Ring Toss
Some of the best activities use household items that are hidden in plain sight! A favorite resource for parents is a paper towel holder. It can be used in a variety of activities for kids of all ages. Ring toss is one that the entire family can enjoy together!

Materials:
  • Paper towel holder
  • Sturdy paper plates or Tupperware top 
Instructions:
  1. Start by cutting out the center of a paper plate (the sturdier or heavier the better). If you have leftover tupperware tops, this is a great use for them as well. This will serve as your "ring" for the toss. Make as many as needed, depending on the number of people playing. 
  2. Set your paper towel holder on the floor or a table. Depending on the level of difficulty desired by the group, you can stand closer or further away from the paper towel holder. 
  3. Demonstrate to your child how to throw the plates like a frisbee. This will help them develop discipline and control over the way they throw the plate to get it on the paper towel roll holder.
  4. Have your little one toss their "ring" with a goal of trying to hook it onto the paper towel holder. Throwing will develop your child’s fine motor development as they grip onto the ring, concentration to aim, and hand-eye coordination to position their ring correctly.
  5. If you want to add some extra excitement and learning to this activity, you can add a point system. For example, every time a ring lands on the paper towel holder, you get 1 point. This helps to gamify early math skills and make addition fun! 
Skill areas addressed:
  • Fine motor development
  • Concentration
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Discipline
  • Control
  • Math concepts
Extensions & Adjustments:
  • For 3-4 year of age, focus on the physical aspects of the game rather than adding the point system.
  • For 5 years of age, add a point system of 1 point per successful ring, and have your child add up the points on their own.
  • For 6-8 years of age, add a point system of 2 or more for each successful ring. This will allow them to work on adding in multiples.

Author: Chris Longo