Pincer Control

The Cardboard Yarn Harp

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a large rectangle from your cardboard.
Cut a square out of the middle to make a frame.
Let your child decorate the cardboard frame using bright markers.
Tape one end of a piece of yarn to the back of the frame.
Wrap the yarn around the frame to create several harp strings.
Secure the other end of the yarn with masking tape.
Ask your child to hold the frame steady with their helper hand.
Challenge them to squeeze and clip clothespins onto the yarn strings.
Encourage them to cross their arm over to clip the opposite side!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors. Ensure the cardboard edges are smooth to prevent minor scrapes.

The Fuzzy Felt Sorting Nest

Steps:

Use scissors to cut your colorful felt sheets into small, one-inch squares.
Use your markers to color the bottom of each cup in the egg carton a different color.
Place all the colorful felt squares into a pile on the table next to the egg carton.
Hand your child the tweezers and show them how to squeeze them with their thumb and pointer finger.
Challenge your child to pick up one felt square at a time using the tweezers.
Ask them to place the felt square into the egg carton cup that matches its color!
Repeat this playful process until all the felt pieces are sorted into their matching nests.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or handling small tweezers.

The Button Anchor Wind-Up

Steps:

Fill an empty milk container halfway with dry rice to make it heavy.
Tape the cap shut securely so the rice stays inside.
Cut a long piece of yarn, about three feet long.
Tape one end of the yarn to the bottom of the milk container.
Hand your child a button and show them how to thread the yarn through it.
Have your child hold the jug steady with one hand while winding the yarn once around the container.
Thread another button and wind the yarn again.
Continue until all the buttons are anchored onto the jug!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play as buttons and dry rice are choking hazards. Ensure the jug is on a stable surface to prevent it from falling on little toes.

The Shimmering Mosaic Lid Garden

Steps:

Place the plastic container on a flat table.
Use markers to draw grass and flower stems on the sides of the container.
Put long strips of masking tape across the lid with the sticky side facing up.
Secure the edges of the tape so it stays on the lid.
Have your child pick up one sequin using their thumb and pointer finger.
Press the sequin onto the sticky tape to make a flower on top of the stem.
Continue until the garden on the lid is full of colorful sequin flowers.

Safety Tip:
Sequins are very small and can be a choking hazard, so please supervise your child closely during play.

The Rainbow Tissue Windmill

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut two straws into four-inch lengths.
Lay the straws across each other to form a perfect X shape.
Place a small piece of masking tape in the center to hold them.
Cut four small squares of colorful tissue paper using your scissors.
Tape one tissue square to the very end of each straw arm.
Use the pencil tip to poke a hole through the center tape.
Push a pipe cleaner through the hole you made.
Slide one bead onto the pipe cleaner on each side of the straws.
Wrap one end of the pipe cleaner around a pencil to make a handle.
Twist the other end into a small loop to keep everything in place.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors and the pencil to poke holes. Ensure the beads are handled carefully.