New Year's Star Wands

Keywords: bilateral coordination, fine motor, visual coordination, tactile stimulation

Materials: pipe cleaners, cookie cutter star shape (optional or any shape), pony beads

Directions: Bend the pipe cleaner around the outer side of the cookie cutter if you have one to make a shape. If you don’t, you can make a simple shape free hand, such as a diamond or circle. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to close up the wand. String pony beads on it for decoration, fold it or twist the ends shut.

This activity adds a little celebration to the New Year. It encourages bilateral hand use to bend along a border, provides opportunities for fine motor practice through stringing the pony beads and twisting the pipe cleaners. It provides visual coordination and tactile stimulation through the sensory input of the fuzzy pipe cleaners in contrast to the hard and smooth pony beads.