Take a kit home and use the activity ideas below as inspiration for your playtime! Kits are available at the Youth Desk while supplies last.
Sticky Paper Snow Collage
Materials: Sticky paper (such as Con-Tact paper), cotton balls, cotton swabs, tissue paper
*Come to the Youth Services Reference Desk to pick up a kit with materials (while supplies last).*
What: Tape the paper to a window or wall with the sticky side facing out. Put out the cotton balls (or tissue paper, nature items, or other materials) and let your little one start sticking! Try making cotton wisps by pulling the cotton balls apart. For older children, try making a smiley face, snowman, or snowflake! There are no rules to this play time-- enjoy the process of creating!
Why: This tactile project is great for fine motor skills, creativity, and sensory exploration! When children use their fingers to pinch, pull apart, pick up, and place items on the sticky paper they are exercising the small muscles in their hands. These are the muscles needed to write! Plus, what is more fun than a blank canvas? Here is an activity where children get to exercise their choice and creativity to make something unique.
Extra ideas:
*Try to describe all of the textures. How does the paper feel? How about the cotton balls? This is a great way to expand your vocabulary!
*Go for a walk and add some nature objects to your sticky paper.
*Save the wax paper backing and use it for some indoor "ice" skating! Just tape the leftover wax paper around your child's foot, turn on some music, and start sliding around on a carpeted area or a rug.
*Read Stuck by Oliver Jeffers.
*Draw a picture or letter with marker on the non-sticky side. Ask your child to fill in the shape or trace the line with cotton balls.
I would love to see you busy playing! Please send a picture to clewis@egvpl.org if you would like to share.