Skill: Visual Perception

How the brain makes sense of what the eyes see. This skill helps children solve puzzles, recognize shapes, and tell the difference between similar letters like ‘b’ and ‘d’ or ‘p’ and ‘q’.

Button Shadow Alignment

Button Shadow Alignment

Steps:

  • Tape a piece of butcher paper onto a flat piece of cardboard.
  • Place the board in a sunny spot to create clear shadows.
  • Put five buttons on the paper and trace each shadow carefully.
  • Move the buttons into a pile away from the outlines.
  • Ask your child to pick up a button using their pincer grasp.
  • Challenge them to match each button to its correct shadow shape.

Safety Tip:
Buttons are a choking hazard. Always supervise your child during play and keep small parts away from the mouth.

The Sunny Stained-Glass Bag

The Sunny Stained-Glass Bag

Steps:

  • Have your child choose three colors of tissue paper.
  • Ask them to use both hands to tear the paper into small pieces.
  • Have your child squeeze glue onto the front of the Ziplock bag.
  • Use a finger or a scrap of paper to spread the glue flat.
  • Pick up each paper square using a pincer grasp.
  • Press the colorful pieces onto the sticky glue.
  • Cover the whole bag to make a beautiful mosaic pattern.
  • Use masking tape to stick the bag onto a sunny window.

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they use scissors. Make sure they do not place the glue or small paper bits in their mouth.

The Fuzzy Felt Sorting Nest

The Fuzzy Felt Sorting Nest

Steps:

  • Use scissors to cut your colorful felt sheets into small, one-inch squares.
  • Use your markers to color the bottom of each cup in the egg carton a different color.
  • Place all the colorful felt squares into a pile on the table next to the egg carton.
  • Hand your child the tweezers and show them how to squeeze them with their thumb and pointer finger.
  • Challenge your child to pick up one felt square at a time using the tweezers.
  • Ask them to place the felt square into the egg carton cup that matches its color!
  • Repeat this playful process until all the felt pieces are sorted into their matching nests.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or handling small tweezers.

The Cardboard Paddle Balance Walk

The Cardboard Paddle Balance Walk

Steps:

  • Cut a piece of cardboard into a square shape, about the size of a book.
  • Use masking tape to mark a start and finish line on the floor.
  • Place a ping pong ball in the center of the cardboard paddle.
  • Ask your child to hold the paddle with both hands at first.
  • Challenge them to walk from the start line to the finish line without the ball falling.
  • Once they are experts, have them try holding the paddle with only one hand!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child during the activity to prevent any trips or falls on the floor.

The Cardboard Compass Navigator

The Cardboard Compass Navigator

Steps:

  • Use your scissors to cut a large square out of cardboard for your map base.
  • Draw a colorful landscape with markers including a river and a forest.
  • Glue a craft stick at each edge of the board and label them North, South, East, and West.
  • Use a pencil to poke a tiny hole right in the center of your map.
  • Thread a piece of string through one button and then through the hole in the cardboard.
  • Tie a thick knot on the back of the board so the button stays attached.
  • Ask your child to rest their palm on the cardboard without lifting it.
  • They must use their thumb and index finger to slide the button to different targets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or small buttons.