Recommended Age: 3 and ½ years and onwards
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, this exercise is simple to set up and model, once the child has been shown they may do the activity independently or play with an older sibling or family member
Prerequisites
- The child must be able to blow air through a straw
Materials
- A feather (can be purchased from craft stores and Kmart)
- 2 plastic straws
- Masking tape
Preparation
- Make a line on the floor with the masking tape (about 2 metres)
This exercise works well on tiles or floorboards, carpet does not allow the feather to move as easy, requiring the child to exert more energy when blowing air through the straw
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know you have a game you would like to show them
- Let the child know that for this game they will need a feather, go with the child outside to search for a feather (if you can’t find a feather ensure that you have a backup feather that you can use, see above materials)
- Bring the feather inside or if you couldn’t find a feather, let the child know that you have one which they can use
- Take the child to the masking tape line you have prepared on the floor
- Give the child a straw, show the child how to blow air through the straw, encourage the child to place their hand at the end of the straw to feel the air coming out of the straw
- Once the child demonstrates they can blow air through the straw, sit down with the child at the start of the masking tape line
- Place the feather at the start of the line
- Crouch down and place the straw in your mouth, blow air through the straw to move the feather along the line, moving your body as the feather moves along the line
- Continue until the feather is at the other end of the masking tape line
- Invite the child to have a turn
Variations
- Extend the length of the masking tape line
- Make a shape with the masking tape for the child to blow the straw around the shape
- Make a line with turns and curves
- The child may use a cork floating and see how far they can make the cork move
