Cup Print Circles
What you need
- two or three plastic cups of different sizes
- washable paint on a plate
- a big sheet of paper
How to do it
- Pour a little paint onto a plate and lay the paper out flat.
- Dip the rim of a cup in the paint and press it onto the paper.
- Lift it up together and say 'a circle!'
- Let them print circles all over the page with every cup.
Why it matters
Every press leaves a ring, so they make circle after circle without needing to draw one.
What they're learning
- Shape words
- A ring appears and gets its name, over and over.
- Pressing and lifting
- Pushing down and lifting straight up is a careful two-part movement.
- Cause and effect
- Every press makes a mark they can see straight away.
What to look for
Notice them pointing at a ring, then at the cup, and back again.
A tip
Plastic cups with a thick rim print best; thin ones just smudge.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: use one big cup and hold the paper still for them
Harder: draw a line with a finger to join two circles
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Fine motor activities · Activities for 18 month olds · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with cups · Toddler activities with paper