Cotton Balls - OTPlan

The Sticky Tape Hand Claps

Steps:

Place a pile of soft cotton balls and colorful feathers on a piece of construction paper.
Wrap a loop of masking tape around your child’s palms with the sticky side facing out.
Encourage your child to clap their hands onto the cotton balls and feathers to make them stick.
Show them how to use one hand to peel the treasures off the other hand.
Drop the rescued items into a small basket and start the game again!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: This activity uses masking tape and small materials. Always supervise your toddler closely. Ensure they do not put the tape or feathers in their mouth.

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 Vertical Cloud Garden

Boy reaching up with tongs to drop a cotton ball into a paper cup taped to the wall

Steps:

Help your child pick four colorful paper cups for their wall garden.
Use your masking tape to stick the bottom of each cup to a wall.
Make sure the cups are at your child’s shoulder height to work those muscles.
Place a basket of soft cotton balls on the floor nearby.
Give your child the tongs and show them how to squeeze and pick up one ball.
Challenge them to reach up and drop the cotton ball into a cup!
Try using only their left hand for two cups and their right hand for the others.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put cotton balls in their mouth.

The Cardboard Box Texture Tunnel

Steps:

Use masking tape to connect two large boxes to create a long, sturdy tunnel.
Cut the flaps off both ends so your child has a clear path to crawl through.
Use tape to secure different pieces of fabric to the bottom of the tunnel.
Stick several soft cotton balls to the inner walls of the box using glue or tape.
Encourage your child to crawl through the tunnel and touch the various textures.
Talk about the sensations, asking if the walls feel soft, fuzzy, or smooth.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Cotton balls are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not pull them off to put in their mouth.

Heavy Roll Cotton Sweep

Steps:

Adult: Fill an empty paper roll halfway with dry rice.
Use several layers of masking tape to seal the ends.
Child: Stand up and hold the roll with both hands.
Place a few cotton balls on a smooth floor.
Use the heavy roll to push the balls toward the basket.
Try to keep the roll straight so the balls don’t escape.
Reach the basket to win the game!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your toddler during play. Small rice grains are a choking hazard. Ensure the tape is very secure.