Fuzzy Cardboard Letter Wrap

The Fuzzy Cardboard Letter Wrap

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw a large, chunky letter on a piece of cardboard.
  • Help your child use scissors to cut the letter out.
  • Tape the end of a long piece of yarn to the back of the cardboard letter.
  • Show your child how to wrap the yarn around and around the letter.
  • Encourage them to use their helper hand to turn the cardboard while the other hand wraps.
  • Once the letter is fully covered in fuzzy yarn, tape the end to the back.

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