Tear & Thread Cardboard Chain

Tear & Thread Cardboard Chain

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard. Use the hole puncher to create 8 to 10 holes evenly around the edges of the board.
  • Give your child strips of sturdy cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the strips and crumple the pieces into tight, dense balls. Drop the finished balls into the container.
  • Pick up one colorful pipe cleaner. Help your child push the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the center of one dense cardboard ball. This creates a ‘loaded pin’.
  • Challenge your child to hold the cardboard frame steady with their helper hand. Thread the loaded pin through one punched hole in the frame. Pull the pipe cleaner through.
  • Weave the pin back through the next open hole, linking the crumpled cardboard ball to the frame. Repeat this process until all the crumpled pieces create a colorful chain around the border.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn cardboard and cut pipe cleaners are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Heavy Punch Sequin Fill

Heavy Punch Sequin Fill

Steps:

  • Cut a small, sturdy piece of cardboard. This is your target canvas.
  • Use the hole puncher to squeeze and punch 6 to 8 holes across the cardboard. Squeezing hard builds strength!
  • Place the small sequins into the container. Put the cardboard target on a table.
  • Hold the cardboard firmly steady with your non-dominant hand.
  • Pick up the tweezers. Use the pincer grasp to pinch one tiny sequin.
  • Carefully carry and aim the sequin toward a punched hole. Gently drop the sequin precisely inside the opening.
  • Repeat this process until every punched hole has been successfully filled with colorful sequins.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Sequins and cardboard punch-outs are very small objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure all materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Resistant Gate Push

Resistant Gate Push

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the foam sheet tightly onto the cardboard piece for maximum stability.
  • Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, short slits (about 1.5 inches long) randomly across the foam surface. Ensure the slits are very tight.
  • Encourage your child to use both hands to bend and twist the pipe cleaners into small, rigid shapes like tight coils, flat squares, or stiff hooks. Ensure they are strong.
  • Challenge your child to hold the stable cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand.
  • Pick up one rigid pipe cleaner shape. Aim the shape at a narrow slit and use a strong, controlled push to insert the entire shape through the resistant foam gate. Feel the effort!
  • Repeat this forceful pushing and threading action until all the slits have been successfully filled with colorful pipe cleaner shapes.

Safety Tip:
Adults must handle the scissors for cutting the narrow slits. Supervise closely as children manipulate pipe cleaners, ensuring the ends are tucked or curled to prevent scratches while pushing.

Resistance Stick Tangle

Resistance Stick Tangle

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut several 18-inch strips of yarn. Tightly wrap each yarn strip around a craft stick until only the ends are exposed.
  • Secure the wrapped yarn tightly to the craft stick using small, strong strips of masking tape. Press the tape down hard for maximum resistance.
  • Place all the secured, tangled sticks into the plastic container. Decorate the container using markers.
  • Sit stably at a table. Use your helper hand to hold the container firmly steady to keep it from tipping.
  • Use your working hand to grip the exposed end of one craft stick with a strong pincer grasp.
  • Challenge yourself to pull the stick straight up and out of the resistant yarn tangle. Feel the effort! Drop the rescued stick into a pile.
  • Repeat this process until all the sticks have been successfully pulled free from the tangle.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of yarn and masking tape pose a potential choking hazard for children under five. Ensure the child uses materials only as intended.

Precision Tube Drop

Precision Tube Drop

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Cut a 4-inch wide strip from the foam sheet. Roll the strip tightly to create a narrow, stable tube, securing the seam firmly with masking tape.
  • Secure the bottom of the foam tube vertically onto the construction paper using plenty of masking tape. The paper acts as a base.
  • Place the sticks in the container next to the base. Ask your child to sit stably and use their helper hand to hold the base firmly.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one craft stick using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
  • Encourage them to aim carefully and drop the stick straight down through the narrow opening of the foam tube without touching the sides.
  • Repeat this precision task until all the craft sticks have been successfully dropped into the tube.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small items and pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.