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.

Tension Tube Push

Tension Tube Push

Steps:

  • First, an adult should use the scissors to cut 5 to 7 short, tight slits (about 1 inch long) across the surface of the paper roll.
  • Help your child take a large piece of playdough and push it firmly into the center of the paper roll. The playdough should be dense and resistant, covering the slits from the inside.
  • Place the paper roll on a table. Challenge your child to hold the paper roll steady with their helper hand to prevent it from moving while pushing.
  • Pick up a pipe cleaner from the container. Encourage your child to aim the pipe cleaner tip at one of the narrow slits.
  • Use a strong, steady push to insert the pipe cleaner completely through the slit and into the resistant playdough core. The playdough holds it in place.
  • Continue pushing the pipe cleaners into all the slots until the entire ‘tension tube’ is full. Then, try pulling them out for an extra workout!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners and pieces of playdough are small objects and pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child only pushes the pipe cleaners into the designated tube.

Taut String Barrier Push

Taut String Barrier Push

Steps:

  • An adult should cut a sturdy rectangle from the cardboard. Use markers to draw a simple picture on the cardboard, like a big car or boat.
  • Wrap several lengths of string or yarn tightly across the cardboard surface. Crisscross the strings both horizontally and vertically to create a resistant ‘gate’ barrier over the picture.
  • Secure the ends of the string firmly with tape on the back of the cardboard. Ensure the strings are taut and resistant.
  • Place the yarn gate barrier flat on a table. Ask your child to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable.
  • Pick up one craft stick. Challenge your child to use the stick to push and weave straight through the resistant yarn gate until the stick is completely past the barrier.
  • Encourage strong, controlled pushes. Repeat the process to push all the sticks through the resistant strings and fill the picture.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks and small pieces of tape or string are small objects. They pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Q-Tip Basket Weave

Q-Tip Basket Weave

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw 10 to 12 dots evenly spaced around the top of the container lid. An adult should use the hole puncher to create a tight hole at each dot.
  • Place the container on a stable table. Hold the container firmly with your helper hand to keep it from moving.
  • Use your working hand to pick up a Q-Tip using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger). Push the Q-Tip straight into a hole until it sticks out slightly on the inside.
  • Repeat this process until all holes are filled, creating a standing Q-Tip fence around the lid.
  • Give the child a long piece of yarn or string. Tie a knot on the starting Q-Tip.
  • Challenge them to weave the yarn over the first Q-Tip and under the next one. Continue weaving in this over-under pattern all the way around the fence. Pull the string tight to reinforce the basket structure.

Safety Tip:
Q-Tips and yarn are small objects that pose a choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Adults should handle the scissors and hole puncher during preparation.

Squeeze and Slot Cups

Squeeze and Slot Cups

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Take a sturdy cardboard box and secure the lid shut with masking tape. Use scissors to cut one very narrow, tight slot (about 3 inches long) into the top center of the box.
  • Give your child the paper cups. Challenge them to use both hands to squeeze and crumple each cup as flat and stiff as possible. Encourage them to press hard to feel the crunch!
  • Pick up one flat, crumpled cup. Ask your child to hold the prepared box firmly with their helper hand to keep it steady on the table.
  • Challenge your child to aim the stiff edge of the cup into the narrow slot. They must use a strong, controlled push to send the crushed cup completely inside the box.
  • Repeat this crushing and slotting process until all the paper cups have been successfully posted inside the resistant box.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that the cardboard box is stable and cannot tip over when the child applies pushing force. Adults must handle the scissors when cutting the resistant slot.

Block Tower Tug

Block Tower Tug

Steps:

  • Help your child build a tall tower using heavy blocks. Use Masking Tape to secure a piece of String or Yarn tightly to the bottom block.
  • Place the finished tower about four feet away on a smooth, non-carpeted floor. Clear the path between the tower and your child.
  • Ask your child to assume a tall kneeling position behind the string. This requires good core stability.
  • Challenge your child to pull the tower toward them using the string. Encourage them to use both hands in an alternating, hand-over-hand motion.
  • Remind them to use slow, steady, and strong pulls. They must grade their force so the tower does not tip over when it reaches them.
  • Once the tower is rescued, rebuild it quickly. Try pulling the tower with only the non-dominant hand for a challenge.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure the playing area is clear of all trip hazards. Always supervise children when they are using string or yarn to prevent strangulation risks.