How the eyes and hands work together as a team. This is essential for tasks where movement is guided by vision, like catching a ball, cutting on a line, or staying within the lines when coloring.
Use the scissors to cut 1/2 inch wide lines along the toilet paper roll. Do not cut all the way to the other side. These will become the flower petals.
Paint the cut toilet paper roll.
Put a few glue dots on the tissue paper.
Crumple the tissue paper to a ball. This will be the flower pistil in the center.
Glue the crumpled tissue paper to the painted toilet paper roll.
For this activity, you need 2 players (adult and child or two children).
Sit or stand across from each other at a table.
Each person should hold a plastic cup in one hand.
One person rolls a marble to the other person at a slow pace.
The second person places their cup on top of the marble trapping the marble under the cup.
Then they push their cup towards the first person sending the marble rolling to them at a moderate pace.
Then the first person captures the marble and this back and forth game continues on.
This activity can be graded by using a tennis ball or a ping-pong ball instead of the marble as well as using a large round container instead of the plastic cup.
In addition, you can be rolling the ball fast or slow, follow a path when passing the ball from one another, catching the ball as it rolls off the edge of the table, or using your hands instead of cups.
We made this version of an American flag, using red and blue paint, marbles, and aluminum foil pan.
Tape a piece of construction paper to the bottom of the aluminum foil pan.
We will use another piece of construction paper to create a template that will help separate the red paint and the blue paint on the flag.
Ask the child to cut a rectangle shape from the construction paper. Keep both pieces of the construction paper.
Tape the small rectangle template on the top right corner.
Dip the marbles in blue color or squeeze blue color on the construction paper in a few spots.
Place the marbles in the aluminum foil pan and ask the child to move the foil pan from side to side to create long blue lines.
Remove the small rectangle template and place the rest of the construction paper on top of the blue colored lines.
Dip marbles in red color or squeeze red color on the construction paper in a few spots.
Place the marbles in the aluminum foil pan and ask the child to move the foil pan from side to side.
Remove the construction paper to uncover the American flag.
Place the pompoms on a plate or in a container.
For each clothespin, have the child reach out and pick 5-6 small pompoms, using pincer grasp to pick them up, and place in front of him.
Ask the child to apply glue on the wide part of the clothespin, and use the tweezers to place one pompom at a time on the glue.
While the glue is drying, either draw 2-3 leaves on green construction paper or let the child draw them. Have the child cut out the leaves. If the child has difficulty cutting, we recommend providing thicker lines.
Once the glue is all dry, instruct the child to glue the googly eyes on the first pompom. Make sure to glue on the clothespin side that opens up.
Ask the child to put one caterpillar on each leaf by opening the clothespin with one hand, and holding the leaf with the other hand.
Instruct the child to turn the cup upside down and dip the rim into the paint. Fingers should spread across the bottom of the cup for a firm grasp.
Place the paint covered rim firmly on the paper to make the ring. Repeat desired amount of times with each color chosen. The cup should be re-dipped for each new ring.
Be sure to instruct the child to keep the cups on the designated color plate so the colors do not run and blend. (E.g. blue cup with blue paint, red with red, etc.)
Benefits of this activity:
1. Holding the cup with the fingers all spread apart strengthen the thumb muscles and deep muscles in the hand that play a key role in the dexterity required for moving a pencil for writing and drawing.
2. A motor sequence occurs as the child dips, places the cup on the paper and repeats this.
3. Eye-hand motor coordination occurs as the child plans where to place the cup. The dramatic colors draw the child’s eyes to the paper.
4. Matching colors-correct plate for the paint covered cup
5. Planning a design may occur.
Note: For children with tactile sensitivities, be sure to have a towel or source for washing hands nearby.
