Shoulder Strength - Page 3 of 12

Floating Feather Fans

Steps:

Lay a long strip of butcher paper on the floor to make your landing runway.
Use masking tape to secure a basket at the very end of the paper.
Have your child lie on their tummy at the start of the runway.
Place a soft feather in front of them on the paper.
Hand your child a straw and ask them to blow air through it.
Challenge them to push the feather forward using only their breath.
If the feather gets stuck, give them a paper plate to use as a fan.
Encourage them to wave the plate to create wind and move the feather.
The goal is to get the feather all the way into the basket!
Repeat the race and see if they can do it faster each time.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely while they are lying on the floor. Ensure the room is clear of sharp corners or hard furniture. Keep straws away from eyes and mouth after use.

The Growing Newspaper Tree

Steps:

Take two large sheets of newspaper and lay them flat on the floor.
Overlap the edges slightly and use a piece of masking tape to hold them together.
Start at one end and roll the newspaper up into a very long, tight tube.
Wrap another piece of tape around the bottom of the tube to keep it from unrolling.
Hold the tube steady with one hand and use your scissors to cut four long slits from the top down to the middle.
Reach into the center of the tube and gently pull the paper upward.
Watch as your tree grows taller and taller as you pull the strips out!
Use your hands to fluff out the paper branches to finish your tree.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while they are using scissors to keep them safe.

The Pool Noodle Steamroller

Steps:

Use masking tape to mark a start and finish line on a soft rug.
Place several stuffed animals in a row between the two lines.
Give your toddler a long pool noodle to hold with both hands.
Encourage them to roll the noodle over the toys while crawling.
Have them push down hard to steamroll each fluffy friend.
Put the toys in a basket once they reach the finish line.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they stay safe. Pool noodles can be a choking hazard if small pieces are swallowed.

The Supine Tape Rescue

Steps:

Place two sturdy boxes about two feet apart on a carpeted floor.
Stretch several long strips of masking tape between the boxes with the sticky side facing down toward the floor.
Press lightweight treasures like ribbons, feathers, and paper clips onto the sticky tape bridge.
Ask your child to lie on their back on the floor between the two boxes, looking up at the tape.
Encourage them to reach up with one hand to peel a treasure off the tape.
Challenge them to use their other hand to hold a basket as they rescue all the treasures!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure they do not put any small items like paper clips in their mouth.

The Newspaper Crane Challenge

Steps:

Help your child roll a large sheet of newspaper into a tight, long rod.
Use several pieces of masking tape to keep the paper rod from unrolling.
Tape a small box firmly to one end of the long newspaper rod.
Scatter several small blocks on the floor in front of your child.
Ask your child to hold the handle end of the rod with both hands.
Challenge them to reach out and use the box to scoop up one block.
Have them lift the block and carry it to a target box on the floor.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the play area is clear of sharp furniture while your child moves the long rod.