Fun with Pipe Cleaners Fine Motor Skills

Looking for activities for fine motor skills that are quick and easy to set up? Try this Fun with Pipe Cleaners Fine Motor Skills activity to keep your kiddo busy while you’re making dinner! You can put it together in just a few minutes using items you likely already have at home - a colander and some colorful pipe cleaners.

It’s a simple, fun way to help your child develop fine motor skills, and it was always a hit at my house. In addition to being fun for little ones, this activity can give mom a little quiet time when you really need it.

More Fine Motor Crafts and Activities

If your kids liked this, you’ll want to check out some of our other easy fine motor activities. We’ve done a ton with everyday things like beads, tongs, tweezers, pasta, and play-dough.

These kinds of activities are perfect for working on those little hand muscles, helping with handwriting and more. Here are a few other fun ideas to try out:

• 20+ Pipe Cleaner Crafts and Activities
• 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers
• Fine Motor Skills Water Art
• 18 Fine Motor Activities for Kids
• Fizzy Fine Motor ABC's
• Fine Motor Octopus Craft 

Supplies For Collander Pipe Cleaner Activity

• Colander: The holes in the colander are just the right size for working those small finger muscles. Plus, everyone seems to have one in the kitchen.
• Pipe Cleaners: Get the colorful kind. They're easy to bend and poke through the holes, and kids can make little sculptures, tunnels, or just get creative.

ExcelSteel Colander set, Stainless steel, Colanders , 3 Count (Jacent Plastic Colander with Double Handles, Strainer for Fruits, Vegetables,Caydo 200 PCS Thick Pipe Cleaners Craft Supplies Multi-Color ChenilleYetonamr Counting Dinosaurs Montessori Toys for 3 4 5 Years

How To Set Up Pipe Cleaner Colander Play

1. Grab a colander. Pick one you’re not using for dinner.
2. Gather up some pipe cleaners. If you don't have a bunch, use whatever colors you have.
3. Show your child how to poke a pipe cleaner through a hole in the colander. They’ll get the idea real fast.
4. See what fun stuff they come up with. They might make hair, rainbows, tunnels, etc...
5. Add more pipe cleaners if they want to keep going.

Benefits of Activities With Pipe Cleaners

In addition to being fun, this activity has lots of great benefits for little ones. They get to work on small finger and hand muscles that are important for writing and picking up small things. It’s also great for hand-eye coordination. Plus, they get to use their imagination!

Tips for Pipe Cleaner Colander Play

Tip 1: Have extra pipe cleaners around. My kids always wanted more once they get started.

Tip 2: If you have more than one child, find extra colanders or take turns if you can. It saves a lot of sibling drama.

Tip 3: Younger toddlers might just like playing with the pipe cleaners themselves. That’s fine!

FAQs For Pipe Cleaner and Colander Activity

This easy pipe cleaner and colander activity is great for strengthening hands and keeping kids busy. It is an easy, mess-free activity that takes hardly any time to set up. That is my kind of activity!

Print

No ratings yet

Fun with Pipe Cleaners

A simple and engaging fine motor activity using just a colander and pipe cleaners! This fun with pipe cleaners fine motor skills activity keeps kids entertained while strengthening their small hand muscles.

Author: Vicky

Materials

• Pipe cleaners lots of colors make it more fun!
• A colander any size works, as long as it has holes!

Instructions

• Grab your colander and set it on a flat surface.
• Hand over a bunch of colorful pipe cleaners to your little ones.
• Show them how to poke the pipe cleaners through the holes of the colander.
• Get creative! Encourage them to make fun patterns, shapes, or even designs with the pipe cleaners.

Notes

• Keep a few extra pipe cleaners handy—once kids get going, they usually want more!
• Got more than one kiddo? Try to grab a second colander or take turns to avoid sibling squabbles.
• Little ones might just enjoy bending and playing with the pipe cleaners on their own—and that’s totally okay!