Branches - OTPlan

Crumpled Leaf Twig Tree

Steps:

Stand your branch inside the container using a large lump of playdough.
Encourage your child to tear strips of tissue paper with both hands.
Ask them to crumple the paper into small balls using only their fingertips.
Have your child pick up a clothespin and squeeze it open.
They must trap a tissue paper leaf inside the clothespin.
Challenge them to clip the leaf onto a twig on the branch.
Continue until the branch is full of colorful tissue paper leaves!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Small pieces of tissue paper and playdough can be a choking hazard. Watch for sharp twigs on the branches.

The Beaded Rainbow Branch

Steps:

Find a smooth branch outside.
Make sure it is sturdy but not too heavy.
Tie one end of the yarn to the base of the branch.
Ask your child to hold the branch steady with one hand.
Show your child how to wrap the yarn around the branch.
They should keep the yarn tight.
After a few wraps, slide a bead onto the yarn.
Continue wrapping the yarn over the bead to lock it in place.
Switch yarn colors to create a rainbow pattern.
Tie a knot at the end to finish your art.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is recommended. Small beads are a choking hazard. Keep materials away from small children and pets.

Sticky Twig Nest Builder

Steps:

Wrap a piece of masking tape around the end of a small branch with the sticky side facing out.
Spread colorful feathers, yarn, and small pieces of construction paper on a table.
Help your child hold the branch firmly at the clean end.
Ask them to press the sticky end down onto the items to pick them up.
Once the twig is covered, they must use their fingers to peel the items off.
Place the rescued items into a plastic container to build a soft bird nest.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they handle small twigs or branches to prevent any pokes or scratches. Ensure the yarn pieces are short to avoid any tangling.

Therapy Snowman

Make two circles (one big and one small) from construction paper, to be used as stencils for the snowman’s body and face. You may also make a stencil for a hat.

Let the child trace the circles on a white construction paper and trace the hat on a piece of fabric.

If needed, trace the child’s circle to make a wider line to assist with cutting accuracy.

Ask the child to cut the traced shapes.

On a separate piece of construction paper, have the child glue the circles and the hat: the big circle on the bottom for the body and the small circle on the top for the snowman’s face.

Ask the child to draw the snowman’s face using markers or crayons.

Cut out a stripe from the tissue paper for the scarf and let the child glue it on the snowman.

For buttons, let the child glue pom-poms, buttons, or stickers on the big circle.

Use the wooden sticks or branches for hands.

If you wish to work on handwriting skills, let the child write a story about the snowman.