Bottle - OTPlan

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.

Cosmic Tissue Bottle Push

Steps:

Adult: Give your child several sheets of colorful tissue paper.
Child: Tear the paper into small pieces using both hands.
Crumple each piece into a very tight, round ball.
Adult: Secure two pipe cleaners over the bottle mouth in an X shape.
Use masking tape to hold the pipe cleaners to the bottle sides.
Child: Hold the bottle steady with your helper hand.
Use your pinching fingers to pick up a paper ball.
Push the ball hard through the fuzzy pipe cleaner gate until it drops inside.

Safety Tip:
Tissue paper and pipe cleaners can be a choking hazard. Always supervise your child during play to keep them safe.

The Paper Plate Steering Wheel

Steps:

Draw a colorful dashboard and buttons on your paper plate with markers.
Apply a large dab of glue to the center of the plate’s back.
Press the cap of an empty plastic bottle firmly into the glue.
Allow the glue to dry completely so the wheel stays attached to the handle.
Place several blocks in a zigzag line on the floor to make a path.
Ask your child to hold the bottle and ‘drive’ through the block maze!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they use the materials safely and do not put small blocks in their mouth.

Bottle Cap Finger Skaters

Steps:

Lay a large piece of cardboard flat on a table.
Use masking tape to create a winding skating rink path across the board.
Draw small start and finish flags at the ends of the tape path using markers.
Take two plastic bottle caps from empty water bottles.
Ask your child to place their index and middle finger inside the two caps.
Challenge them to skate their fingers along the tape path.
They must stay on the tape and keep the caps flat while moving.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the bottle caps are clean and have no sharp plastic edges before playing.

Banded Bottle Bean Slider

Steps:

Take the plastic bottle and wrap four pipe cleaners tightly around the middle section.
Use small pieces of masking tape to secure the ends of the pipe cleaners so they do not slide around.
Place one dry bean at the very bottom of the bottle.
Hold the bottle firmly with your helper hand to keep it from moving on the table.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to slide the bean up the bottle, pushing it underneath the first tight pipe cleaner band.
Continue sliding and pushing the bean past every band until it reaches the top of the bottle.
Try to see how fast you can do it without the bean popping out from under your finger!

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Dry beans are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard. Ensure all materials are collected and stored safely after play.