Fun Indoor Sensory Activities, Part 5
Fun Indoor Sensory Activities
Cutting corners — and other shapes too: crafts that utilize scissor skills
Here are ideas for some classic projects that put your child’s growing familiarity with scissor skills to good use:
Drinking straw necklace
The classic introductory kids’ craft! Simply snip different colored drinking straws into ‘beads’ and then thread them onto string or cord to make necklaces. In addition to the fine motor skills involved in cutting, your child is also practicing threading.
Materials:
Different colored drinking straws
String or cord
Scissors
How to / tips:
— Encourage your child to cut the straws into fairly even lengths
— Cut a length of string or cord slightly longer than the desired length of the necklace (be sure it’s long enough to fit over the head of the person who’s going to be wearing it)
— Tie a knot at one end that is bigger than the openings of the straw, to prevent the ‘beads’ from falling off the bottom
— Tip: If your child wants to follow a pattern when he is threading the straw ‘beads,’ it makes it easier to put the different colors in separate containers
— When she’s finished threading the straw ‘beads,’ tie the ends of the string together for a statement necklace!
Bonus:
Threading the ‘beads’ in an alternating color pattern is a great sequencing activity (early math skill)
Paper plate lion stick puppet
Materials:
Paper plate
Markers and/or crayons
Construction paper
Glue or glue stick
Craft stick
Scissors
Optional: yarn or elastic
Optional: stapler
How to:
— Cut out construction paper shapes for the eyes, nose and mouth
— Glue them onto the plate
— Use markers and/or crayons to finish the face
— Snip around the edges of the plate to make the mane
— Glue the craft stick to the back of the plate
— The lion puppet is ready to roar!
Bonus: mask
— To make the lion into a mask, instead of cutting out construction paper shapes for the lion’s eyes and nose, help your child mark on the back of the plate where his own eyes and nose would be, and cut out those shapes from the plate
— Add a mouth with marker or crayon (if she cuts out too many shapes, the plate may fall apart), as well as whiskers, etc.
— Staple elastic (to stretch over his head) or yarn (to tie behind his head) to the edges of the plate to hold the mask on to his face
— Beware your king of the jungle!
— Tip: Put heavy tape over the staple ‘points’ so they don’t come loose and scratch your child
Collage
Materials:
Postcards
Greeting cards
Catalogs
Magazines
Newspapers
Any other paper in your recycling bin that has attractive pictures or colors
Glue or glue stick
Scissors
How to:
— Rescue some paper materials from the recycling bin and put them to one final use: let your child cut up whatever she likes to make a collage
— He can cut out freeform shapes and attractive color blocks, as well as actual photos and art that appeal to him
— Glue them down to paper or cardboard
— Let dry and admire!
Paper chains
Another classic craft.
Materials:
Colored paper
Catalogs
Magazines
Newspapers
Junk mail
Any paper
Tape
Scissors
How to:
— Have your child cut any paper, or combination of paper, into short strips
— Tape one strip together end-to-end to form a circle or oval
— Thread another strip through the first and tape its ends together to form the next link in the chain
— Continue threading and taping until the chain is the desired length
— Either leave it loose like a hanging garland or close it up into a necklace by threading the final paper link through the links at either end of the chain before taping that last link together
Snowflakes
And another classic — folded paper snowflakes
Materials:
Paper (or attractively-printed wrapping paper)
Scissors
Optional: glitter glue
How to:
— Follow one of the simple videos below
— Optional: Use glitter glue to decorate the snowflakes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Q6iUTlWqE
(This one is especially easy, for young kids)
https://laughingkidslearn.com/how-to-make-paper-snowflakes-with-kids/
https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/entertainment/crafts-hobbies/how-to-make-paper-snowflakes
https://kinderart.com/art-lessons/seasons/winter/paper-snowflakes/
(This link includes templates)
https://www.firstpalette.com/craft/paper-snowflake.html
(This link includes links to other snowflake-folding instructions, as well as templates)
Tip:
— Flatten the snowflakes between or under books before hanging
Wrapping presents
If you happen to have presents that need wrapping, it’s a good opportunity for your child to cut wrapping paper, tape, and ribbons — and for you to cut something off your to-do list!
Looking ahead:
In the next post, we will discuss indoor games that give your child plenty of options to have fun and expend energy while developing sensory skills.
What is a project your child really enjoyed making using scissors? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Also, let me know there or via email what topics you would like to discuss or hear more about.
Feel free to share or quote from this blog (with attribution, please, and if possible, a link), and to repost on social media.
I look forward to hearing from you!
All the best,