Its about time for a kids craft at the Ginger Life Blog!
Although my husband and I don’t have kids, we are certianly kids at heart. I have proof.
1. We have a new favorite
Ice cream that is. The “Krazy Kookie Dough” Ice Cream from Blue Bell has risen to first place in our never ending search for favorite ice cream flavors. And look, this marketing is clearly geared towards kids.
2. We have to go see the newest kids movies in the theatre. Always.
Frozen, How to Train Your Dragon 2, The Lego Movie….You name it we were there, in the theatre on opening weekend riding it out with all the chatty kids and their parents “shhHH”ing every 2 minutes.
Why? Because we LOVE kids movies.
My recent favorite is Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. I can’t help but cracking up at this cleaver film. It was this movie as well as my job as an Occupational Therapist (OT) that inspired this lovely fine motor kids craft. As an OT I am always trying to find great crafts to promote strength in little hands. This can help kids with grip strength which in turn can allow them the ability to do a number of fine motor actives: writing, buttoning, cutting, stringing beads…this list goes on. Of course a child rarely needs JUST strengthening, but its almost always a good place to start.
Disclaimer: This is simply a fine motor craft activity idea. If you have concerns about your child please see your pediatrician or get an Occupational Therapy evaluation
On to Crafting!
Fine Motor Kids Craft:
Supplies:
- Felt pieces (I just a square of blue and a square of black)
- scissors (if age appropriate and with adult supervision)
- Sharpie (optional)
- Big googley eyes
- work board to make your Minion on (optional)
Directions:
Preparation: You can grade this craft very easily based on the child’s age. For younger children have the Minion pants, hair and smile pre-cut out of the felt for them, for an older child have them cut the Minion’s pants, smile and hair out themselves. You can use a sharpie marker to draw an outline on the material and then have them cut it out if they need a guideline.
- Hide the big googley eye in the middle of the dough ball or putty. You can also use two eyes.
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Give the child the dough as well as felt pieces and tell them it is his/her turn to assemble the Minion.
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Allow them to dig out the eye, place hair or the head, place the felt pants on.
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You can have the child make several more minions, or have them start again and ask them how they might be able to change up the minion this time. For example make a sad Minion, a silly Minion, ect.
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For extra strengthening have the child mash the minion, roll the minion in a ball, roll the minion into a snake, and re assemble the minion!
This is a super fun and simple craft and best of all it incorporates all those little hand muscles that we need our children to develop to be successful at fine motor activities! Hope you enjoy!
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