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.

Butcher Paper Body Map

Butcher Paper Body Map

Steps:

  • Lay a long piece of butcher paper on the floor.
  • Use masking tape to secure the corners so it stays still.
  • Ask your child to lie down flat on their back on the paper.
  • Slowly trace around their whole body using a bright marker.
  • Have your child stand up and look at their twin on the paper.
  • Give them a sheet of stickers and ask them to place a sticker on their knees.
  • Challenge them to place stickers on their elbows, toes, and belly button too!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Stickers can be a choking hazard, so make sure they stay on the paper and not in the mouth.

The Felt Fish Hook Rescue

The Felt Fish Hook Rescue

Steps:

  • Use your markers to draw 5 small fish shapes on your felt.
  • Carefully cut out the felt fish using your scissors.
  • Cut 5 tiny strips of cardboard, about 1 inch long each.
  • Glue the ends of a cardboard strip to a fish to make a small loop.
  • Repeat this for all 5 fish and place them inside your basket.
  • Take a pipe cleaner and twist one end into a small, sturdy hook.
  • Wrap the other end of the pipe cleaner around your child’s index finger.
  • Challenge your child to hold the basket steady with one hand.
  • Use the finger hook to snag a fish loop and lift it out!

Safety Tip:
Pipe cleaners have wire ends. Ensure the ends are curled inward or covered with tape to prevent scratches.

The Wobbly Ribbon Tunnel Run

The Wobbly Ribbon Tunnel Run

Steps:

  • Cut five short pieces of colorful ribbon using your scissors.
  • Tape both ends of each ribbon onto a flat cardboard sheet.
  • Make sure each ribbon forms a small arch or tunnel.
  • Place a ping pong ball on one side of the cardboard.
  • Ask your child to hold the cardboard with both hands.
  • Challenge them to tilt the board to roll the ball.
  • Guide the ball through every ribbon tunnel to the end!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Ensure the ping pong ball is kept away from the mouth to avoid choking.

The Paper Roll Marble Plunge

The Paper Roll Marble Plunge

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw three small ‘X’ marks on the side of your long paper roll.
  • Have an adult help you poke a small hole through each ‘X’ mark using a pencil tip.
  • Push one craft stick through each hole so it stretches all the way across the inside of the tube.
  • Wrap a piece of masking tape over the bottom of the paper roll to seal it shut tightly.
  • Stand the roll upright inside a plastic container and drop five marbles into the top of the tube.
  • Slowly pull the bottom craft stick out and listen for the marbles to drop to the next level.
  • Remove the remaining sticks one by one until all the marbles are resting on the bottom tape.
  • Peel the tape away to let the marbles plunge into the container for a grand finale!

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a major choking hazard. This activity is for school-age children, but always keep marbles away from younger siblings.

The Silly String Bag Stylist

The Silly String Bag Stylist

Steps:

  • Use a marker to draw a big, funny face on the front of your Ziplock bag.
  • Open the bag and stuff it with several pieces of colorful yarn to look like wild hair.
  • Lay the bag flat on a table and secure the four corners with several pieces of masking tape.
  • Ask your child to use their pointer finger to push the yarn strands around inside the sealed bag.
  • Challenge them to move the yarn to give the character long bangs, a beard, or even silly eyebrows!
  • Style the hair in different ways to see how many funny looks you can create together!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure the bag stays sealed and they do not put yarn in their mouth.