Baking Cups - Page 2 of 3

Baking Cup Tightrope Balance

Steps:

Place two large, heavy boxes about two feet apart on the floor.
Use masking tape to secure a long piece of yarn between the two boxes.
Make sure the yarn is very taut and about six inches off the ground.
Give your child a stack of colorful paper baking cups.
Show them how to turn a cup upside down and rest the center on the yarn.
Challenge them to place five cups in a row without any of them tipping over!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child to ensure the yarn is used safely and boxes are stable.

Cosmic Antenna Balance

Steps:

Press a medium ball of playdough onto the center of a sturdy cardboard sheet to create the base.
Push three Q-Tips into the playdough at an angle to create a tripod stand.
Place a baking cup upside down on top of the three Q-Tip ends.
Gently rest a fourth Q-Tip across the flat bottom of the upside-down baking cup.
Carefully slide one paper clip onto each end of the horizontal Q-Tip to act as satellite dishes.
Challenge your child to add more paper clips without tipping the whole antenna over!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the structure is built on a flat, stable surface. Keep small parts away from younger siblings.

The Balloon Cup Wobble

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Place the balloon inside a bowl so it stands upright.
Use masking tape to stick three baking cups onto the top curve of the balloon.
Give your child a pair of tweezers and a small pile of colorful beads.
Ask your child to hold the bowl with one hand to keep it still.
Challenge them to use the tweezers to pick up one bead at a time.
Carefully drop the bead into one of the baking cups without tipping the balloon.
Watch the balloon wobble as they try to balance the weight of the beads!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Beads and balloons are small parts or can break into small pieces. Always supervise your child closely during this activity. Keep materials away from younger siblings.

The Wobbly Cup Tower

Steps:

Place one paper baking cup upside down on a flat surface.
Carefully set a craft stick across the center of the cup.
Balance a second baking cup on one end of the stick.
Balance a third baking cup on the other end.
Add another craft stick across the top of these two cups.
Continue adding cups and sticks to build a tall tower.
See how high you can go before it wobbles!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small materials like craft sticks can be a safety concern if placed in the mouth.

The Noodle Button Tunnel

Steps:

Cut a piece of yarn about three feet long using your scissors.
Tie one end of the yarn to a sturdy chair leg.
Thread the other end through the center of a pool noodle.
Place your buttons in the aluminium foil pan at the start.
Hold the loose end of the yarn tight so it stays straight.
Ask your child to slide a button onto the yarn.
They must push it all the way through the pool noodle tunnel.
Have them drop the buttons into different baking cups at the finish line!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small buttons are a choking hazard. Keep all small materials away from children who still place objects in their mouths.