Holiday Box Craft

This time of year we love incorporating holiday themed activities into fine motor work. See below for this fun popsicle stick box craft where you can choose to make either a Christmas tree or Hanukkah Menorah! Pushing the popsicle sticks into the corresponding slots is a great way for kids to work on fine motor strength and precision.

Materials Needed:

• Recycled Box (big enough for a sheet of computer paper)

• Knife

• FREE Holiday Box Craft Printable

• Clear Packing Tape

• Popsicle Sticks

• Hot Glue

• Pom-Poms

Step 1: Tape your box closed using clear packing tape. We added yellow painters tape around sides for extra color, but this step is optional.

Step 2: Tape FREE Holiday Box Printable sheet of choice to the top of the box covering with clear painters tape.

Step 3: Using hot glue, glue a pom-pom to the top of each popsicle stick. To help with this we used the knife to make a small cut in the bottom of the pom-pom (but be careful not to cut too deep or the pom-pom will unravel).

Step 4: Using knife cut small slit into picture and through the box in desired area (either on top of ornaments or where the candle flame will be).

Step 5: Have fun!! Work on putting popsicle sticks into slots to complete the picture. Such a fun way to challenge fine motor strength.

Pumpkin Gut Sensory Bag

This time of year there always seems to be tons of pumpkins around for carving, decor, or crafts! So why not use the pumpkin for a sensory activity?! This would be great to do along with pumpkin carving, or it is a fun stand alone activity.

Materials Needed:

• Pumpkin

• Knife

• Halloween themed pieces of choice (we decided to go with witch fingers)

• Ziplock Bag

Step 1: Cut the top of the pumpkin off using a knife. If carving this will be a small top cut, but if doing as a stand alone activity cut into more of a bowl shape with a large opening.

Step 2: Look at all those amazing pumpkin guts!! Scoop them away from the sides, add your halloween toys, and mix together.

*Therapy tip: For a really gooey sensory experience you can have your child help mix the toys in using their hands, or have them try to find the items by digging in pumpkin bowl for the toys.

Step 3: For a less messy sensory experience, scoop all the contents into a large ziplock bag. Have your child work to find the hidden pieces or try to move the pieces into a line or make a shape. Have Fun!

*Therapy tip: This is a great way to work on isolation of the pointer finger! Try using the pointer finger to move the seeds, search for objects, or line objects up.

Feed The Ghosts

We are huge fans of themed therapy activities for Halloween, and this ghost feeding one is so fun to get the kids involved in. This activity can help strengthen pincer grasp and finger isolation. You can also add clothes pins, tweezers, or tongs to pick up the pom-poms for grip strength. You even have the option to turn this into a color recognition game.

Materials Needed:

• Box (We used a recycled amazon box), but a shoe box would also work

• Ghost Printable (Click here to download for free)

• Box Cutter

• Scissors

• Tape

• Pom-Poms or Cotton Balls

• Markers/Crayons (optional)

Step 1: Print Halloween ghost printable for free! Using scissors cut out the mouths of all the ghosts.

Step 2: Tape one side of box closed to make a flat top. You will want to leave bottom open so you are able to get pom-poms out. Place ghost paper on top of box and trace where the holes will be. Using box cutter, carefully cut holes into the box.

Step 3: Tape the ghost paper on top of the box so that the mouths line up with the holes. Have your child work to pick up pom-poms or cotton balls and feed the ghosts by pushing them into the box.

*Therapy tip: Try making the holes in the box a bit smaller than your pom-poms so that your child has to isolate their index finger to push it inside the box.

Step 4: As an optional extra step have your child color the ghosts to match pom-poms. Then they can practice feeding the ghosts matching colored food! So “Boo-tiful”

Binocular Craft

We love this fun binocular craft idea using recycled toilet paper rolls! Kids can work on their fine motor skills decorating and building the binoculars, and then can use them for visual scanning activities after they are done.

This craft is pretty simple, and has two different building/decorating options:

Option 1: Paint the rolls and glue them together (we suggest hot glue)

Option 2: Tape the rolls together using painters tape

Supplies needed for craft: 2 toilet paper rolls, bandana or string to use as neck strap, paint (if using option 1), glue (if using option 1), tape (if using option 2), and something to poke a hole in the side of the rolls (we used a hole punch, but a pen would work as well)

Start by choosing which option you have the materials for at home.

Option 1 Paint:

• Step 1: Paint the toilet paper rolls, and let dry. You can do basic colors like us, or add designs.

• Step 2: Glue rolls together and let dry

• Step 3: Punch holes in both sides.

• Step 4: Tie bandana or string through the holes to make neck strap.

• Step 5: Happy searching!!

Option 2 Tape:

• Step 1: Wrap tape around 2 rolls to hold them together. You can use colors to make stripes like we did, or do all one color. To add extra decor try using stickers.

• Step 2: Punch holes in both sides.

• Step 3: Tie bandana or string through the holes to make neck strap.

• Step 4: Happy searching!!

When attaching the neck strap make sure you thread it in first, and then tie the knot on the outside of the roll so that it does not obstruct the view through the binoculars.

Next, enjoy the final product! Check out our scavenger hunt post for a fun outdoor visual scanning activity to put these binoculars to work. You can also practice bird/people watching through the windows, or finding objects inside the house. Try finding different shapes and colors, or playing a game of “I spy with my little eye.”