Spaghetti Box Kids

The toy crane: a timeless activity that captures the imagination of kids everywhere. The best part, that part that kids love the most, is pickin’ stuff up. There’s just something about that simple gesture that never gets old. Here’s how to make your own toy crane in about 1 minute:

Materials:

-Tape
-Magnets (2)
-String (kite string is fine)

How to make the Crane:

1. Use a piece of tape to make a loop (pulley) at the top of a doorway or archway in your house. Here’s how to do it so the string moves easily through the pulley: Cut one piece of tape six inches long. Cut another 4 inches long. Center the shorter piece onto the longer piece and press them together (press the sticky sides together). Now only the tips of the longer piece are sticky. Press the tips to the top of your doorway to make the pulley.

2. Pass a piece of string through the pulley. The two ends should reach the floor.

3. Allow two small magnets to grab each other with one end of the string between them.

How to Operate the Crane:

Simply allow your child to raise and lower the end of the crane by pulling the free end of the string. Create a range of motion by giving the magnets a gentle push.

Activities/ Games:

-Scatter a jar of nuts and bolts onto the floor beneath the crane. Objective: pick up the items and transport them to receiving area (–a shoe box or bowl). (Hint: if magnets separate from string when “unloading” items, wrap magnets tightly with one layer of tape.)

-Fill a vase with water. Add a handful of nuts and bolts. Objective: retrieve the items from underwater and transport them to receiving area.

-Tie a bundle of toothpicks together to make a “load.” Do the same with popsicle sticks. Add a bolt to each bundle so the crane is able to pick it up. Make a dozen or so loads. Objective: pick up the items and transport them to receiving area (and sort by type).

-Make and cut out alphabet letters using construction paper. Tape or glue letters on top of bottle caps. Scatter the letters beneath crane. Objective: pick up letters to make words. (Hint: try to focus on visual words like “cow” or “dog” for instance.)

-Make numbers using the same procedure as above. Objective: retrieve the numbers in order. (Advanced: retrieve only odd or even numbers in order.)

Kids love cranes, but you don’t have to go to the toy store to find one. Just make your own in about 1 minute. Advanced version of this activity: allow your child to make a pulley system using three or more pulleys. To do this, use the sides of the door opening in addition to the top. One pulley could even be on the floor! (Just locate it away from target pick-up items.) Regardless of how you play, this simple crane activity will hold your child’s full attention and focus, and provide a fun and easy learning experience time and again.

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