Peanut Butter Playdough and Fun With Chalk

by Jessica
(Tobermory,Canada)

These are two very fun activities for kids that help to build better fine motor skills.

Peanut Butter Playdough:

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup corn syrup
1 1/4 cup icing sugar
1 1/4 cup powdered milk(must be powdered)

Mix all ingredients together well.Play,roll it,pat it and EAT it!.

You can also hide things like raisins,dried cranberries and chocolate chips inside a ball of this playdough and let the kids use there fine motor skills to pick them out.

My kids love this activity,we do it at least once weekly!It's a great rainy day activity.

Fun with chalk: This is an activity my daughter's resource teacher taught us.

You need a small chalkboard with a frame around it to create a small edge so the kids can't go off the board easily,small pieces of chalk(no more then 3cm in length),small pieces of sponge(the size of a cheese cube),a small glass of water(I use a shot glass),and a tissue(kleenex or paper towel), a small sticker of some sort.

1. Place the sticker at the top left hand corner of the chalkboard on the frame part.This will remind the child to always start in that corner when making their letters/numbers.

2.Show your child,staying along the very edge using the side of the frame as a guide how to make an "L".They will be able to get the proper grip with the chalk because it's so small.Remember to always start where the sticker is.This will teach them to be able to print neatly and with more ease.

3.Then show them how to use the sponge cube(again they will "pinch it cause of the shape/size)and make the same motions to erase the letter.

4. Next, use the tissue with the corner of it over your index finger and show them how to dry the board.(using the same motion creating the letter again)

5. Continue with the same letter allowing them do it this time.Use the words,write it,wipe it,dry it to help them to remember the next step.

You can do this with all vertical/horizontal letters to start with to help them learn their grip.Then move on to numbers and more "curvy" letters as they get a proper grip.

Horizontal/Vertical Letters: E,F,H,I,L,N,T