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
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…
To 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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
It is a good idea for my toddlers. Simply and fun!
I will try it.
Thanks!
Wonderful Ruby!!! I hope you and your toddler has fun with it. 🙂
I will definitely try with my grandsons.
Then your child could build a tower with several of them and put a marble down the the top. Similar to Kerplunk.
Hi! Cómo puedo hacer los huequitos al tuvo? No consigo ese aparato : hole puncher!!!😌
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
You’re so very welcome Anita!!
you could add some card or funky foam shapes with little holes too, or chunky beads with big holes
What fun and simple ideas!
Exactly how I love them Lorri. Haha
Thank you.
It’s a good and simple ideia!
Absolutely!! 🙂