Recently, we shared a post on How to Dye Q-Tips. This was incredibly popular and I got a lot of questions of how to use dyed q-tips for play and learning. This Q-Tips and Straws fine motor skills activity was challenging and fun for my kids. There is a color matching and pattern making element as well which just extends the fun. We love working on fine motor skills at our place as is evidenced by these 18 Fine Motor Activities for Preschoolers.
You will need:
- Colored straws
- Dyed Q-tips
- Scissors
You will want to be sure to use straws that match your dyed q-tips. Cut your colored straws into small pieces anywhere between 1 and 2 inches. You will want the length to be able to cover the white section of the q-tip.
Present your child with the straws and dyed q-tips and have them try to thread a q-tip through a similar colored straw.
In addition to working to working on fine motor skills, this activity offers a chance to practice color matching.
Even my five year old found the fine motor aspect of this activity challenging. It required concentration to get the q-tip in the straw. We added a timer to this activity as well, and my daughter raced against the clock to thread as many q-tips as she could. She was delighted whenever she could beat her previous time.
When we were done placing the dyed q-tips through the straws, we practiced making patterns. Yet another way to use our dyed q-tips!
For more fine motor skills activities check out:
Great share!!!
Thanks Mari!
This is such a simple and fun activity. I took a short-cut and we used pipe cleaners instead of Q-tips. That inspired me to have the boys (2 and 4) create pipe cleaner / straw bracelets. I cut the straws (another fine motor development activity) down to bead-size and they placed them onto the long pipe cleaner. Once they had enough "straw-beads" on their pipe cleaner to go around their wrists, I twist tied it and put the sharp/loose ends back into the next bead. They both really enjoyed this activity and could do it. It wasn't too advanced. Thank you so much for this idea!!
Sara, I love your short cut. Great time saver! I bet they looked cute in their bracelets too. 🙂
This is a great activity! I plan on making this with my nephews.
Thanks for sharing!
Beti
How did you dye the straws?