Cotton Balls - OTPlan

The Vertical Cloud Garden

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.

The Cotton Ball Scoop Race

Steps:

Place a large bowl filled with cotton balls on a table in front of your child.
Set an empty basket a short distance away on the same table.
Hand your child a spoon and show them how to scoop up one cotton ball.
Encourage them to carry the ‘cloud’ on the spoon without letting it fall.
Ask them to drop the cotton ball gently into the empty basket.
Challenge them to fill the entire basket as fast as they can!
To add a challenge, move the basket further away to encourage longer reaching.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they use the spoon safely. Keep all materials away from the mouth to prevent any risk.

Sticky Balloon Treasure Peel

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Wrap several strips of masking tape around the balloon.
Make sure the sticky side faces outward.
Press several cotton balls onto the sticky tape.
Ask your child to hold the balloon with their helper hand.
Have them use their other hand to peel the cotton balls off.
Drop the rescued cotton balls into a basket.

Safety Tip:
Balloons and broken pieces are a serious choking hazard. Always watch your child and pick up popped pieces right away.