Straws - OTPlan

The Spiky Paper Roll Tower

OTPlan — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:29:56 +0000

This activity is great for building bilateral hand use. This is just using both hands together at the same time. One hand holds the roll steady while the other hand pushes the straw through. It also helps with visual motor skills as your child lines up the holes. Balancing the beads at the end works on their fine motor control. It is a fun way to build the muscles needed for writing!

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The Ziplock Air Launcher

OTPlan — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 19:07:56 +0000

This activity helps your child build hand strength and coordination. Squeezing a bag of air requires both hands to work together. This skill is called bilateral integration. It is important for tasks like cutting or dressing. It also teaches children about cause and effect. Seeing the paper rocket fly encourages your child to track moving objects with their eyes. This is a great way to provide heavy work for small fingers!

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The Straw Rocket Blast

OTPlan — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:35:28 +0000

This activity is a blast for your preschooler. They will build strong hand muscles while rolling their own paper rockets. Wrapping the paper around a pencil helps develop finger coordination. It teaches them to use both hands together. Taping the tiny rocket nose works on precision and grip. Blowing the rocket provides excellent oral motor input. It also helps them learn how to control their breath. This can support speech development and self-regulation. It is a simple, playful way to practice big skills at home.

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The Rainbow Tissue Windmill

OTPlan — Sat, 09 May 2026 17:35:57 +0000

This craft encourages focus and precise finger movements. Your child will practice using both hands to assemble the spinning parts. It helps them understand cause and effect while building something functional and fun.

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The Wobbly Straw Slalom

OTPlan — Fri, 08 May 2026 04:15:27 +0000

This activity is wonderful for helping your child coordinate both hands together. By weaving a string through a forest of straws, they learn to control their arm movements while focusing on a small target. It builds the stability in their shoulders needed for writing later on. It also challenges their motor planning as they figure out the best path. Your child will love the challenge of keeping the string steady!

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The Pincer Slider Box Maze

OTPlan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:36:01 +0000

This activity helps your child practice planning and finger precision. By sliding a button through a maze using a pinch, they build hand control. It is great for focusing on the small movements used for drawing and writing. Using a box lid makes the task contained and manageable for kids.

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Floating Feather Fans

OTPlan — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 05:12:21 +0000

This fun game helps your child build core strength and control their breath. Blowing through a straw is a great way to work on oral motor skills. It strengthens the tiny muscles around the mouth used for clear speaking. Using a paper plate as a fan also builds upper body strength. Your child will need to plan their movements to guide the feather to the target. This helps with motor planning and focus. It is a playful way to practice graded force and coordination while staying in a stable position.

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Balloon Powered Foil Boat

OTPlan — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:42:15 +0000

This exciting activity introduces your child to the power of air and movement. Building the boat requires careful bilateral hand use and coordination. It also works on mouth muscles as they blow to inflate the balloon. Your child will love seeing how their hard work creates motion!

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The Cardboard Box Pinball Goal

OTPlan — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:41:36 +0000

This activity is perfect for helping your child develop focus and coordination. By building their own mini-pinball arena, they practice planning and problem-solving. Maneuvering the ball through the box requires steady hands and careful movements. This strengthens the small muscles in their fingers and wrists. It also encourages crossing midline as they reach from side to side. Your child will love the challenge of hitting the targets they created. It is a wonderful way to boost their confidence while working on important motor skills. Plus, it uses simple household items you likely already have!

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The Straw Pipe Cleaner Architect

OTPlan — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:09:09 +0000

This activity is a fantastic way to challenge your child's problem-solving and fine motor skills. By using simple straws and pipe cleaners, they can build complex 3D structures. This requires them to use both hands together, which is great for coordination. The act of threading the pipe cleaners through the narrow straws strengthens their finger grip and improves hand-eye coordination. It also helps them practice planning, as they have to figure out how to connect the pieces to make their structure stand up. It’s like a DIY building set that sparks creativity while giving their hands a workout!

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