Construction Paper - Page 10 of 24

Squeeze Slot Mail Drop

Steps:

Use markers to color several index cards brightly. You can also cut simple shapes from construction paper and tape them onto the cards.
Place long strips of masking tape across the top opening of the container. Crisscross the tape strips to create a very tight, narrow slot in the center.
Ask your child to hold the container firmly with their non-dominant hand. This stabilizes the toy for the working hand.
Pick up one index card. Encourage your child to squeeze the card flat lengthwise using their fingertips.
Challenge them to push the squeezed, flat card straight through the narrow, resistant tape slot. Repeat this until all the mail is successfully delivered.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required during this activity. Ensure the child remains focused on the task and does not attempt to ingest any pieces of masking tape or paper.

Resistant Tear Feed

Steps:

Prep the surface: Use masking tape to secure several large pieces of construction paper tightly onto a piece of cardboard.
Place the cardboard upright on a chair or stand it vertically against a wall. Put the container on the floor below the paper.
Show your toddler how to hold the cardboard firmly with their helper hand to keep it stable while working.
Encourage them to grab a corner of the paper and use a strong pull to rip the construction paper off the resistant cardboard base.
Once ripped free, challenge them to drop the torn pieces directly into the container on the floor. Repeat until the cardboard is clear!

Safety Tip:
Constant, close adult supervision is essential for this age group. Ensure the toddler does not put torn pieces of paper or masking tape in their mouth, as these pose a choking hazard.

Confetti Rainmakers

Steps:

Invite your child to select several colors of construction paper. Their first job is to use the hole puncher to create a big pile of ‘rain’ or confetti. Encourage them to use both hands to stabilize the paper and squeeze the puncher with strength (great for hand intrinsic muscles!).
Place the paper cup next to the confetti pile. Challenge your child to use the tongs to pick up each tiny piece of confetti and drop it into the cup. This requires slow, careful pincer control and focus!
When the cup is full, encourage your child to stand up and hold the cup high above their head. Then, they can gently tilt it to make the colorful ‘confetti rain’ fall down, providing visual and proprioceptive input before repeating the scooping process.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the hole puncher is used correctly and supervise closely to prevent pieces of confetti from being placed in the mouth, nose, or ears.

Sticky Shape Rescue

Preschooler crossing midline to peel an orange foam shape from a wall, an occupational therapy activity for bilateral hand use and motor planning.

Steps:

Use Masking Tape to create a large rectangle outline (the “Rescue Zone”) on a sturdy wall or door at eye level for your child.
Cut various simple shapes (squares, triangles, circles) from Foam Sheets or Construction Paper. Using small rolled pieces of tape, stick these shapes randomly onto the wall *outside* the Rescue Zone.
Challenge your child to “rescue” the shapes by carefully peeling them off the wall. Encourage them to use one hand to stabilize the wall (the helper hand) while the other hand peels the shape.
Once rescued, the child must carry the shape and place it *inside* the taped Rescue Zone. They can match colors or simply stack them inside the boundary.

Safety Tip:
Ensure the working surface is clean and safe, and always supervise when the child is reaching high or standing near a door frame.

Tacky Tape Puzzle Pull-Off

A preschooler uses fine motor skills and a pincer grasp to pull a pom-pom off tacky masking tape on a vertical surface, demonstrating the Tacky Tape Puzzle Pull-Off activity for improved shoulder stability and hand strength.

Steps:

Tape a piece of construction paper vertically to a door or wall using masking tape. This is your ‘puzzle board.’
Use small loops of masking tape to stick several pom-poms and stickers onto the construction paper. Make sure they are secure enough to stay put but loose enough to be pulled off with some effort.
Challenge your preschooler to ‘rescue’ the materials from the tacky tape! Encourage them to stand and use both hands—one hand to stabilize the paper and the other hand to pull the items off using a pincer grasp.
For an added challenge, hide small plastic animals or lightweight blocks under larger pieces of tape, requiring more effort and bilateral hand use to tear the tape away.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise vertical activities to ensure the child does not climb or lean heavily on the surface. Check that the masking tape used does not damage the wall or door finish upon removal.