Paper Plate - OTPlan

The Musical Ribbon Shaker

Steps:

Give your toddler two paper plates to decorate with markers.
Place one plate face up on the table.
Help your child pick up a handful of beans.
Ask them to use their thumb and pointer finger to drop the beans one by one.
Place the second plate upside down on top of the first.
An adult should staple the edges together firmly.
Glue several colorful ribbon strips to the sides of the shaker.
Show your toddler how to hold the shaker with both hands.
Shake the plates to the beat of your favorite song!

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Beans and staples are small. Always supervise your child and ensure the plates are sealed tightly.

The Ribbon Twirl Spinner

Steps:

Use the pencil to carefully poke a hole right in the center of the paper plate.
Push the pencil through the hole until the plate is near the eraser end.
Use several small pieces of masking tape to secure the plate to the pencil so it doesn’t wobble.
Cut four or five long strips of colorful ribbon using your scissors.
Tape one end of each ribbon strip to the edge of the paper plate.
Have your child hold the pencil handle with one hand while using their other hand to spin the plate.
Watch as the ribbons wrap around the pencil like a colorful twister!
Challenge them to spin it the other way to unwrap the ribbons.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or a pencil to ensure they stay safe.

Paper Plate Target Disc

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut three circles from a single paper plate. These are your flying discs.
Decorate each disc with bright markers to make them easy to see.
Place your laundry basket in the middle of a clear floor area.
Use masking tape to mark a start line a few feet away from the basket.
Have your child stand behind the line and hold a disc with one hand.
Show them how to hold the cardboard base steady with their other hand to act as a launch pad.
Ask them to use their index finger to flick the paper disc toward the basket.
Challenge them to get all three discs inside the basket in a row!
Move the start line further back once they become an expert launcher.

Safety Tip:
Always ensure the play area is clear of breakable items before launching your paper discs. Adult supervision is recommended to manage the use of scissors.

Floating Feather Fans

Steps:

Lay a long strip of butcher paper on the floor to make your landing runway.
Use masking tape to secure a basket at the very end of the paper.
Have your child lie on their tummy at the start of the runway.
Place a soft feather in front of them on the paper.
Hand your child a straw and ask them to blow air through it.
Challenge them to push the feather forward using only their breath.
If the feather gets stuck, give them a paper plate to use as a fan.
Encourage them to wave the plate to create wind and move the feather.
The goal is to get the feather all the way into the basket!
Repeat the race and see if they can do it faster each time.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child closely while they are lying on the floor. Ensure the room is clear of sharp corners or hard furniture. Keep straws away from eyes and mouth after use.

The Pool Noodle Dinner Prep

Steps:

Place a pool noodle on a flat surface like a table or paper plate.
Have your child hold the noodle steady with their helper hand.
Hand them a plastic safety knife with their other hand.
Show them how to move the knife back and forth in a sawing motion.
Encourage them to cut the noodle into small food slices.
Once they have a pile of slices, they can serve them on a paper plate!

Safety Tip:
Always use a dull plastic safety knife and supervise your child closely to ensure they use a safe sawing motion.