Bubble Wrap - OTPlan

Bubble Pop Thread Maze

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a large sheet of bubble wrap tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape. Ensure the plastic bubbles face outward.
Give your child one golf ball tee. Encourage them to hold the tee using a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand. Push the tee straight through one bubble until it makes a satisfying pop, creating a tight hole.
Continue poking many holes all over the bubble wrap surface to create a challenging, textured ‘maze’ of openings.
Once many holes are poked, pick up a craft stick. Aim the stick at a hole and push it all the way through the resistant bubble wrap and cardboard.
Thread the craft sticks into the holes. Continue filling the maze with colorful sticks to create a rigid, unique sculpture.

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees and craft sticks have pointed ends. Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees and craft sticks are small objects and pose a choking hazard for children under five.

Bubble Wrap Architect Challenge

Preschool boy using bilateral hand use and concentration to pierce bubble wrap with a craft stick.

Steps:

Cut the bubble wrap into various sizes (squares, rectangles). Encourage your child to use both hands, one to stabilize the wrap, and the other to carefully tear smaller pieces off for better bilateral practice.
Ask your child to use their dominant hand to push the craft sticks straight through the air pockets of the bubble wrap, aiming for the satisfying ‘pop!’ This provides great auditory feedback and proprioceptive input.
Challenge them to build 3D structures (towers, houses, animals) by connecting multiple pieces of bubble wrap together using the craft sticks as sturdy connectors. Encourage them to work while kneeling or lying on their tummy for added core strength!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise this activity closely. Ensure that the child handles the craft sticks safely, using them only to connect the bubble wrap and not as toys for poking.

Pop the Wrap

Have the child throw the dice.

The child will then need to pop the corresponding number of bubbles that the dice are showing.

You can also use a timer to time how long it takes the child to pop a certain amount of bubbles.

If the sound of popping interferes with the child’s ability to complete the activity, you may want to try and do this activity outdoors.