What kind of newspaper balls work best for this?

Use large, loose balls that your child can squeeze with both feet. If the paper is packed too tight or crumpled too small, the game turns into kicking instead of lifting.

What can I use instead of a basket?

Any open container that stays put on the rug can work, such as a low laundry basket, shallow box, or wide bin. Skip tall or tippy containers that make your child twist or kick harder to reach the target.

Is this okay if a younger sibling is nearby?

Only if you can keep the floor clear and watch the paper closely. If the newspaper starts tearing into small bits or a sibling crawls into the lift path, stop the round and clean up first.

Back to library

A toddler sits on a floor pillow and lifts a crumpled newspaper ball with both feet toward a basket on the rug.

Fine motorOT-adjacent supportShift WeightIndoor Floor

Newspaper Nest Foot Deliver.

Crumple a few loose newspaper balls, set the basket close, and do a short foot-delivery round with the adult returning each nest.

Crumpled newspaper balls become nest eggs preschoolers lift, carry, and drop with their feet.

Fine motorOT-adjacent supportShift WeightIndoor Floor

Newspaper Nest Foot Deliver.

Crumpled newspaper balls become nest eggs preschoolers lift, carry, and drop with their feet.

Play time

5-10+ min

Age

3-5 years

Energy

Medium

Mess

Low

Effort

Low

Where

Indoor Floor

Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort

6 things

What you need

Several sheets of newspaper
1 basket
1 floor pillow
1 rug or non-slippery floor space
1 adult for setup and direct supervision
1 child

5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop

Step 01

On the rug or non-slippery floor, clear a play space away from sharp furniture corners.

Step 02

In that space, crumple several sheets of newspaper into large, loose balls.

Step 03

At one end of the rug, place the basket where it will not slide.

Step 04

On the rug a few feet from the basket, place the pillow facing the basket.

Step 05

Between the pillow and basket, put the newspaper balls in one small pile close enough that your child can touch one with both feet.

Step 06

On the pillow, seat your child facing the basket and check that they can lean back with hands braced behind them.

"Feet pinch one nest."

The loop

How play unfolds.

Four panels show a grown-up crumpling newspaper, a child seated on a pillow with hands braced, the child lifting a newspaper ball with both feet, and the ball dropping into a basket.

1
Put 1 newspaper nest at your child's feet, show 1 slow lift, and say, "Hands stay back. Can your feet deliver the nest to the basket?"
2
Let your child brace with hands behind them, pinch the nest with both feet, lift it, and drop it into the basket.
3
If the nest misses, slide the same one back to the start spot. If it lands, slide the next nest into reach.
4
Repeat until the pile is done or your child is finished.

01
Put 1 newspaper nest at your child's feet, show 1 slow lift, and say, "Hands stay back. Can your feet deliver the nest to the basket?"
02
Let your child brace with hands behind them, pinch the nest with both feet, lift it, and drop it into the basket.
03
If the nest misses, slide the same one back to the start spot. If it lands, slide the next nest into reach.
04
Repeat until the pile is done or your child is finished.

Safety Check

Use a rug or other non-slippery floor.
Clear sharp furniture corners from your child's lifting path.
Stay close and supervise while your child leans back, braces, and lifts both feet.
Move the basket closer or stop if your child twists, slides, kicks fast, or cannot stay braced.

Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder

Level 1 (Start)

Put one nest at your child's toes and invite one slow foot delivery.

Level 2 (Keep going)

Slide the next nest close enough for another steady squeeze.

Level 3 (Stretch)

Ask for a quiet drop into the basket without a kick.

Level 4 (Extend)

Let your child choose whether the next nest starts near the left foot or right foot.

If your child seems...

What you'd see

Focused

What to do

Say

"Try one smooth lift."

Add

Count the nest only after it lands.

Extend

Move the next ball a hand-width farther from the basket.

Make it easier

Younger end

-Start with the ball touching both feet so your child only has to squeeze and lift.
-Use one successful drop as the whole round before adding more balls.
-Let your child rest both heels on the floor between turns.

Make it harder

Older end

+Place the basket slightly off center so your child has to aim before dropping.
+Ask for a silent landing instead of a fast toss.
+Have your child reset their feet to the pillow before each new ball.

If it's not working

If you see

If child ignores it

Put 1 ball at their toes, model 1 slow foot lift, and ask, "Can your bird feet deliver one nest?"

If you see

If child misuses it

If hands start grabbing or feet start kicking, reset your child with hands behind them, move the basket closer, and go back to 1 slow lift.

If you see

If child gets frustrated

Use just 2 or 3 balls, bring the basket closer, and celebrate 1 successful drop before deciding whether to keep going.

Skill spotlight

Shift Weight

Balancing while moving an object with feet.

This helps your child feel where their body is while they use both sides together, which matters for dressing, floor play, and careful movement around the house.

•Pinching one loose nest with both feet helps your child use both sides together while staying seated and steady.
•The squeeze, lift, drop, reset loop gives clear practice controlling force instead of kicking fast or flinging the nest.
•One nest at a time makes misses easy to retry, which supports sticking with the game after a drop.

Real-world transfer