Paper Cup - Page 3 of 10

Double Cup Balloon Bop

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely to get things started.
Give your child two sturdy paper cups to use as paddles.
Have them hold one cup in each hand while standing in an open space.
Toss the balloon gently into the air to begin the game.
Ask your child to tap the balloon up using the bottom of either cup.
Challenge them to alternate hands by hitting it with the left cup and then the right.
See how many times they can keep the balloon in the air before it hits the ground!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during balloon play. Broken balloon pieces are a choking hazard and should be picked up and discarded immediately.

The Cardboard Coin Slide

Steps:

Adult: Cut a long, narrow rectangle from your cardboard to make a ramp.
Use masking tape to attach a paper cup to a table edge as a goal.
Ask your child to hold the top of the ramp with their helper hand.
Encourage them to use their other hand to pinch a coin at the top.
Aim the bottom of the cardboard ramp toward the paper cup target.
Release the coin and watch it slide into the cup!
Move the cup to different spots to change the angle and challenge level.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child while playing with coins. Coins are a choking hazard. Ensure the cardboard edges are smooth to prevent scratches.

The Beaded Cup Wind Chime

Steps:

Use your markers and stickers to decorate the outside of your paper cup with bright colors.
Help your child hold the cup steady while they use the hole puncher to make four holes around the rim.
Cut four pieces of string, each about six inches long, using your scissors.
Show your child how to thread one string through a hole and tie a simple knot to secure it.
Ask your child to pick up a bead and slide it onto one of the hanging strings.
Continue adding beads until the strings are full, then tie a knot at the bottom of each one.

Safety Tip:
Beads are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise your child closely during this activity and keep small parts away from younger siblings.

The Cardboard Castle Squeezer

Steps:

Find a large, flat piece of sturdy cardboard to be your castle base.
Draw four or five narrow rectangles on the cardboard using your markers.
Ask an adult to help you cut out these rectangular slots using scissors.
Ensure each slot is slightly narrower than the width of a paper cup.
Give your child several paper cups and encourage them to decorate the cups.
Show them how to use both hands to squeeze a cup until it is flat.
Challenge your child to push the flattened cup through a narrow slot.
Once through, the cup will pop open slightly to stay inside the castle!
Repeat this until all the castle towers are securely in place.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using scissors. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges to prevent scratches during the pushing movement.

The Foil Pan Color Pond

Steps:

Fill three paper cups halfway with cool water and add two drops of different food coloring to each.
Place the empty aluminium foil pan onto a flat table or a waterproof surface.
Ask your child to hold the eyedropper using their thumb and pointer finger.
Challenge them to suck up the colored water from a cup and carefully move it over to the pan.
Have your child use their other hand to hold the edge of the pan to keep it still.
Encourage them to release small drops into the pan to create colorful patterns or ‘ponds.’
Try to mix colors together in the pan to see what new colors appear!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during water play. Ensure that food coloring is handled carefully to prevent staining of clothes or household surfaces.