Material: Paper Cup

Coil Drop Target

Coil Drop Target

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Tightly coil 5 to 6 pipe cleaners into small, narrow spirals or loops to create the targets.
  • Clip one pipe cleaner spiral onto the open end of a clothespin. Repeat this for all the coils.
  • Fill a separate container halfway with water and add a few drops of food coloring to create ‘magic potion.’
  • Ask your child to clip the clothespin targets onto the rim of the paper cup, making sure the coils hang inside.
  • Challenge your child to hold the eyedropper with a neat pincer grasp, suck up the colored water, and carry it to the paper cup.
  • Carefully aim the eyedropper and squeeze gently to deposit the colored drops into the narrow opening of the pipe cleaner coil. Repeat until the coils are full.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Ensure the colored water is not ingested.

Squeeze and Slot Cups

Squeeze and Slot Cups

Steps:

  • Adult Prep: Take a sturdy cardboard box and secure the lid shut with masking tape. Use scissors to cut one very narrow, tight slot (about 3 inches long) into the top center of the box.
  • Give your child the paper cups. Challenge them to use both hands to squeeze and crumple each cup as flat and stiff as possible. Encourage them to press hard to feel the crunch!
  • Pick up one flat, crumpled cup. Ask your child to hold the prepared box firmly with their helper hand to keep it steady on the table.
  • Challenge your child to aim the stiff edge of the cup into the narrow slot. They must use a strong, controlled push to send the crushed cup completely inside the box.
  • Repeat this crushing and slotting process until all the paper cups have been successfully posted inside the resistant box.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Ensure that the cardboard box is stable and cannot tip over when the child applies pushing force. Adults must handle the scissors when cutting the resistant slot.

Kernel Mosaic Cup

Kernel Mosaic Cup

Steps:

  • Decorate the outside of the paper cup with markers. Keep the design simple, like stripes or dots.
  • Pour a small amount of liquid glue or paste onto a piece of construction paper to create a gluing palette.
  • Use your helper hand to hold the cup steady. Dip your marker-drawn cup directly into the glue palette, covering a small section with adhesive.
  • Pick up one dry corn kernel at a time using only your thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
  • Carefully place and press the kernel onto the glued section of the cup. Try to place the kernels close together like a mosaic.
  • Repeat steps 3 through 5 until the whole cup is covered in texture. Let your kernel mosaic dry completely!

Safety Tip:
Dry corn kernels are a small, hard choking hazard. Constant and direct adult supervision is mandatory for children under 5. Ensure all materials are collected immediately after play.

Pom-Pom Popper Target Game

A preschooler playing the pom-pom popper game, demonstrating bilateral hand use and aiming toward a bucket target. | Close-up on child's hands loading a pom-pom into a paper cup launcher, highlighting fine motor control and visual motor skills.

Steps:

  • Adult Step: Use scissors to cut the bottom out of the paper cup. Cut the knot end off the balloon, then stretch the balloon tightly over the open bottom of the cup and secure it.”
  • “Place a bucket, basket, or cardboard box about five feet away to act as your target.”
  • “Show your child how to load a pom-pom into the top (uncovered) end of the cup launcher.”
  • “Have your child hold the cup firmly with one hand, pull the balloon knot back with the other hand, aim at the target, and release the knot to launch the pom-pom!”
  • “Count how many pom-poms land inside the target for some added sequencing practice.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is needed, especially during setup involving scissors. If the balloon breaks, immediately collect all pieces as broken balloons are a significant choking risk.

Color Drop Towers

Color Drop Towers

Steps:

  • Prepare the ‘towers’: Press a large lump of playdough firmly into the bottom of a Paper Cup or container. Flip the cup upside down so the playdough forms a stable base on the outside top.
  • Insert 6-8 Golf Ball Tees into the playdough base, blunt end first, so the narrow, hollow end points straight up (these are the ‘towers’ that need filling).
  • Create the colors: Fill several small bowls or Paper Cups with water and add a few drops of different Food Coloring to each one.
  • Show your child how to hold the eyedropper using their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grip) to suck up the colored water, reminding them to squeeze slowly for control.
  • Challenge your child to aim the dropper directly over one of the empty tee towers and release one drop of liquid at a time, slowly filling the narrow space. Try mixing colors by dropping red, then blue, into the same tower to watch them blend!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise closely. Ensure the child understands that the golf tees and playdough are not for eating or placing near the face.