Paper Scrunch Bag
What you need
- sheets of paper
- a paper bag
How to do it
- Sit together on the floor with paper and the bag.
- Show your toddler how to scrunch a sheet into a ball.
- Drop each scrunched ball into the bag together.
- Tip the bag out and start again if they want more.
Why it matters
Scrunching paper builds the hand strength little fingers need later for holding pencils and cutlery.
What they're learning
- hand strength
- Squeezing paper works the same muscles used later for gripping a pencil to write.
- cause and effect
- Watching flat paper become a ball shows them their actions change the world around them.
- counting sense
- Dropping balls in one at a time builds an early feel for one-to-one counting.
What to look for
Watch for them using both hands together to crumple the paper into a tighter ball.
A tip
Keep a few extra sheets handy. This one gets repeated fast once they realise how satisfying the crunch is.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: tear the sheets into halves first so they're smaller to scrunch
Harder: count each ball aloud as it goes into the bag
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Fine motor activities · Activities for 1 year olds · Activities for 18 month olds · Toddler activities with paper