Hello everyone hope you are all well, the ladies are missing all of you and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Todays activities will look at a few fun craft ideas where you can help develop your child’s fine motor skills.  This can aid concentration and help prepare for handwriting.

Some suggestions for resources; pipe cleaners, wool, laces, pasta, straws, buttons, card, child sewing needle, scissors, playdough, beads, single hole punch.  If your child is left handed it may be beneficial to buy left handed scissors or scissors for both left handed/right handed users.

Activity one: diy straw and pipe cleaner fidget.

Child can cut the straws into different lengths (encourage smaller lengths).  Begin to thread the straws onto the pipe cleaner, children can create their own pattern.  They might like to count how many pieces of straws they have used.  Adults can help secure the pipe cleaner when work is complete, join more together to make a longer length.

Activity two: Using pasta with wool or elastic thread the pasta onto different lengths of wool/elastic.  Your child can crate their own necklace or bracelet.  Alternatively use beads so they can create their own jewellery.

Activity three: Your child can cut a large shape from a piece of card (cereal boxes are good for craft activities).  Adult pierce holes randomly in the card to create various patterns.  Use laces or wool to thread in and out of the holes.  A child’s sewing needle may be helpful.  Use selotape or tie knots to secure different colours of wool.  Buttons could be threaded onto the card.

Finally dough – very good for fine motor skills.

A simple recipe:  2 cups of plain flour, half a cup of salt, quarter cup of oil (any oil, I like to use baby oil), 1 cup of tepid water. Mix it altogether in a large bowl.  Use food colouring to create the required colour.  Adding different hair conditioner can create various fragrances or vanilla essence (just experiment with these).  Involve your child in making the dough; counting how many spoonfuls of flour etc.  If the dough is sticky just add more flour or if it is dry add a little more water.  When it’s ready have fun; add cutters and scissors can be used to cut the dough.  Store the dough in a food bag or air tight container.

Please remember these are just some suggested activities you may wish to try with your child/children.

Have fun!

Stay safe.

Miss Curran