Visual Motor - OTPlan

The Pencil Top Target Spin

Steps:

Use a small bowl to trace a circle onto your cardboard.
Carefully use scissors to cut the circle out.
Let your child draw a bright spiral pattern on the circle using markers.
Push the pencil tip straight through the center of the cardboard circle.
Make sure the cardboard fits snugly near the bottom of the pencil.
Lay your butcher paper flat on the floor and secure it with masking tape.
Use your markers to draw three nesting target circles on the paper.
Hold the pencil top with your thumb and first two fingers.
Twist your fingers quickly to spin the top onto the target circles!

Safety Tip:
Ensure the pencil tip is not overly sharp to prevent accidental pokes during the spinning motion.

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 Taped Yarn Bridge Pull

Steps:

Cut a large rectangle of cardboard to use as your steady work base.
Tape two long, parallel pieces of yarn across the cardboard about three inches apart.
Make sure the yarn is very tight so it forms two raised ‘rails’.
Use your markers to draw a bright finish line at one end of the board.
Take an empty paper cup and place it upside down on top of the two yarn rails.
Carefully set a ping pong ball on the bottom of the upside-down cup.
Tie a separate piece of yarn to a paper clip and slide the clip onto the cup’s rim.
Hold the cardboard base firmly with your helper hand to keep it still.
Slowly pull the yarn string to glide the cup along the rails toward the finish line!
If the ball falls off, return to the start and try pulling with a smoother motion.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when using long pieces of yarn. Store the yarn safely away after play to prevent any risk of entanglement.

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.

The Ribbon Tail Balloon Catch

Steps:

Blow up a bright balloon and tie it tightly.
Cut four long strips of ribbon using your scissors.
Tape the ribbons to the bottom of the balloon.
Toss the balloon high into the air.
Ask your child to catch the balloon by the ribbons.
See how many times they can catch it before it lands!

Safety Tip:
Always watch your child when playing with balloons. Broken pieces are a choking hazard. Throw away any popped balloons right away.