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  • Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

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    Home » Fine Motor Skills Activities

    Fun with Pipe Cleaners - Fine Motor Skills

    Published: Aug 12, 2011 · Modified: Aug 4, 2022 by Vicky · This post contains affiliate links.

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    Here is a quick idea for some practicing fine motor skills that uses something most everyone has - a colander!  You will also need some pipe cleaners, which in my opinion are also something everyone should have. This Fun with Pipe Cleaners fine motor skills activity takes no time to set up and is great for when you need to keep your child busy for a little bit so you can make dinner. Just don't have them do this if you are cooking something that requires a colander.

    Fine Motor Skills activity with Pipe Cleaners - Kids will have a ball while pushing and pulling pipe cleaners.

    WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THIS FINE MOTOR ACTIVITY?

    fine motor skills activity with a collander

    I am lucky to have 2 colanders, but not so lucky to have 3.  Little C was not happy that she had to wait her turn while her sisters did the activity first.  To be fair, at 18 months, C had a tough time with this fine motor skills activity, but she did love playing with the pipe cleaners.

    HOW TO HAVE FINE MOTOR FUN WITH PIPE CLEANERS

    A and B just adored this easy activity.  I gave each of them a colander and a bunch of colorful pipe cleaners.  I showed them how they could poke the pipe cleaners through the holes of the colander to create sculptures.  The girls thought they looked like tunnels.

    fine motor skills
    fine motor skills
    fine motor skills

    They kept asking for more and more pipe cleaners (luckily I had a few bags of them) so you might want to have some extra on hand.  They were delighted with their creations and A proclaimed "this is fabulous!" What I really found fabulous was that I snuck in some fine motor work.  As the girls pushed their pipe cleaners into the small holes they were strengthening their fine motor skills.

    The finished product! What do you think of their fine motor skills art?

    fine motor skills activities

    For more fine motor skills activities check out:

    • 20+ Pipe Cleaner Crafts and Activities
    • 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
    • Make a Number Math Game
    • Fine Motor Skills Water Art
    • 18 Fine Motor Activities for Kids
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    More Fine Motor Skills Activities

    • 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
    • Fine Motor Skills Activity with Dyed Oatmeal
    • Counting Bead Fun
    • Fine Motor Skills for Preschoolers - Pasta Play

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vicky

      August 27, 2011 at 4:42 pm

      MsXpat, Sounds like he has a wonderful imagination. Thanks for the kind words!

    2. MsXpat

      August 24, 2011 at 7:45 pm

      Thanks for stopping by my blog! And I truly love yours. I don't know if my son will change as he gets older but at the moment he as more interest in everyday objects rather than toys. I know we'll get lots of inspiration from you :0)

    3. Vicky

      August 23, 2011 at 8:26 pm

      Good Girl, thank you for stopping by!

    4. Vicky

      August 23, 2011 at 8:26 pm

      Cherished Events, thanks for following!

    5. Good Girl Gone Green

      August 23, 2011 at 5:56 pm

      Love it!!! 🙂

    6. Cherished Events

      August 22, 2011 at 4:57 pm

      Such fun projects, I can't wait for my kids and I to try them. Thanks 🙂 Following you back from The Life of the Party.

    7. Vicky

      August 17, 2011 at 8:59 pm

      About a mom, thanks for the comment and for checking us out.

    8. Vicky

      August 17, 2011 at 8:58 pm

      Erica, Thank you for the follow!

    9. Vicky

      August 17, 2011 at 8:57 pm

      Candace, thank you!

    10. Vicky

      August 17, 2011 at 8:56 pm

      Mrs G, happy you like them. thanks!

    11. Vicky

      August 17, 2011 at 8:56 pm

      Anna, thanks for stopping by. You are inspirational!

    12. Anna @ The Imagination Tree

      August 16, 2011 at 8:16 pm

      Thanks for the link back!

    13. About Mrs. G

      August 16, 2011 at 5:21 am

      Great ideas here! So glad you found me - and I found you!!!
      Following back from Growing up Gardner 🙂

    14. Candace @ Candace Creations

      August 16, 2011 at 3:22 am

      That is so cute and fun!

    15. Corinna

      August 14, 2011 at 8:14 pm

      Very creative and fun! I love finding new activities for the kiddo, although she's only 15 months. Craft time will be here eventually.

    16. Vicky

      August 14, 2011 at 9:14 pm

      Corinna, It will pass quickly, believe me! Thank you for the support!

    17. Vicky

      August 14, 2011 at 9:12 pm

      Thanks Volleysoft!

    18. Volleysoft

      August 14, 2011 at 6:35 pm

      love the robots, cute idea! Following back from the hop!

      http://www.imsewcheap.blogspot.com

    19. Vicky

      August 14, 2011 at 3:19 pm

      Thank you Sharon! Love your sites too!

    20. Sharon

      August 14, 2011 at 2:33 pm

      Really cool ideas! Love the robot boxes and the pipe cleaners and collanders! Fun! hopping over from Hobbies on a Budget and Real Life Deals

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    Hi, I'm Vicky, the founder and content creator at Mess For Less. If you are looking for family-friendly recipes, recipes that kids can make, and play and learning activities for kids, you will find them at Mess For Less. I invite you to learn more about me. Thanks for stopping by!

    Valentine's Day Activities and Recipes

    • Valentine’s Dessert Cheese Ball
    • Valentine's Brownie Cake Pops
    • Valentine's Chocolate Covered Pretzels
    • Valentine Ideas for Kids - Glitter Hearts

    Winter Activities

    • Q-Tip Painted Snowman Craft
    • Winter Shaving Cream Paint
    • Pinecone Snowman Craft
    • Melted Snowman Craft

    Popular Recipes

    • Crack Chicken Casserole
    • Overnight Egg Casserole
    • Toasted Italian Sandwich - Food Fun Friday
    • Chicken Broccoli Alfredo Bake

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