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.

Heavy Paper Link Builders

Heavy Paper Link Builders

Steps:

  • Tear the index cards into strips (about 1 inch wide). Encourage strong, controlled pulls for heavy work input.
  • Take one paper strip. Roll it tightly around a marker or a pencil, creating a dense cylinder. Slide the marker out.
  • Secure the dense paper cylinder tightly by wrapping masking tape completely around it. Press hard to create a firm ‘building block.’
  • Use markers to draw small connection dots onto the center of each paper block. Aim for four dots per block.
  • Pick up one pipe cleaner. Hold the first paper block steady with your helper hand.
  • Push the stiff pipe cleaner straight through one of the marked dots. Aim the pipe cleaner and thread it through a second block to link them. Twist the ends to secure the connection.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of paper, masking tape, and cut pipe cleaners pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Heavy Foil Rock Decorate

Heavy Foil Rock Decorate

Steps:

  • Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the resistant foil into a large, manageable piece.
  • Use maximum hand force to crumple and squeeze the foil tightly. Form a dense, hard 3D rock shape (the ‘foundation’). Squeeze hard for heavy work input.
  • Place the finished foil rock securely onto the piece of cardboard base. This acts as a stable work surface.
  • Use the glue bottle to squeeze several small, controlled dots of liquid glue onto the foil rock surface.
  • Pick up one dry bean using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Carefully aim the bean at a wet glue dot. Press the bean firmly onto the resistant foil surface. Repeat until the foil rock is covered in textured dots.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans and small, dense foil pieces pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.

Foil Rod Twist Connect

Foil Rod Twist Connect

Steps:

  • Tear off a piece of aluminum foil slightly larger than an index card.
  • Place the card on the foil. Wrap the card tightly and squeeze hard to form a dense, stiff foil rod.
  • Use a marker to draw a narrow slit (about 1.5 inches long) onto a separate index card. (Adult step: Carefully cut the slit using scissors).
  • Hold the slotted card firmly steady with your helper hand on the table.
  • Pick up the foil rod. Aim the end at the slit and use a continuous twisting motion to screw the rod through the resistant opening.
  • Twist the rod all the way through the slot to connect the two cards. Repeat to build a creative 3D foil sculpture!

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation. Ensure the child compresses the foil tightly into dense balls or rods to avoid sharp edges. Collect all small foil pieces immediately after play.

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Felt Roll & Clip Match

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw a simple dot on one felt strip and a matching dot on one index card.
  • Place the felt strip flat. Roll the felt tightly around the pencil to create a dense, resistant cylinder.
  • Remove the pencil carefully while holding the felt roll firmly with your helper hand to keep the shape.
  • Pick up the paper clip using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and index finger).
  • Slide the paper clip onto the felt cylinder to secure the roll. This requires effort and focus.
  • Set the finished felt scroll onto the Index Card that has the matching marker dot. Repeat for all felt strips.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips and felt scraps pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Vertical Target Poke

Vertical Target Poke

Steps:

  • Secure a sturdy piece of Cardboard vertically onto a stable wall or door using Masking Tape. This sets up your vertical work surface.
  • Use a Marker to draw 10 small target dots randomly across the Cardboard surface where your child should aim.
  • Tape a piece of Foam Sheet firmly onto the back of the Cardboard, covering the target dot area. This provides resistance when pushing.
  • Encourage your child to pick up a Q-Tip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Ask them to aim the cotton tip of the Q-Tip at a marker dot.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to pierce the Cardboard and plant the Q-Tip deep into the resistant Foam backing. Feel the effort!
  • Repeat this heavy work until all target dots are successfully filled with Q-Tips.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Q-Tips are small materials and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the vertical board is secured firmly before beginning the activity.