Tag: threading

Pool Noodle Games

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Pool Noodle Stringing (5)

We had a few pool noodles in the closet that were left over from summer fun, so today Veronika and I found a few indoor winter ways to play with them!

First, we tried making a pool noodle “necklace”. Cut pool noodles into smaller pieces so they are like giant beads and then give your child twine (or a rope) and thread them on.

Pool Noodle Stringing (2)

Preschoolers can get in some great threading practice by doing this activity solo. I helped Veronika by inserting the twine into the hole of each pool noodle piece, and then she would pull it through.

Pool Noodle Stringing (3)

At first this made a fun pull toy! She loved dragging it along behind her or wiggling it in the air.

Pool Noodle Stringing (4)

Once we had enough of pieces looped on, I tied the two ends of twine together to form a giant dress-up necklace.

Pool Noodle Stringing (6)

Next, I cut out slightly larger pool noodle pieces, and these were great to stack like blocks!

Pool Noodle Stringing (8)

These towers were particularly fun to push over, because the soft foam won’t hurt a thing.

Pool Noodle Stringing (9)

I loved that we found a way to reuse a summer material on a winter’s day!

Basic Cereal Threading

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Basic Cereal Threading (3)

This easy threading game is a great intro to the activity for toddlers. All of the items involved (play dough, cereal, and dry spaghetti) lend themselves to solo toddler play either before or after the activity, too, meaning you’ll get double-duty from one game.

To set up, we first rolled a few balls from different colors of play dough. Veronika loved helping with this step.

Basic Cereal Threading (1)

I then speared a strand of dry spaghetti into each mound of play dough. We were working on a craft tray, so I simply poured out some o-shaped cereal right onto the tray. If you’re doing this activity in a high chair, give your toddler a bowl of the cereal instead.

I showed her how to thread one cereal piece at a time onto the spaghetti. After a few misses, she was quickly a pro at the activity!

Basic Cereal Threading (2)

I loved watching her work with great care, not only looping the cereal over the top, but then holding onto it as she guided it all the way down to the play dough base.

Basic Cereal Threading (5)

Don’t be surprised if there’s some snacking involved, too, with all the cereal around!

Basic Cereal Threading (6)

Threading Pipe Cleaners for Christmas

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Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (3)

I had intended this project as a fine motor activity with a holiday twist for Veronika, but big brother Travis immediately wanted in on the action, too, so it makes a great project for the whole family on a winter afternoon.

First up, I filled a tray with the following: sparkly red, silver, and green chenille stems; red and green beads; and an assortment of colored jingle bells.

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (6)

I showed Veronika how to thread a bead onto one of the pipe cleaners.

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (8)

She took a few tries, but then was much more interested in the jingle bells. She actually was quite skilled at inserting a pipe cleaner into the narrow loop on each bell!

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (9)

I helped a little and she produced this little bracelet.

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (12)

Travis jumped in on the action and wanted to make holiday gifts for friends, a unexpected bonus of the activity.

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (2)

I was so proud that he even made patterns, counting out the same number and color of beads on each side of his jingle bells.

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (4)

Meanwhile, Veronika was honing those fine motor skills or just busy digging through the materials as if this were a sensory tray. Between the sparkly chenille stems and the jingling bells, there was lots to love!

Threading Christmas Pipe Cleaners (11)

Straw-Threaded Shoestring Necklace

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Straw-Beaded Necklace (6)

Veronika is just starting to love dress-up, especially adorning herself with ribbons, beaded bracelets, and other accessories. She’s also at the perfect age to hone the fine motor skills needed for threading. So this activity combined the two perfectly!

To start, I set out a tray with colorful paper straws and her safety scissors. She wasn’t strong enough to cut through the straws, but she loved trying! Meanwhile, I worked alongside her and snipped each straw into several smaller pieces.

Straw-Beaded Necklace (2)

Give your toddler a shoelace or craft lace, and show him or her how to poke the tip into each piece of straw, then pull all the way through.

Straw-Beaded Necklace (3)

Veronika was delighted when she could do this alone, working with such concentration on her face. It was harder for her to pull the lace all the way through, but a little mommy assistance did the trick.

Straw-Beaded Necklace (5)

She loved deciding which color straw piece we should add next! Once the lace was full, I tied it into a knot so she could wear it as a necklace.

Straw-Beaded Necklace (7)

My little fashionista! She had so much fun that we made a second one for mommy to wear, too.

Straw-Beaded Necklace (4)