Paper Bag Tear and Stuff

What you need

• paper bag
• packing paper

How to do it

1. Give your toddler a few sheets of packing paper and let them tear it into pieces of any size.
2. Hold an empty paper bag open and show them stuffing the torn pieces inside.
3. Let them stuff the bag until it is full, then scrunch the top closed.
4. Tip the bag out onto the floor and start tearing and stuffing again.

Why it matters

Tearing paper with both hands and stuffing the pieces into a bag builds finger and wrist strength in a way that a whole, flat sheet never would. Both the bag and the paper came from this week's post and end up in the recycling once the tearing is done.

What they're learning

Hand strength

Pulling paper apart with both hands in opposite directions builds finger and wrist strength.

Cause and effect

Ripping here makes a piece there, a clear and repeatable result.

Focus & persistence

Tearing and stuffing piece after piece keeps them on the same small task.

What to look for

Watch for them using both hands in opposite directions to tear, rather than crumpling the paper into a ball.

A tip

Check the paper for staples or tape before handing it over and keep pieces away from little mouths.

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