Tissue Paper Rain

What you need

• tissue paper
• cardboard box

How to do it

1. Tear a few sheets of tissue paper into loose strips and pile them in a shallow cardboard box.
2. Show your toddler scooping up a handful and letting it fall like rain over the box.
3. Let them scoop and drop their own handfuls again and again.
4. Scrunch the fallen strips back into a pile to start the rain over.

Why it matters

Watching torn paper float and settle rather than fall straight down gives toddlers a gentle, repeatable cause and effect to chase. The box and the tissue paper both came from this week's parcels and land back in the recycling once the rain has stopped.

What they're learning

Cause and effect

Opening their fingers here sends paper drifting down there, a gentle and repeatable result.

Hand strength

Tearing sheets into strips beforehand builds finger and wrist strength.

Focus & persistence

Scooping and dropping handful after handful keeps them on the same small task.

What to look for

Watch for them opening their fingers slowly to let the paper drift, rather than throwing the whole handful at once.

A tip

Check the tissue paper for any staples or stickers before tearing it up, and stay close so torn pieces stay out of their mouth.

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