Toothpick Art

Marianas Variety Saipan
Run Date: June 29, 2007

FOR ALL AGES
There are many ways to teach the hands to have more finesse. This is one of them that you can play together.

TOOTHPICK ART

MATERIALS:
Toothpicks, plain or colored

DIRECTIONS:
Make an abstract design by laying toothpicks out on a table or floor, with each player adding their toothpick to the design. The first player puts down one toothpick and the next adds his at just the angle that seems pleasing to him. The next person then adds theirs to that design and so on and so on until an interesting design is formed.

Instead of an abstract design, you can make a specific scene. For example, make a house with a picket fence and trees with both of you doing different parts of the scene.

It takes concentration to pick up a skinny toothpick and decide the best place to put it. Placing each toothpick down carefully and trying not to jiggle the design encourages awareness of hand movements.

It also develops the pincer grasp, the small muscles that control the index finger and thumb.
But mainly, it’s fun to make art together.