Visual Perception

Vertical Fuzzy Line Clip

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to color 3 or 4 pipe cleaners and matching clothespins (e.g., green, blue, pink).
Adult Prep: Tightly stretch the pipe cleaners vertically across the container opening. Secure the ends firmly with tape or punch holes in the container rim to anchor the pipe cleaners.
Place the pom-poms and colorful clothespins nearby. Encourage your child to sit stably at the table.
Challenge your child to hold the container firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the ‘fence.’
Use the working hand to select a clothespin. Squeeze it open hard with a strong finger pinch.
Aim the clothespin and clip it onto the pipe cleaner line that matches its color. Now, clip a pom-pom onto the clothespin for decoration!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. The small pom-poms and pipe cleaner pieces are choking hazards for children who still place objects in their mouths. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Noodle Chop Sort

Steps:

Use markers to color strips of paper that match the colors of your pool noodle. Tape these colored strips onto two separate baskets to create sorting targets.
Give your child the pool noodle and a pair of safety scissors. Encourage them to hold the noodle firmly with their ‘helper hand’ to keep it steady.
Challenge your child to cut the pool noodle into small, thin ‘coins’ or ‘slices.’ Remind them to use strong, full squeezes of the scissors.
Once the noodle is completely chopped, ask your child to look at the color targets. Sort the colorful foam coins into the matching color baskets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise closely when using scissors. Use child-safe scissors appropriate for their hand size. Since the age range includes younger preschoolers, ensure that cut noodle pieces are not placed in the mouth, as they can pose a choking hazard if ingested.

Clothespin Feather Match

Steps:

Prepare the ‘Clipping Creature’ by decorating the plastic container with markers.
Use index cards to draw and cut several long strips. These are your colorful ‘feathers.’
Draw small, matching colored dots on the rim of the container and on the ends of the clothespins (e.g., red dot on rim, red dot on pin).
Encourage your child to pinch open a clothespin. Clip a colorful index card feather onto it first.
Challenge them to clip the clothespin onto the container’s rim. The color on the pin must match the color dot on the container.

Safety Tip:
If the child is using scissors during step two, ensure constant adult supervision. Only use child-safe scissors.

Slot & Stitch Sculpture

Steps:

Prepare the structure ‘parts’ by cutting several index cards into different shapes (squares, rectangles, triangles). Then, cut small, narrow slots (about 1/4 inch deep) into the edges of each card. (Adult help required for cutting slots.)
Challenge your child to connect the slotted cards by sliding them into each other to create a 3D structure, like a tall building, a bridge, or a fun abstract sculpture.
Using the hole puncher, encourage your child to punch several holes around the edges of the assembled structure. Remind them to hold the structure steady with one hand while squeezing the puncher with the other to strengthen their grasp.
Give your child long pieces of yarn. Demonstrate how to weave the yarn through the punched holes to ‘stitch’ the structure together, reinforcing the corners and decorating their sculpture with color.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise the use of child-safe scissors. Yarn and small pieces of index card can pose a choking hazard for children who still mouth objects; ensure all pieces are kept away from the mouth.

Twisty Cap Match

Steps:

Use markers to draw matching colors or simple patterns (like stripes or dots) onto the plastic bottle caps and the tops of the bottles.
Place one small button inside each empty plastic bottle. This gives auditory feedback when the cap is removed.
Challenge your child to hold the bottle firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable on the table.
Use the dominant hand to pick up the cap and twist it tightly onto the matching bottle. Focus on smooth, repetitive wrist twisting.
Once all caps are on, practice twisting them off quickly to ‘rescue’ the buttons inside. Put the buttons back in the container to start a new round.

Safety Tip:
Buttons are small items. Always supervise children closely during this activity to prevent a choking hazard.