Scissors - OTPlan

Clip Line Treasure

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use markers to draw and cut several small shapes (like fish or stars) from the index cards. Set a long piece of string tautly between two stable points, like chair backs.
Place the paper clips in the container and the paper shapes nearby. Encourage your child to sit stably at the work table.
Ask your child to hold one paper shape steady with their helper hand to stabilize it.
Challenge them to pick up one paper clip. They must use precise fingertips to squeeze the clip open and secure it onto the edge of the paper shape.
Now, hold the taut string steady with the helper hand. Carefully clip the paper clip (and the paper shape) onto the hanging string line.
Repeat this entire process, clipping all the paper shapes onto the line. Try doing this without letting the string sag or move!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small paper clips are choking hazards for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Felt Tapestry Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 tight, narrow, horizontal slits into the felt sheet.
Secure the felt tightly onto the cardboard using masking tape on all edges. Tape the cardboard base firmly onto the table.
Take two pipe cleaners and twist them tightly together to create one stiff, thick ‘needle’ for threading.
Hold the cardboard base steady with your helper hand. Use a strong pincer grasp to pick up the end of the stiff pipe cleaner needle.
Challenge your child to thread the pipe cleaner straight through one tight felt slit. Push it completely through, feeling the resistance of the fabric.
Continue threading the pipe cleaner into the remaining slits, creating a dense, woven tapestry pattern across the felt surface.

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a potential choking hazard for young children. Ensure all materials are used only as intended.

Precision Tube Drop

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a 4-inch wide strip from the foam sheet. Roll the strip tightly to create a narrow, stable tube, securing the seam firmly with masking tape.
Secure the bottom of the foam tube vertically onto the construction paper using plenty of masking tape. The paper acts as a base.
Place the sticks in the container next to the base. Ask your child to sit stably and use their helper hand to hold the base firmly.
Challenge your child to pick up one craft stick using a neat pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Encourage them to aim carefully and drop the stick straight down through the narrow opening of the foam tube without touching the sides.
Repeat this precision task until all the craft sticks have been successfully dropped into the tube.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Craft sticks are small items and pose a potential choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.

Foam Fortress Cut

Steps:

Draw several thick, straight lines or simple shapes (like squares and rectangles) onto the foam sheets using markers.
Help your child position the foam on a stable table. Encourage them to hold the foam firmly with their non-dominant hand to keep it from slipping.
Challenge the child to cut along the drawn lines using child-safe scissors. Cutting through the thick foam requires a strong, sustained squeeze.
Once all the foam pieces are cut, choose two pieces and align their edges. Push them firmly together to connect them and create a small structure.
Continue connecting the foam pieces by pushing their edges together until the entire ‘fortress’ or structure is complete. Try to make it as tall as possible.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Ensure the child uses age-appropriate scissors safely and monitors the position of their helper hand, keeping fingers away from the cutting path.

Resistant Card Weave Pull

Steps:

Ask an adult to cut 8 to 10 index cards into thick, uniform strips (about 1 inch wide).
Weave the strips together tightly in an over-under checkerboard pattern to create a square ‘mat’.
An adult should securely wrap masking tape around the entire perimeter of the woven square. Wrap the tape tightly to keep the weave stable and add resistance.
Place the finished woven card square flat on a stable table. Challenge your child to hold the square firmly steady with their non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Encourage your child to use their working hand to grasp the edge of one woven strip and pull it straight out of the resistant tape frame.
The pulling requires strong, controlled force. Continue pulling the strips free until the entire woven piece has been unraveled. Drop the rescued strips into the container.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Adults should handle the scissors during preparation. Ensure the child remains seated stably when performing the strong pulling motions.