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.

Splash Goal Ball Push

Splash Goal Ball Push

Steps:

  • Tear four long strips of masking tape.
  • Tape them to a piece of cardboard to make a square goal.
  • Put the cardboard on a flat, water-safe surface.
  • Fill the trigger style spray bottle with plain water.
  • Place a ping pong ball near the start of the cardboard.
  • Ask your child to squeeze the trigger to spray the ball.
  • They must aim the stream to push the ball into the goal.
  • Try moving the ball back to increase the difficulty.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise water play. Ensure the floor is dry to prevent slips.

Bumpy Bubble Marble Slide

Bumpy Bubble Marble Slide

Steps:

  • Lay a sheet of Bubble Wrap flat on a table with the bubbles facing down.
  • Secure all four corners with Masking Tape to keep it from moving.
  • Place a marble under the wrap at one corner.
  • Use your index finger to press on top of the wrap.
  • Guide the marble through the tiny paths between the bubbles.
  • Try to reach the opposite corner without popping any bubbles!
  • Use your other hand to push the marble back to the start.

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all marbles are collected and stored safely after play.

Floating Balloon Paddle Tap

Floating Balloon Paddle Tap

Steps:

  • Blow up a balloon and tie yarn to the end.
  • Use masking tape to stick the yarn to a door.
  • Let the balloon hang low enough for your child to reach.
  • Give them a paper plate to hold like a paddle.
  • Ask them to tap the balloon with the plate.
  • See how many times they can hit it in a row.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children with balloons. Broken balloon pieces are a serious choking hazard. Ensure the yarn is not long enough to wrap around the neck.

Mystery Yarn Foil Maze

Mystery Yarn Foil Maze

Steps:

  • Draw a winding maze on a piece of sturdy Cardboard.
  • Trace the path with Glue and stick Yarn on top.
  • Once dry, place the Cardboard inside an Aluminium Foil Pan.
  • Turn the pan over so the Cardboard is underneath.
  • Ask your child to press the foil using their pointer finger.
  • Follow the raised yarn bumps to finish the maze!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using small materials like yarn and glue.

Foil Maze Marble Glide

Foil Maze Marble Glide

Steps:

  • Lay out the aluminum foil pan on a flat table.
  • Take three pipe cleaners and bend them into curvy, wavy lines.
  • Use masking tape to secure the pipe cleaners inside the pan as walls.
  • Place a marble at one end of the winding path.
  • Use a pointer finger to gently push the marble through the maze.
  • Try to keep the marble inside the pipe cleaner borders the whole time.
  • When you finish, tilt the pan to roll the marble back to the start.

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure all marbles are collected and stored out of reach after the activity.