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    Home » Fine Motor Skills Activities

    Fine Motor Activity - Fruit Loop Towers

    Modified: May 30, 2025 · Published: Aug 22, 2011 by Vicky · 75 Comments · Post contains affiliate links

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    Jump to Craft

    Yesterday, I was looking for a quick fine motor activity to do with the kids that wouldn't take much time and wouldn't require a big cleanup. Fruit Loop Towers to the rescue! All you need for this fine motor activity is fruit loops, spaghetti, and play-dough. Activities for Fine Motor Skills can be fun and educational!

    For more fun ideas check out 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers.  

    fruit loop towers pin

    If your enjoyed these Fruit Loop Towers, check out quick and easy activities for toddlers.

    Jump to:
    • Fruit Loop Activities
    • Supplies for Stacking Fruit Loops
    • How To Make a Froot Loop Stacking Activity
    • Benefits of Fine Motor Activity with Fruit Loops
    • Tips for Fruit Loop Towers
    • FAQs For Froot Loop Activity

    Fruit Loop Activities

    Fruit Loops aren't just for breakfast. They're a fun and colorful tool that can be used in a variety of kids' activities. You can use them for sorting by color, practicing counting, or even making simple patterns and jewelry.

    Here are some playful ways to sneak in some learning while keeping little hands busy:

    • Rainbow Fruit Loop Towers
    • Fruit Loops Counting and Matching Game
    • How to Make a Cereal Rainbow Craft
    • Crushed Cereal Sand Dough
    • Fruit Cereal Necklaces Made Easy

    Supplies for Stacking Fruit Loops

    • Plastic cups - Used as the base for the towers (we used cleaned applesauce cups).
    • Play dough - Holds the linguine upright and steady inside the cup.
    • Linguine - Acts as the "tower" for stacking.
    • Fruit Loops - Used for stacking, sorting, and building patterns.

    Learning Resources Fine Motor Feeding Friends, 39 Pieces, Ages 3+,Learning Resources Fine Motor Feeding Friends, 39 Pieces, Ages 3+,Learning Resources Fine Motor Feeding Friends, 39 Pieces, Ages 3+,74 Pieces Counting Sorting Bears Sensory Bin Tools Fine Motor74 Pieces Counting Sorting Bears Sensory Bin Tools Fine Motor74 Pieces Counting Sorting Bears Sensory Bin Tools Fine MotorCraftstory Toddlers Montessori Busy-Board for 3 4 5 Year Basic-Life-SkillsCraftstory Toddlers Montessori Busy-Board for 3 4 5 Year Basic-Life-SkillsCraftstory Toddlers Montessori Busy-Board for 3 4 5 Year Basic-Life-Skills138 Pieces Fine Motor Skills Toys for Early Education and138 Pieces Fine Motor Skills Toys for Early Education and138 Pieces Fine Motor Skills Toys for Early Education and

     

    fruit loop towers on glass table

    How To Make a Froot Loop Stacking Activity

    1. Started with play dough - I gave each of my girls a little ball of playdoh and popped it into a plastic applesauce cup to keep things stable.

    2. Added the pasta tower - We stuck a piece of uncooked linguine straight into the play dough.

    3. Brought out the Fruit Loops - You can also use Cheerios, but honestly, Fruit Loops made it way more fun and offer the ability to extend this activity because of the colors.

    bowls of fruit loops and play dough with a piece of pasta in it on a granite counter top

    4. Let the stacking begin - They took turns threading the loops onto the pasta. This requires a great deal of concentration and careful fine motor work.

    child stringing fruit loops on pasta

    5. Color fun bonus - As they stacked, they started naming the colors. This is the plus to using fruit loops! It easily turns into a color identification activity.

    toddler stacking fruit loops on a piece of spaghetti

    6. Snack time win - We did this close to snack time, so when they were done building, they just ate the cereal. One of my favorite lazy mom wins!

    Benefits of Fine Motor Activity with Fruit Loops

    Fine motor activities, such as stacking Fruit Loops onto pasta, are a fun and simple way to help kids build hand-eye coordination and strengthen the small muscles in their fingers. These skills are essential for everyday tasks such as writing, buttoning clothes, and using scissors.

    The best part is that kids don't even realize they're working - because to them, it just feels like play. It's an easy win for parents and a creative, hands-on activity that keeps little ones engaged (and quietly busy!).

    Tips for Fruit Loop Towers

    Tip 1: If your kids are younger, break the linguine in half so it's shorter and less likely to break while they're stacking.

    Tip 2: Make it extra fun (and educational!) by having kids sort the Fruit Loops by color before they start building.

    Tip 3: Encourage your child to count the loops, name the colors, or build patterns as they go.

    FAQs For Froot Loop Activity

    What age is this activity best for?

    This is great for toddlers and preschoolers (around ages 2-5), but older kids might also enjoy the challenge of creating taller towers or color patterns.

    What if the pasta keeps breaking?

    Try snapping the linguine in half to make it sturdier. Also, remind kids to slide the cereal on gently - slow and steady works best!

    Can I use something other than Fruit Loops?

    Yes! Cheerios, Apple Jacks, or any round cereal with a hole in the middle will work. Fruit Loops just add a fun rainbow of color (and feel extra special to kids!).

    This simple Fruit Loop tower activity is the perfect mix of fun and learning. It keeps little hands busy, builds fine motor skills, and ends with a tasty snack-what's not to love?

    Fine Motor Activity - Fruit Loop Towers
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    Fine Motor Activity Fruit Loop Towers

    Author: Vicky

    Materials

    • Plastic cups small (like fruit cups or applesauce cups)
    • Play dough
    • Linguine spaghetti works too
    • Fruit Loops or any round cereal with a hole in the center

    Instructions

    • Give each child a ball of play dough and place it in a small cup.
    • Stick a piece of uncooked linguine upright into the center of the play dough to create the "tower."
    • Fill another cup with Fruit Loops (or any cereal with a hole in the center).
    • Have your child carefully thread each loop onto the linguine.
    • Celebrate their rainbow tower! Kids love seeing their progress as the colors stack up.
    • When they're done building, let them munch on the cereal.

    Notes

    • Snap the pasta in half if your kids are little - shorter pieces are easier to handle and less likely to snap mid-stack.
    • Want to add a little learning? Have them sort the Fruit Loops by color first.
    • As they build, get them talking - count the loops, call out colors, or try simple patterns for extra fun.
    Always supervise children during activities.

    More Fine Motor Skills Activities

    • St. Patrick;s Day Fine Motor Activities
      St. Patrick's Day Kids Fine Motor Activities
    • 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
      18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
    • 25 Fall Fine Motor Activities
    • Activities for Fine Motor Skills

    Comments

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    1. Marianne Botting says

      August 29, 2014 at 2:43 pm

      Amazingly simple activity - genius. Love it!

      Reply
    2. The Outlaw Mom says

      November 08, 2011 at 4:38 am

      This is totally awesome! Love this idea 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Martha says

      October 03, 2011 at 2:17 am

      Your little girls are darling! and you are certainly good at keeping them busy! Thanks for stopping by and following. Have a blessed week!

      Reply
    4. Amanda says

      September 29, 2011 at 12:37 am

      Wow, I really like this one! Thanks to Athena from Columbia Basin Signing Academy for introducing us to your site. We'll definitely be visiting here again soon!

      Reply
    5. AthenaS says

      September 23, 2011 at 3:02 am

      Thanks for this. I used it tonight in my parent/child signing class to reinforce the signs for "cereal" and "more." The mom there loved it. She's looking forward to using it again with her little girl (she has Downs and spent the activity eating her fruit loops instead of stacking them). 🙂

      Reply
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    Vicky from Mess for Less

    I'm Vicky, the founder of Mess For Less, which I started in 2011 to share easy, family-friendly recipes. With over a decade of experience as a home chef and recipe developer, I love creating meals that bring people together. I also design play and learning activities for kids, using my background as a former teacher with a Master’s degree in education. Learn more about me.

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