Work on self-regulation skills by blowing cotton balls with straws. Plus find other suggestions on how to adapt this fun game with cotton balls.
My kids love anything silly and this game definitely falls into that category. So when the chewing of my oral sensory seeker is driving me crazy, I quickly try to fulfill his need by introducing fun and silly oral motor activities. These snowball oral motor boredom busters are the result of one of those days where the chew, chew, chewing would not slow down.
Not only do these activities provide oral motor sensory input, but they are great for providing heavy work and proprioceptive sensory input.
And giggles. Lots and lots of giggles.
So if you're looking for a low prep idea for family game night, then you're in the right place! Even my 60 year old dad couldn't resist joining in for a race with four year old K.
Blowing Cotton Balls with Straws: What You'll Need for this Activity
Here's what you'll need to do any of the variations of this snowball oral motor sensory games:
Use the tape to mark a start line and a finish line on the floor.
Everyone who plays the game gets their own straw and their own cotton ball. Place the cotton balls on the start line. Then simply blow through the straw to get the cotton ball moving. The first one to cross the finish line wins!
Blowing through the straw gives oral motor sensory input to kids (see 24 more oral motor sensory ideas here), while crawling along the floor is great heavy work for kids.
More Suggestions for Minute it to Win it Games with Cotton Balls to Try!
There are other ways to play this game, such as:
- See who can blow their cotton ball the furthest and measure the distance.
- Play snowball hockey. Two players defend their "net" (one of the lines of tape) and blow back and forth on one cotton ball. The object of the game is to score on the other person by crossing the line that they are defending.
- Instead of blowing the cotton balls with the straws, try sucking in through the straw and carrying the cotton ball on the end of the straw. How far can you carry it before it drops?
- Swap the cotton balls for pom poms!
Other Activities the Kids Will Love
