Make a Paper Chain to Practice Cooperation
It can be hard for young children to cooperate and listen to each others' ideas. They need your help to learn to work and play with others. We help children become more aware of the needs of others by praising them when they share a toy or a snack or by working together on an activity like this one.
Materials
Directions
Help your child cut or tear the construction paper intro strips. (Here’s a helpful hint: All paper can be torn easily in one direction, but not in the opposite direction because of the paper grain.)
Take one paper strip, and tape or glue the ends together to make a loop. Then show your child how to thread a second strip through the first and tape it to make a second loop.
Have your child keep adding loops to make the chain as long as she wants. You might even add in a challenge like: Can you make a chain long enough to go across the whole room? What if we made a colorful pattern?
Talk to your child about the importance of cooperation. Creating a paper chain is a lot of work for one person, but if more people get involved the process goes faster. For example, you might suggest that one of you tears or cuts the paper, while the other adds strips to the chain. After a few minutes, switch roles!
When the chain is finished hang it up with tape, and you’ve got a homemade decoration for a birthday or holiday -- or to make an ordinary day special.
Emotions & Self-Awareness
Social Skills
Character
Arts
- Activity Type
- Craft
- Topics