Bottle - OTPlan

Bottle Labyrinth Ball Squeeze

Boy squeezing a plastic bottle with a taped straw to blow a ping pong ball through a cardboard straw maze at a kitchen table

Steps:

Cut a large flat rectangle from your cardboard to act as the base for your labyrinth.
Use markers to draw a start and finish line on opposite ends of the cardboard.
Cut your straws into various lengths and tape them down to the cardboard to create winding maze walls.
Make sure the paths are just wide enough for the ping pong ball to roll through.
Take an empty, flexible plastic bottle and tape a single straw into the opening, sealing the rest of the cap with masking tape so air only comes out of the straw tip.
Place the ping pong ball at the start line of your maze.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant helper hand.
With their dominant hand, have them squeeze the bottle to release puffs of air through the straw, pushing the ball through the maze toward the finish line.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during play to ensure straws and small pieces of tape are used safely. Ensure the plastic bottle is clean and free of sharp edges before assembly.

The Sticky Bottle Bead Roll

Steps:

Take an empty plastic bottle and make sure it is clean and dry.
Wrap a long piece of masking tape around the middle of the bottle.
Make sure the sticky side is facing out toward you.
Secure the ends of the tape with two smaller pieces of tape so it stays in place.
Scatter a handful of colorful beads inside a flat plastic container.
Show your child how to hold the bottle with both hands.
Ask them to roll the bottle over the beads until they stick to the tape.
Once the bottle is decorated, have them use their fingers to peel the beads off one by one.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses beads which are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely. Ensure they do not put beads or tape in their mouth.

The Pipe Cleaner Bottle Hook

Steps:

Place an empty plastic bottle on a stable table.
Have your child use their pinching fingers to drop ten colorful beads into the bottle.
Give them a pipe cleaner and help them bend the tip into a small hook.
Ask your child to hold the bottle steady with their non-dominant helper hand.
Challenge them to lower the hook into the bottle and catch a bead.
Carefully pull the hooked bead all the way out through the narrow opening!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads are a choking hazard and should be kept away from mouths.

The Galaxy Bead Spinner

Steps:

Fill a plastic bottle halfway with water.
Drop ten colorful beads into the water.
Use a marker to draw a target circle on the outside of the bottle.
Wrap masking tape around the cap and the neck to seal it shut.
Ask your child to hold the bottle in the middle with a firm grasp.
Challenge them to twist their wrist back and forth quickly.
The goal is to make the beads spin and touch the target circle.
Repeat until they are an expert at making tornadoes!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play. Ensure the bottle cap is sealed tightly to keep the beads safe.

Floating Ball Sponge Rescue

Steps:

Place an empty, clear plastic bottle on a flat table.
Drop a lightweight ping pong ball inside the bottom of the empty bottle.
Fill a large bowl with cool water and place it right next to the bottle.
Have your child dunk a sponge into the bowl to soak up the water.
Hold the bottle steady with their helper hand to keep it still.
Use the other hand to squeeze the wet sponge directly over the bottle opening.
Repeat this process, watching the ping pong ball float higher and higher.
Once the ball reaches the very top, use pinching fingers to pluck it out!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely during water play. Ensure the bottle has a wide opening with no sharp plastic edges.