Beads - OTPlan

The Foil Pan Bead Scoop

Steps:

Place the aluminium foil pan on a flat table.
Fill the pan about halfway with cool water.
Drop a handful of colorful beads into the water.
Give your toddler a sturdy spoon to hold.
Ask them to scoop up one bead at a time.
Challenge them to carry the bead to a nearby bowl.
Drop the rescued bead into the empty bowl.
Continue until all the beads are moved out of the water!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Beads are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not put beads in their mouth.

The Rainbow Tissue Windmill

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut two straws into four-inch lengths.
Lay the straws across each other to form a perfect X shape.
Place a small piece of masking tape in the center to hold them.
Cut four small squares of colorful tissue paper using your scissors.
Tape one tissue square to the very end of each straw arm.
Use the pencil tip to poke a hole through the center tape.
Push a pipe cleaner through the hole you made.
Slide one bead onto the pipe cleaner on each side of the straws.
Wrap one end of the pipe cleaner around a pencil to make a handle.
Twist the other end into a small loop to keep everything in place.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors and the pencil to poke holes. Ensure the beads are handled carefully.

The Wobbly Straw Slalom

Steps:

Roll several small balls of playdough and press them onto a table to make steady bases.
Cut your straws into pieces about four inches long.
Stick one straw piece vertically into each playdough base to create slalom poles.
Line up your poles in a straight or zigzag row.
Tie a single large bead to the end of a long piece of string to act as your weight.
Hold the string with both hands and weave the bead around each straw pole from start to finish.
Challenge your child to go faster or weave the string in a specific pattern you call out!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Beads and playdough are choking hazards, so keep them away from younger siblings.

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Steps:

Wash and dry an empty plastic bottle.
Remove the label so you can see inside clearly.
Use a hole puncher to make six holes around the top of the bottle.
Punch six more holes near the bottom of the bottle.
Cut several pieces of yarn into long strips.
Tie a bead to one end of a yarn piece to act as a star.
Thread the yarn through a top hole and pull it across to a bottom hole.
Add more beads as you weave through different holes.
Crumple small strips of index cards and push them into the bottle first to act as planets.
Challenge your child to weave the yarn so the stars rest on the planets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using a hole puncher. Beads are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings.

The Fuzzy Pipe Cleaner Bridges

Steps:

Tape your piece of cardboard flat on the table so it stays in one place while you play.
Use the hole puncher to make two columns of holes down the cardboard, leaving space in the middle.
Ask your child to pick up a pipe cleaner and push one end into a hole.
Show them how to slide a few colorful beads onto the pipe cleaner one at a time.
Help them bend the pipe cleaner and push the other end into a hole on the opposite side.
Keep going until you have a row of fuzzy, beaded bridges across your cardboard!

Safety Tip:
Beads and pipe cleaner pieces can be small. Always watch your child closely to make sure they do not put any materials in their mouth.