Friendship bracelets
Encourage your child to make a gift for someone special and support their fine motor skills
What you will need
- Pipe cleaners
- Different coloured straws
- Scissors
Safety first
Ensure your child is carefully supervised while using scissors
What to do
Ask your child to choose some coloured straws that they think their friend will like. Show your child how they can snip their straws into small pieces to create beads for their bracelet
When your child has enough beads, encourage them to thread these onto their pipe cleaner. What kind of pattern can they created with the different colours? You could also encourage your add to add some glue and glitter if they would like to make a sparkly bracelet!
Show your child how they can then twist the end together to form a bracelet. Which friend will they give their bracelet to?
How does this help my child's development?
Threading activities are really important for children to develop the pincer grip that is essential for being able to write and hold a pencil effectively. This activity also promotes bilateral coordination where the hands are engaged in different tasks
Pressed flowers photo frame
In this project your child will make a gift for a friend, learn safety rules, and develop and understanding of cause and effect and time!
What you will need
- Some wild flowers such as daisies or dandelions
- Some heavy books
- A piece of card and some glue
- A photo of a friend
Safety first
Talk to your child about the importance of only picking flowers that you have told them are safe to pick. Make sure your child washes their hands after picking flowers
What to do
When on a walk in the woods, at the park or in your garden, look out for wild flowers such as daisies or dandelions. Show your child how they can pick these using their thumb and forefinger at the base of the stem
When you get home, explain to your child that you are going to press the flowers so you can make a present for a friend. Place a heavy book on the table and ask your child to place a piece of paper on top of it. Next, show them how to lay out the flowers on the paper. They can then put another piece of paper on top, followed by another heavy book. Ask your child what they think will happen
A few days later, remove the books and show your child what the flowers look like now! Provide your child with a piece of card and a photograph of themselves they would like to give to a friend. Show your child how they can stick the picture in the middle of the card and then stick the pressed flowers around the edge. Alternatively these could be used to make card for a friend. What a lovely gift for someone special!
How does this help my child's development?
This project takes a few days to complete so supports your child's developing patience. Making a gift for someone special encourages your child's sense of empathy