Scissors - OTPlan

The Cardboard Yarn Harp

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a large rectangle from your cardboard.
Cut a square out of the middle to make a frame.
Let your child decorate the cardboard frame using bright markers.
Tape one end of a piece of yarn to the back of the frame.
Wrap the yarn around the frame to create several harp strings.
Secure the other end of the yarn with masking tape.
Ask your child to hold the frame steady with their helper hand.
Challenge them to squeeze and clip clothespins onto the yarn strings.
Encourage them to cross their arm over to clip the opposite side!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors. Ensure the cardboard edges are smooth to prevent minor scrapes.

The Finger Puppet Road Trip

Steps:

Use scissors to cut a small strip of construction paper, about two inches long.
Wrap the paper strip around your child’s index finger to make a cozy ring puppet.
Use your markers to draw a silly smiley face on the paper puppet ring.
Take a large piece of cardboard and draw a winding, curvy road across it.
Place several colorful stickers at different points along the curvy cardboard road.
Have your child hold the cardboard flat with their helper hand to keep it steady.
Slide the paper puppet onto your child’s index finger of their dominant hand.
Ask them to tuck their other three fingers and thumb tightly into their palm.
Challenge them to walk their puppet along the road, stopping to press each sticker!

Safety Tip:
Supervise your child closely while they are using scissors to cut the paper strip. Ensure the cardboard has smooth edges to prevent any minor scrapes.

The Fuzzy Felt Sorting Nest

Steps:

Use scissors to cut your colorful felt sheets into small, one-inch squares.
Use your markers to color the bottom of each cup in the egg carton a different color.
Place all the colorful felt squares into a pile on the table next to the egg carton.
Hand your child the tweezers and show them how to squeeze them with their thumb and pointer finger.
Challenge your child to pick up one felt square at a time using the tweezers.
Ask them to place the felt square into the egg carton cup that matches its color!
Repeat this playful process until all the felt pieces are sorted into their matching nests.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are using scissors or handling small tweezers.

The Brave Cardboard Shield

Steps:

Use your scissors to cut a large, sturdy circle out of a piece of cardboard.
Let your child decorate the front of the shield using their favorite colorful markers.
An adult should poke two small holes near the center of the cardboard circle.
Thread a piece of ribbon through the holes and tie a knot to make a handle.
Have your child slide their arm through the ribbon handle and hold the shield tight.
Stand a few feet away and gently toss soft pom-poms toward the child.
Challenge your child to move the shield to block every single pom-pom!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the play area is clear of furniture to prevent falls while your child moves around to block the pom-poms.

Balloon Blast Ping Pong Path

Steps:

Cut several long strips of cardboard and bend them into U-shaped arches.
Use masking tape to stick these arches onto a flat table to make a tunnel path.
Place a ping pong ball at the very beginning of the path.
Blow up a bright balloon but do not tie the end shut.
Pinch the balloon neck tightly with your fingers to keep the air inside.
Hold the balloon behind the ball and point the opening at it.
Slowly let go of the pinch to release a blast of air.
Try to blow the ball through every single cardboard arch to the finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are playing with balloons. If a balloon pops, pick up and throw away the broken pieces immediately. These can be a choking hazard.