The Craft Stick Picture Puzzle

The Craft Stick Picture Puzzle

Steps:

  • Line up five or six craft sticks side-by-side on a flat table.
  • Place a long strip of masking tape across the back to hold them together.
  • Flip the sticks over so the tape is on the bottom.
  • Ask your child to draw a simple picture across all the sticks using markers.
  • Carefully peel the masking tape off the back.
  • Mix up the craft sticks so the picture is out of order.
  • Challenge your child to put the sticks back in the right order to reveal the picture!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child while they use markers to ensure they stay on the craft sticks. Check the sticks for splinters before starting the activity.

Vertical Post-It Peek-a-Boo

Vertical Post-It Peek-a-Boo

Steps:

  • Use masking tape to secure the cardboard vertically to a wall.
  • Make sure it is at your child’s chest or eye level.
  • Draw five large, bright shapes on the cardboard using your markers.
  • Write a different number inside each shape from 1 to 5.
  • Cover each shape completely with a single Post-It note.
  • Ask your child to reach up and peel a note to find a shape.
  • Challenge them to find a specific number you call out!
  • Have them stick the peeled notes onto their clothes for extra fun.

Safety Tip:
Choking Hazard. This activity uses Post-Its and masking tape. Small pieces of paper or tape can be a choking hazard. Always supervise your child closely. Ensure they do not put these materials in their mouth.

The Beaded Rainbow Arch

The Beaded Rainbow Arch

Steps:

  • Roll two large balls of playdough into thick cloud shapes.
  • Place the clouds about six inches apart on a flat table.
  • Select a pipe cleaner and a handful of matching beads.
  • Have your child slide the beads onto the pipe cleaner one by one.
  • Push one end of the wire deep into the first playdough cloud.
  • Bend the wire into a curve and push the other end into the second cloud.
  • Repeat this for every color of the rainbow!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Beads and pipe cleaners are small and can be a choking hazard.

The Ziplock Button Slide

The Ziplock Button Slide

Steps:

  • Use markers to draw three different colored circles on the front of a Ziplock bag.
  • Place buttons that match those colors inside the bag.
  • Add a small splash of water to the bag.
  • Seal the bag very tightly to prevent leaks.
  • Tape the bag flat onto a table using masking tape.
  • Ask your child to use their pointer finger to slide buttons into the matching circles.
  • Encourage them to move slowly to keep the buttons under their finger.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Buttons are a choking hazard. Ensure the bag is sealed and taped down firmly.

The Yarn Cross Clip Challenge

The Yarn Cross Clip Challenge

Steps:

  • Take a large, flat piece of Cardboard. Use Masking Tape to secure it to a table.
  • Cut several long pieces of Yarn. Tape the ends to the edges of the cardboard.
  • Stretch the yarn in different directions so they stretch across the middle of the board.
  • Make sure the yarn pieces cross each other to create several X shapes.
  • Give your child a handful of Clothespins. Use Markers to draw a dot on each pin.
  • Challenge your child to find a spot where two pieces of yarn cross.
  • They must reach across the board and clip a clothespin exactly on that X.
  • Encourage them to keep their helper hand resting on the cardboard corner for stability.
  • Once all the X spots are clipped, see if they can un-clip them with one hand!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges. Keep small clothespins away from younger children who might swallow them.