Shoulder Strength - Page 2 of 12

The Taped Yarn Bridge Pull

Steps:

Cut a large rectangle of cardboard to use as your steady work base.
Tape two long, parallel pieces of yarn across the cardboard about three inches apart.
Make sure the yarn is very tight so it forms two raised ‘rails’.
Use your markers to draw a bright finish line at one end of the board.
Take an empty paper cup and place it upside down on top of the two yarn rails.
Carefully set a ping pong ball on the bottom of the upside-down cup.
Tie a separate piece of yarn to a paper clip and slide the clip onto the cup’s rim.
Hold the cardboard base firmly with your helper hand to keep it still.
Slowly pull the yarn string to glide the cup along the rails toward the finish line!
If the ball falls off, return to the start and try pulling with a smoother motion.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using long pieces of yarn. Store the yarn safely away after play to prevent any risk of entanglement.

The Musical Ribbon Shaker

Steps:

Give your toddler two paper plates to decorate with markers.
Place one plate face up on the table.
Help your child pick up a handful of beans.
Ask them to use their thumb and pointer finger to drop the beans one by one.
Place the second plate upside down on top of the first.
An adult should staple the edges together firmly.
Glue several colorful ribbon strips to the sides of the shaker.
Show your toddler how to hold the shaker with both hands.
Shake the plates to the beat of your favorite song!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Beans and staples are small. Always supervise your child and ensure the plates are sealed tightly.

Under-Table Starry Night

Steps:

Draw many colorful dots across a flat piece of cardboard using your markers.
Use a pen to poke a small hole through the center of every dot.
Find a stable low table and tape the cardboard to the underside with masking tape.
Help your child lie down on their back underneath the table.
Hand them a pile of Q-tips to hold in their helper hand.
Challenge them to push a Q-tip into every star hole they see above.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the table is stable and the area is clear of hard objects. Always supervise your child while they are lying under the furniture.

Buggy Rope Slide

Steps:

Securely tape one end of the rope to the top of a stable doorway.
Let the other end of the rope hang down to the floor.
Use markers to draw small, silly bugs on the index cards.
Help your child slide a paper clip onto the edge of each card.
Place all the bug cards into a basket near the rope.
Ask your child to clip one bug onto the very bottom of the rope.
Challenge them to use both hands to slide the bug card all the way to the top!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure the rope is used safely and does not become tangled.

Newspaper Ring Launchers

Steps:

Help your child roll a single sheet of newspaper diagonally into a tight, long tube.
Wrap masking tape around the top, middle, and bottom to keep the paper firm.
Cut a large circle out of the center of a cardboard piece for a target.
Use ribbon to hang the cardboard ring from a stable doorway or chair.
Mark a throw line on the floor with tape a few feet away.
Challenge your child to throw their newspaper tube through the center of the ring.
Move the line further back to make the game harder as they improve.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended to ensure the child throws safely and the area is clear of breakable items.