• SHOP PRODUCTS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes

May 4, 2018 by Kate 21 Comments

You know me, I thought I’d share with you a fun and educational activity that is also great for recycling some of the everyday things you might already have in your home. This is a simple, fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes. 

Fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes.

Fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes

Ever since learning about the dangers of plastics to our Earth, I’ve had this terrible guilt over a packet of straws sitting in my pantry cupboard.  Ugh, it’s horrible.

I actually don’t even remember buying them, so I have changed my thinking and have decided to repurpose them as loose parts suitable for educational activities. They will not have one use, but many. 

Brilliant. Check this out…

materialsTo do this activity you will need – 

  • Cardboard tubes
  • Straws (or similar)
  • Hole puncher
  • Scissors

Cut each of the cardboard tubes in half or abut 10 – 15cm long. 

cardboard tube hole for fine motor

Depending on the capability of your child, ask them to punch holes into the cardboard tubes using the hole puncher.

Using a hole puncher is really great for fine motor development. It strengthens the smaller muscles in the fingers and palm of the hand. Important for when they are learning to write with a pencil or draw. 

kids have fun threading straws and cardboard tubes for fine motor

The activity and it’s purpose is simple, much like my previous post. 

Present them with the straws and ask them to thread them through the holes in the cardboard tube. In one side and out the other.

They begin to look a little like crazy and colourful spiders after awhile. 

straws and cardboard tube for fine motor development and threading practise

Boo (aged 3 years) discovered that she needed to bend the end of the straw to stop them from slipping out. The was a great discovery and only learnt through her own experience of doing this activity. 

This activity does open itself up to challenging your child and their problem solving skills. 

I’ve got my eye on this similar idea from Babble Dabble Do. 

using fine motor skills for threading straws in cardboard tube

This is a super simple activity that you might like to set up for your child. It reuses some of the things you already have in your home and turns them into wonderful, handmade teaching tools (or toys). 

Is this an activity your child would enjoy? 

Filed Under: 1 - 3 years, activities for preschoolers, activities for toddlers, busy bag, Fine Motor, Indoor play Tagged With: cardboard, fine motor, preschooler, recycling, straws, threading, toddler

Comments

  1. ruby says

    July 9, 2018 at 10:22 pm

    It is a good idea for my toddlers. Simply and fun!

    I will try it.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      July 10, 2018 at 2:22 pm

      Wonderful Ruby!!! I hope you and your toddler has fun with it. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mariam says

    December 10, 2018 at 2:55 am

    I will definitely try with my grandsons.

    Reply
  3. Michelle Upham says

    February 26, 2019 at 10:59 am

    Then your child could build a tower with several of them and put a marble down the the top. Similar to Kerplunk.

    Reply
  4. Laly Palomino says

    May 24, 2019 at 12:31 am

    Hi! Cómo puedo hacer los huequitos al tuvo? No consigo ese aparato : hole puncher!!!😌

    Reply
  5. anita says

    July 2, 2019 at 12:13 am

    This is such a wonderful activity for the children I work with in Early Headstart. I am a home visitor. Thank You so much for this activity!
    Anita

    Reply
    • Kate says

      July 2, 2019 at 2:21 pm

      You’re so very welcome Anita!!

      Reply
  6. Elaine Honigmann says

    November 5, 2019 at 5:15 am

    you could add some card or funky foam shapes with little holes too, or chunky beads with big holes

    Reply
  7. Lorri Case says

    April 12, 2020 at 1:31 am

    What fun and simple ideas!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      April 13, 2020 at 12:01 pm

      Exactly how I love them Lorri. Haha
      Thank you.

      Reply
  8. Regina Santos says

    September 8, 2020 at 4:01 am

    It’s a good and simple ideia!

    Reply
    • Kate says

      October 1, 2020 at 3:53 pm

      Absolutely!! 🙂

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Motricidad fina: 15 actividades + imprimible - Aprendiendo con Julia says:
    December 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    […] Fuente 12: https://laughingkidslearn.com/fine-motor-threading-activity-using-straws-and-cardboard-tubes/ […]

    Reply
  2. Break [n.] an interruption in continuity - Military Families Learning Network says:
    June 26, 2019 at 10:50 pm

    […] Paper Tube Threading: Toilet paper or paper towel tubes, a hole punch, and a few straws make for a great threading activity for preschoolers to practice their fine motor skills. Bonus – if a paper tube is needed, a young toddler can practice the fine motor skills involved in unrolling a nearly empty toilet paper roll!  Don’t all kids love to do that? […]

    Reply
  3. Tried and True Busy Bags - How Wee Learn says:
    September 18, 2019 at 11:58 am

    […] Straw and Cardboard Tube Threading, By Laughing Kids Learn –  Straws are a great sturdy option for babies and toddlers new to threading.  Practice golf balls can be used if you are worried about your cardboard tubes getting crushed. […]

    Reply
  4. 36 Fine Motor Activities for Babies and Toddlers (Age Wise Guide) says:
    November 7, 2019 at 11:55 am

    […] 31. Cardboard Tube Straw Activity […]

    Reply
  5. 100+ Easy Toddler Activities | quick set-up, educational & fun! says:
    March 10, 2020 at 10:10 am

    […] Fine Motor Threading– Thread straws through a hole-punched cardboard tube. […]

    Reply
  6. Weather lacing cards - Laughing Kids Learn says:
    June 2, 2020 at 9:45 am

    […] Threading with straws […]

    Reply
  7. Weather lacing cards – Laughing Kids Learn | Struggling With Kids says:
    July 24, 2021 at 9:29 pm

    […] Threading with straws […]

    Reply
  8. 40+ Totally Awesome Activities to Do with Toilet Paper Rolls - HOAWG says:
    December 7, 2021 at 1:00 am

    […] Get some great fine motor practice with this Cardboard Tube and Straws Threading Activity from Laughing Kids Learn. […]

    Reply
  9. 30 Cardboard Tube Crafts for Any Time of Year - Fantastic Fun & Learning says:
    August 4, 2022 at 12:31 am

    […] Fine motor threading activity using straws and cardboard tubes is so simple to set up and hours of fun for your little […]

    Reply

Please Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome
Hello and welcome!
My name is Kate and I am a mum to two little girls, Possum and Boo. We have lots of fun together learning with play at home and are pleased to share some of what we do with you.
Read my about page to find out more.

facebookpinteresttwitterinstagramgoogle plusyoutube

Search

Find More Great Ideas Here:

sesnory play
art and craft
nummeracy
literacy
Science
recipes
videos

Join the Tribe!

Subscribe



Find Activities by Age

  • 0 – 12 months
  • 1 – 3 years
  • 3 – 5 years
  • 5 – 10 years

Find Activities by Celebration

  • Christmas
  • SHOP PRODUCTS

Privacy Policy

  • Disclosure and Privacy Policy

Find posts by month

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in