Cardboard - OTPlan

The Cardboard Box Gear Shifter

Steps:

Find a medium cardboard box and keep the lid open.
Tape an empty paper roll vertically to the center of the bottom.
Use markers to draw five colorful circles around the paper roll base.
Label the circles with numbers one to four and the letter R.
Ask your child to hold the box steady with one hand.
Use the other hand to tilt the paper roll to touch circle number one.
Challenge them to shift through all the numbers in order!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Cardboard edges can be sharp, so handle them with care.

The Fuzzy Path Finger Explorer

Steps:

Use your markers to draw a long, winding path across your piece of cardboard.
Help your child glue small pieces of fuzzy felt and soft cotton balls along the first half of the path.
On the second half of the path, glue down smooth buttons and shiny sequins to change the texture.
Once the glue is dry, ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their helper hand.
Use the index and middle fingers of the other hand to walk like a tiny person along the fuzzy and smooth path.
Encourage them to stay inside the marker lines as they explore each new feeling.
Try again using the other hand to give both sides of the body a workout!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small buttons and sequins are choking hazards. Keep all materials away from the mouth.

The Tilted Button Slider

Steps:

Use your markers to draw a winding path on a flat piece of cardboard.
An adult should use scissors to cut a narrow slot along the entire path.
Ensure the slot is wide enough for a button to slide but not fall through.
Place a single large button on the board at the starting line.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard steady with their non-dominant helper hand.
Have them use their dominant index finger to slide the button along the track.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play as buttons are a significant choking hazard.

The Vertical Pipe Cleaner Meadow

Steps:

Use markers to draw a bright green field of grass on your cardboard.
Use your scissors to snip five small, narrow slits across the top of the cardboard.
Use masking tape to secure the cardboard vertically to a wall at your child’s shoulder height.
Give your child several pipe cleaners to act as flower stems.
Ask them to hold the board with their helper hand while pushing a stem into a slit.
Use a pincer grasp to balance a colorful pom-pom on top of each fuzzy stem.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Pipe cleaners can have sharp metal ends, so tuck them in. Small pom-poms are a choking hazard.

The Shimmering Foil Star Punch

Steps:

Lay the cardboard flat on a table.
Tear off a piece of aluminum foil that covers the board.
Use masking tape to secure the foil tightly around the edges.
Use a marker to draw ten small stars across the shiny foil.
Give your child a handful of Q-tips.
Show them how to hold the Q-tip with their pinching fingers.
Ask them to push the Q-tip straight through each star.
Listen for the satisfying pop as they break the foil!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Q-tips should be kept away from the eyes and ears.