Basket - OTPlan

Balloon Bead Balance Mission

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Place a bowl of beads and an empty basket on a stable table.
Ask your child to stand in front of the materials.
Have them rest the balloon on the flat palm of their non-dominant helper hand.
Use the tweezers in their other hand to pick up a single bead.
Carefully carry the bead and drop it into the basket while keeping the balloon balanced.
If the balloon falls, return the bead and try again from the start.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads are a significant choking hazard. Ensure the balloon is handled carefully to avoid popping near the face.

The Vertical Cloud Garden

Steps:

Help your child pick four colorful paper cups for their wall garden.
Use your masking tape to stick the bottom of each cup to a wall.
Make sure the cups are at your child’s shoulder height to work those muscles.
Place a basket of soft cotton balls on the floor nearby.
Give your child the tongs and show them how to squeeze and pick up one ball.
Challenge them to reach up and drop the cotton ball into a cup!
Try using only their left hand for two cups and their right hand for the others.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put cotton balls in their mouth.

The Balloon Tongs Catch

Steps:

Blow up a bright balloon and tie it securely.
Place an empty basket on the floor across the room.
Give your child a pair of sturdy tongs to hold.
Toss the balloon gently into the air for them.
Challenge your child to squeeze and catch the balloon using only the tongs.
Have them carry the balloon carefully and drop it into the basket.
If the balloon drops, they must start over from the beginning.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Discard any popped balloon pieces immediately to prevent a choking hazard.

Laundry Basket Sailboat

Steps:

Place a large laundry basket on a smooth floor like wood or tile.
Have your child sit inside the basket with their legs tucked in comfortably.
Give them a long pool noodle to hold with both hands like an oar.
Show them how to push the noodle against the floor to move the basket.
Encourage them to alternate pushing on the left and then the right side.
Use masking tape to mark a start and finish line for the race.

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child to keep the basket from tipping. Make sure the floor is clear of toys that could trip them up.

Sticky Stocking Treasure Walk

Steps:

Place several colorful pom-poms on a smooth floor area.
Take a long strip of masking tape.
Wrap it loosely around your toddler’s stocking-covered foot with the sticky side facing out.
Help your child stand up and hold your hands for balance.
Encourage them to step directly onto a pom-pom so it sticks to their foot.
Have them lift their foot to see the treasure they caught.
Ask them to use their hands to pull the pom-pom off and put it in a basket.
Switch to the other foot to keep both legs working hard!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Pom-poms and tape are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put these items in their mouth.