What can I use if I do not have a heavy bean bag?

Use a soft, weighty item that sits flat and gives the clothespin something to grip. Skip hard, slippery, or rolling objects because the helper-hand anchor is the point of the game.

What kind of paper cup works best?

Lightweight paper cups with a rolled rim are easiest to clip. If the cup crushes, slips, or will not hold, use a softer edge of the bean bag or choose a lighter cup.

Is this safe with a younger sibling nearby?

Keep clothespins and any pom-poms off the floor, and count them before and after play. Skip the optional pom-poms if a child who mouths objects is nearby.

Back to library

A preschool child pressing a heavy bean bag while clipping a decorated paper cup to the side with a clothespin.

Fine motorOT-adjacent supportSqueeze And Release`Table Or Floor Workspace

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip.

Decorate a couple of cups, set matching clothespins beside the bean bag, test that one cup clips securely, and play a tiny round of "make them stick."

Your child presses a heavy bean bag with one hand, squeezes a clothespin with the other, and clips decorated cups around the edge.

Fine motorOT-adjacent supportSqueeze And Release`Table Or Floor Workspace

Heavy Anchor Cup Clip.

Your child presses a heavy bean bag with one hand, squeezes a clothespin with the other, and clips decorated cups around the edge.

Play time

5-10+ min

Age

3-5 years

Energy

Low To Medium

Mess

Low

Effort

Low

Where

Table Or Floor Workspace

Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort

7 things

What you need

1 heavy bean bag
4 or 5 paper cups
Markers
At least 1 clothespin per cup
Stable table or floor workspace
Optional small pom-poms for adult-supervised decorating only; they are not needed for the clip-and-hold loop
1 adult for direct supervision

5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop

Step 01

On a stable table or clear floor space, place the heavy bean bag flat in front of your child.

Step 02

Beside the bean bag, set out 4 or 5 paper cups and the markers.

Step 03

On the outside of each cup, draw simple faces, stripes, or color marks.

Step 04

Beside the decorated cups, place at least 1 clothespin per cup within easy reach.

Step 05

On the side of the bean bag, test 1 empty cup with 1 clothespin. The bean bag should grip the cup securely. If it slips right away, choose a softer edge of the bag or use a lighter cup.

Step 06

Near the bean bag, position your child so 1 hand can press the bag while the other hand can reach a cup and clothespin.

"Heavy hand down."

The loop

How play unfolds.

A sequence showing a grown-up demo clip, a child pressing the bean bag and clipping cups, and the cups being unclipped for another round.

1
Clip one decorated cup yourself and say, "Hold the heavy anchor. Squeeze and park the cup."
2
Have your child press one helper hand on the bean bag.
3
Let your child squeeze a clothespin, catch the cup rim and bean bag edge, and release.
4
Repeat with the next cup and clothespin until the decorated cups are attached.
5
Unclip the cups, set them beside the bean bag, and play another round.

01
Clip one decorated cup yourself and say, "Hold the heavy anchor. Squeeze and park the cup."
02
Have your child press one helper hand on the bean bag.
03
Let your child squeeze a clothespin, catch the cup rim and bean bag edge, and release.
04
Repeat with the next cup and clothespin until the decorated cups are attached.
05
Unclip the cups, set them beside the bean bag, and play another round.

Safety Check

Stay within arm's reach and supervise directly the whole time.
Clothespins and small pom-poms can be choking hazards for children who still mouth objects.
Clothespins can pinch fingers, so offer 1 clip at a time if your child starts snapping or throwing them.
Stop or simplify if your child mouths materials, throws clothespins, keeps losing the helper-hand anchor, or finger effort stops looking controlled.

Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder

Level 1 (Start)

"Hold the heavy anchor with your helper hand and make 1 cup stick."

Level 2 (Keep going)

"Pick the next cup and squeeze the clip open."

Level 3 (Stretch)

"Clip the cup while the anchor stays still."

Level 4 (Extend)

"Can you fill one whole side of the anchor with cups?"

If your child seems...

What you'd see

Focused

What to do

Say

"Your helper hand is doing the heavy work."

Add

Slide the next cup just a little farther from the clipped cups.

Extend

Ask for 1 color, face, or stripe name after the cup is attached.

Make it easier

Younger end

-Start with the bean bag edge close to your child so the clip does not have to reach far.
-Let your child practice opening and closing 1 clothespin in the air before aiming at the cup.
-Keep only 2 decorated cups in the work area until the first round feels smooth.

Make it harder

Older end

+Ask your child to keep the helper hand pressed down until you count to 3 after each clip.
+Place the next cup on the opposite side of the bean bag so your child has to re-aim.
+Invite your child to choose a pattern, such as face cup then stripe cup.

If it's not working

If you see

If child ignores it

Clip the first cup yourself and make it a tiny challenge: "Can you make one more cup stick before mine falls?"

If you see

If child misuses it

Move extra clothespins out of reach and hand over 1 cup and 1 clip at a time.

If you see

If child gets frustrated

Hold the cup against the bean bag while your child only squeezes the clothespin, or start with 1 cup and 1 clothespin.

Skill spotlight

Squeeze And Release`

Squeeze-and-clip control, Two-hand teamwork

This helps the child adjust finger pressure while both hands do different jobs, a useful pattern for fasteners, tools, helping tasks, and later cutting or drawing.

•The helper hand presses the bean bag while the working hand squeezes, so both hands have different jobs.
•The cup rim and bean bag edge give your child a visible target for the clothespin.
•Each slipped cup can be reset quickly, which lets your child repeat the same squeeze, aim, and release loop.

Real-world transfer