Looking for a fun new toy for your child? The Mini-Marshmallow Popper is easy to make, and you can probably find everything you need lying around your house. This project boosts fine motor skills and teaches kids about simple construction at the same time.
What You Need:
- Paper cup
- Scissors
- Balloon
- Rubber band
- Mini marshmallows
What You Do:
- Use the scissors to cut the bottom out of the cup so that instead of a cup, you now have a paper tube.
- Without blowing it up, help your child tie a knot in the end of the balloon, then have him snip half an inch off the other end.
- Help him stretch the balloon over the bottom of the cup so that the knot is in the center of the hole, then secure it with a rubber band.
- If he wants to decorate his popper, encourage him to put on stickers or use markers to draw designs on the outside.
- Now that your Mini-Marshmallow Popper is assembled, it's time to try it out! Have your child insert a mini marshmallow into the opening and gently shake the cup until the marshmallow snuggles down in the center of the balloon. Make sure he faces the popper away from himself, and away from other people, then he can pull the knot back and let go. Watch the marshmallow zing through the air!
For a fun game, make another marshmallow popper for yourself and have a contest to see who can pop more marshmallows into a bowl a few feet away!
By Heather Swain
Excerpted from "Make These Toys: 101 Clever Creations from Everyday Items" Copyright 2010 by Heather Swain. Used by Permission of Penguin Group Inc., New York All Rights Reserved.
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