Styrofoam Activity

For Ages: 18 mos. to 2 yrs.	Purpose: We are trying to develop muscles in their upper arms and hands. This will help their gross and fine motor skills. This activity will also help develop their eye/ hand coordination.
Materials: 1 piece of styrofoam at least 2” thick 5 popsicle sticks either plain or colored 1 bright colored marker
Instructions: You can have your child sit either at the table in a booster chair or in the highchair. I stuck the popsicle sticks into the styrofoam first. You may have to show your child how to hold the styrofoam with one hand while s/he pulls the sticks out with the other. They will try to put the sticks back into the same holes. That is good at first but then you’ll need to make small dots on the styrofoam with the marker. You may have to show them how to push hard to get those sticks into the styrofoam where the dots are. This will not be easy at the time. They will need a little practice. WATCH that they don’t put the pieces of styrofoam into their mouths.