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.

Tight Cardboard Ties

Tight Cardboard Ties

Steps:

  • Ask an adult to cut 6 to 8 small, sturdy shapes from the cardboard (squares and rectangles work best).
  • Encourage your child to use markers to decorate and color each cardboard piece.
  • Help your child break the pipe cleaners into shorter, 4-inch strips. This breaking provides good heavy work input.
  • Take two cardboard pieces. Hold them together firmly with one hand so the edges overlap.
  • Use your working hand to wrap one pipe cleaner strip tightly around the overlapping edges, twisting the ends together until the connection is secure.
  • Continue connecting pieces. Build a 3D structure like a cube, a robot, or a tall, zig-zagging tower.

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners can have sharp ends after being cut or broken. Constant, direct adult supervision is required. Ensure children do not place these small materials near their mouths, eyes, or ears.

Cardboard Crunch Slot

Cardboard Crunch Slot

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use masking tape to fully cover the opening of the plastic container. Cut one very narrow, tight slot (about 1.5 inches long) in the center of the taped lid.
  • Give your child a piece of firm cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the cardboard into small, jagged, postage stamp-sized pieces. Tearing this resistant material is heavy work!
  • Ask your child to hold the prepared container firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
  • Pick up one torn, rough cardboard piece. Aim the piece at the narrow slot and turn it until it fits just right.
  • Use a strong, steady push with the fingertips to send the cardboard piece completely inside the container. Repeat until all the torn pieces are posted!

Safety Tip:
Cardboard scraps and masking tape are potential choking hazards. Constant, direct adult supervision is required throughout this activity. Ensure the child remains seated and does not put materials near their mouth.

Ribbon Slot Stuffing

Ribbon Slot Stuffing

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use the Scissors to cut three tight, narrow slots (about 1.5 inches long) into the Cardboard or the lid of the Container. Secure the Cardboard/lid tightly using Masking Tape.
  • Give the child long strips of Ribbon. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the Ribbon into small, stamp-sized pieces. Tearing wakes up the hand muscles!
  • Ask your child to hold the container steady with their helper hand (proximal stability) while it sits on the table.
  • Pick up one torn Ribbon piece. Crumple it tightly into a small ball using only their fingertips (working on pincer grasp and in-hand manipulation).
  • Aim the crumpled ribbon ball at a slot. Use a controlled, firm push with the index finger or thumb to send the ribbon piece completely inside the container. Repeat until the container is full!

Safety Tip:
Ribbon pieces are small objects. Constant and direct adult supervision is required throughout the activity, as they pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Foam Sheet Architect

Foam Sheet Architect

Steps:

  • Use the markers to draw several simple shapes (squares or triangles) onto the Foam Sheets.
  • Use child-safe scissors to cut out the foam shapes. Hold the foam steady with your helper hand while cutting along the lines.
  • Choose two cut foam shapes. Hold them together firmly at the edge where you want to connect them.
  • Pick up one Golf Ball Tee. Push the pointy end through the edges of both foam shapes to connect them firmly. The tee acts as a sturdy connector.
  • Continue connecting shapes with tees until you have built a free-standing structure, like a tower or cube. Try to make your structure as tall as possible!

Safety Tip:
Golf tees have sharp points. Always supervise the child closely. Ensure all tees are collected immediately after play.

Pocket Post Office

Pocket Post Office

Steps:

  • Roll the playdough into a thick, flat disc. Press it firmly into the bottom of the plastic container to create a stable base.
  • Stand 6 to 8 craft sticks up vertically by pushing them deep into the playdough base. Arrange the sticks close together to create narrow ‘pockets’ between them (these are the mail slots).
  • Put the pom-poms (the ‘mail’) into a small bowl and place them next to the container.
  • Use your thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp) or a pair of tongs to pick up one piece of mail at a time.
  • Hold the container steady with your helper hand. Carefully aim the mail into one of the narrow pockets between the sticks.
  • Use a strong, controlled push to send the mail deep into the playdough pocket. Repeat this until all the pockets are full!

Safety Tip:
Pom-poms and craft sticks are small objects. Maintain constant adult supervision during this activity, as these materials pose a choking hazard for children under five.