This is an activity that kept my toddler busy and QUIET for a while!! #GOALS! This is a very simple activity to set up and easy for your little one to understand and complete! Threading straws with pipe cleaners works on fine motor and coordination skills! I also introduced her to patterns! So much fun!
Materials:
- Pipe cleaners
- Plastic straws
- Scissors
- Container
Set up a fun threading station. Simply cut up your straws in various lengths. Put them into their container along with the pipe cleaners. I demonstrated the activity before Aliza started!
Fine motor skills
Threading straws with pipe cleaners is a great fine motor activity!
This activity requires your little one to work those tiny muscles in their hands. Fine motor skills are so important for your little one to complete simple tasks like holding a pen, writing, dressing etc. Pipe cleaners are great to use for this activity as they are nice and firm while threading. This allows your toddler to be able to thread the straws easily and feel a sense of accomplishment! Aliza thought it was the coolest thing ever!
Concentration
Did you know that your toddler can actually sit down and concentrate on something other than your phone! I loved watching Aliza use her problem solving skills during this activity. This is why she was quiet for so long. She was determined to get those straws on her pipe cleaner!! YOU GO GIRL.
Introducing Patterns
Don’t be intimidated to start introducing BIG skills to your little ones. Patterns are a real and necessary math skill and it is something toddlers can master early on. Keep it simple! “AB patterns” (teacher language) use two colors. I would build the pattern out on the table with the straws and ask her what comes next! It was fun and she surprisingly did very well!
This activity was also great for:
- Coordination skills
- Mathematics-comparing length of straw pieces
- Increase language vocabulary-(push, pull,long,short,bigger,smaller)
- Problem Solving Skills
- Visual Perceptual Skills (visual scanning)
- Color recognition
We love threading activities! You can check out another great threading activity we did with pool noodles here: Fine Motor & ABC Sequencing Activity with Pool Noodles !
Simple, easy, fun, cheap and extremely beneficial! Who’s in?! The most important thing is to have fun with your little one!
-@cota_mom
