Buggy Rope Slide

Buggy Rope Slide

Steps:

  • Securely tape one end of the rope to the top of a stable doorway.
  • Let the other end of the rope hang down to the floor.
  • Use markers to draw small, silly bugs on the index cards.
  • Help your child slide a paper clip onto the edge of each card.
  • Place all the bug cards into a basket near the rope.
  • Ask your child to clip one bug onto the very bottom of the rope.
  • Challenge them to use both hands to slide the bug card all the way to the top!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure the rope is used safely and does not become tangled.

The Ribbon Twirl Spinner

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.

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Bottle Galaxy Weaver

Steps:

  • Wash and dry an empty plastic bottle.
  • Remove the label so you can see inside clearly.
  • Use a hole puncher to make six holes around the top of the bottle.
  • Punch six more holes near the bottom of the bottle.
  • Cut several pieces of yarn into long strips.
  • Tie a bead to one end of a yarn piece to act as a star.
  • Thread the yarn through a top hole and pull it across to a bottom hole.
  • Add more beads as you weave through different holes.
  • Crumple small strips of index cards and push them into the bottle first to act as planets.
  • Challenge your child to weave the yarn so the stars rest on the planets.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children when using a hole puncher. Beads are a choking hazard. Keep them away from younger siblings.

The Cardboard Box Texture Tunnel

The Cardboard Box Texture Tunnel

Steps:

  • Use masking tape to connect two large boxes to create a long, sturdy tunnel.
  • Cut the flaps off both ends so your child has a clear path to crawl through.
  • Use tape to secure different pieces of fabric to the bottom of the tunnel.
  • Stick several soft cotton balls to the inner walls of the box using glue or tape.
  • Encourage your child to crawl through the tunnel and touch the various textures.
  • Talk about the sensations, asking if the walls feel soft, fuzzy, or smooth.

Safety Tip:
CHOKING HAZARD: Cotton balls are small parts. Always supervise your toddler closely and ensure they do not pull them off to put in their mouth.

Paper Plate Target Disc

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.