With the school year in full swing, a little silly play at home can do a lot of good, especially when a hungry monster is involved.
We recommend making a hungry monster from a cardboard box to build motor, coordination, and communication skills. Feeding the monster works on grasp and release (picking up and letting go of objects with control), visual-motor coordination (using our eyes to guide our hands), and bilateral coordination (using both hands together). It also encourages joint attention (sharing interest with another person), social reciprocity (back-and-forth interaction), and phonological awareness (noticing the sounds in spoken words).
Grab a tissue box or shoebox, coloured paper or felt, scissors, and glue or tape. Give it a gloriously silly face with eyes, hair, teeth, or anything else you can imagine. Use an existing opening or ask an adult to cut a big mouth. For “monster food,” try pom-poms, crumpled paper balls, Popsicle sticks, or letter cards
Bring your monster to life with a goofy voice and munching sounds. Then pause and watch. Your child might smile, reach for food, or ask for more. These small moments of shared attention let children start the interaction themselves.
Encourage your child to pick up an object and feed the monster. Reaching toward its mouth and letting go of each piece builds hand-eye coordination and controlled movement. For an extra challenge, try child-friendly tweezers or tongs to build hand strength and precise finger control.
Take turns too: “My turn!” “Your turn!” “Here you go!” Trading back and forth models the rhythm of conversation. For a language twist, try feeding the monster letter cards or Popsicle sticks with letters written on them. Ask, “Can you feed the monster the letter that makes the /m/ sound?” Recognizing letter sounds supports early literacy and phonological awareness. You can also count each bite as it disappears. (Nobody knows how many pom-poms a monster can eat. Best to find out.)
Every little interaction is a chance to learn, whether you’re choosing the monster’s menu, feeding it, or exploring letters and sounds together. Have fun building your hungry monster and discovering what it likes to eat!
