Make your own fine motor activity! Catapult and Tongs!

Now what is more fun that shooting pieces of paper across the room?! I haven't seen a child yet who hasn't enjoyed making things fly. 

This easy craft hits so many therapy goals and is so much fun! All you will need are 5 craft sticks and 5 elastic bands. 

You can target so many skills in the making of this craft and address even more fine motor skills with using the craft in two ways.... as a catapult and as tongs. 

To make:
1) Join three craft sticks together by using the elastics to secure both ends. 
2) Join two more craft sticks together by using an elastic to secure one end. 
3) Open up the two craft sticks and slide the three sticks about half way. 
4) Secure the two bundles of sticks together with diagonal elastic joints. 

This craft is deceptively difficult for little fingers. I like to do this activity for children who are approximately 8 years old (sometimes younger, sometimes older).  

In making this craft; you can target motor planning skills, a pincer grasp, finger flexion/extension, finger strength and bilateral coordination skills. 

If making this activity is too hard, you can make this craft and your child will still benefit from the fine motor skills in using the craft.  

To play:

Catapult - Scrunch up small pieces of paper and rest it on the top of one craft stick whilst using the other hand to secure the cross brace.  Use your index finger to shoot off the paper. 

I like to incorporate handwriting goals with writing various things on the paper including letters, numbers, words.  Scrunching up paper (in itself) involves lots of in-hand manipulation skills. Try to encourage your child to do this with one hand (rather than use both hands, the table or their body for support). 

Tongs - Hold the "bundle of three" craft sticks whilst holding the open end of the "bundle of two" craft sticks.  You can slide "bundle of two" sticks up and down as needed to match the size of your hand. 

By positioning your hand to hold this craft like tongs; your child will have an open web-space and separation of the two sides of the hand.  Try to encourage rounded fingers and thumb as they press down on the tongs to pick up small objects. 

Watch me make this craft and show you how to use it!
You- tube link ---> https://youtu.be/XO7_lyhLHF8

Do you know a child who would love making and playing with this craft?  Which way will you play... catapult or tongs? 

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning. Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT. Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a member of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.


The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote products Cindy loves and recommends. YKOT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

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