Newspaper Nest Foot Deliver

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5), School age (6+)
Play time:: 10 to 15 minutes
Setup:: 5 minutes
Where:: Floor

Why it helps

This activity is a wonderful way to build core strength and body awareness. By using their feet as pincers, children engage their tummy muscles and improve balance. It teaches them how to grade their movement and manage their body in space. This type of heavy work is very calming for many kids. It also helps with the coordination needed for daily tasks like dressing. Plus, it turns cleaning up into a fun challenge!

Steps

Crumple several sheets of newspaper into large, loose balls with your child.
Place a basket on a rug at one end of the room.
Put the newspaper balls in a pile a few feet away from the basket.
Have your child sit on a pillow on the floor, facing the basket.
Encourage them to lean back and brace themselves with their hands behind them.
Challenge them to pick up one newspaper ball using only their feet.
They must lift their legs carefully and drop the ball into the basket.
See how many nests they can deliver without using their hands!

Safety tip: Ensure the floor is not slippery and the area is clear of sharp furniture corners.

Make it easier

Put the basket right at your child's feet so a small lift drops each ball in.
Crumple bigger, looser balls, which are easier to squeeze between the feet.
Sit your child against the couch so their back is supported while their feet do the work.

Make it harder

Move the basket to one side so your child has to twist and swing their legs over to drop each ball in.
Use smaller, tighter paper balls that take a firmer squeeze between the feet.
Pick up the balls with the toes of one foot only, then switch feet.

What to watch for

Notice whether your child squeezes each ball between both feet or tries to grip it with curled toes.
Watch how long your child can hold their legs up before resting. Tired tummy muscles may need a short break between deliveries.
If the newspaper's feel bothers your child's feet, let them wear socks, or use rolled-up socks as the balls.

Where this helps in daily life

Holding the legs up while the tummy muscles work is the same core strength kids use to sit upright at a desk, pull on socks and pants, and climb out of the bathtub.

These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.