The Ultimate Toddler Engineering Challenge

You know those days when your toddler is bouncing off the walls, and you just need something—anything—to keep them occupied for more than 30 seconds? Enter: cup towers. This is activity #2 in my activities with random household objects series, and it’s one of those gloriously simple learning activities that actually holds their attention.

All you need are plastic cups and jumbo craft sticks, and suddenly, you’ve got an entire building challenge on your hands. The best part? No glue, no cutting, no elaborate setup. Just good old-fashioned stacking, balancing, and watching things dramatically crash to the floor (which, let’s be honest, might be your toddler’s favorite part).

Why This Toddler Building Activity is a Winner

I’m all for activities that make my kids feel like tiny engineers while secretly developing important skills. Here’s why cup towers check all the boxes:

• Fine motor activity: Balancing craft sticks and stacking cups takes careful hand movements.
• Hand-eye coordination: Watching where to place each piece and adjusting their grip strengthens coordination.
• STEM learning: Even at a young age, kids start experimenting with balance, stability, and cause-and-effect.
• Open-ended play: No right or wrong way to build—just endless creativity.
• Minimal cleanup: When the fun is over, just stack the cups, toss the sticks in a bin, and you’re done.

What You Need

To get started, gather these everyday items:

• Plastic cups (about 10-20)
• Jumbo craft sticks (at least 10-15)
• A toddler with an enthusiasm for destruction

How to Set Up Cup Towers

1. Lay Out the Supplies. Place a stack of plastic cups and a pile of craft sticks on a flat surface. A table or even the floor works great.
2. Start Stacking. Show your child how to place a cup upside down, then lay a craft stick across the top to create a platform. Add another cup on top and repeat.
3. Experiment With Height. Challenge them to see how tall they can build before it all comes tumbling down.
4. Try Different Structures. Encourage them to experiment—can they build a wide base? A pyramid shape? A bridge between two towers?
5. Knock It Down (Because, Obviously). Let’s be real—watching the tower crash is half the fun. Let them knock it down and start again!

Fun Challenges to Keep It Interesting

Once your toddler masters the basics, add in some extra challenges:

• Tallest Tower Challenge: Who can build the highest structure before it falls?
• Speed Round: How fast can they build a tower using all the materials?
• One-Handed Build: For an extra fine motor challenge, try stacking with just one hand.
• Color Matching: If you have different colored cups or craft sticks, assign a pattern to follow.
• Bridge Building: Try connecting two towers with a craft stick “bridge.”

The Clean-Up Factor (aka Every Parent’s Favorite Part)

If an activity is fun but takes 20 minutes to clean up, I’ll pass. Luckily, this one is as easy to put away as it is to set up. Stack the cups, gather the sticks, and boom—clean house. At least until the next mess appears.

More Learning Activities Using Plastic Cups

If this was a hit with your toddler, don’t stop here! Plastic cups are surprisingly versatile when it comes to kids learning activities. Here are four more simple color matching activities and games using plastic cups that we’ll be covering in this series:

1. Pompom Color Match Cups – Draw a plastic cup outline on an index card and add three colored dots using dot markers. Place an empty plastic cup in front of each card and match the colored pompoms to the dots.
2. Upper and Lowercase Letter Match Cups – Trace the tops of plastic cups onto brown craft paper and write lowercase letters inside each circle. Write uppercase letters on the bottoms of the cups, then match them to their lowercase pairs.
3. Shrinking Cups – Decorate plastic cups with permanent markers, place them on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees for about five minutes. Watch as they shrink—it’s science happening right before your eyes!
4. Fizzy Art Cups – Cover the bottom of a shallow tray with baking soda. Fill plastic cups with vinegar and food coloring, then use eye droppers to add the colored vinegar to the baking soda for a fizzing masterpiece.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for an easy, engaging activity at home that builds fine motor skills, encourages problem-solving, and doesn’t involve complicated setup or cleanup, cup towers are where it’s at. Plus, if your toddler is anything like mine, they’ll get just as much joy out of knocking their tower down as they do from building it up. Either way, it’s a win.