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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

    Q-Tips and Straws - Fine Motor Skills Activity

    Published: Jun 30, 2014 · Modified: Oct 28, 2022 by Vicky · This post contains affiliate links.

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    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.

    Q-Tips and Straws Fine Motor Skills Activity - A great way to help little hands strengthen fine motor skills and work on colors at the same time.

    You will need:

    • Colored straws
    • Dyed Q-tips
    • Scissors
    q-tips in a  tray

    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.

    child putting a q-tip in a  straw

    In addition to working to working on fine motor skills, this activity offers a chance to practice color matching.

    fine motor play with q-tips

    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.

    child playing with q-tips

    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!

    dyed q-tips activity
    Q-Tips and Straws Fine Motor Skills Activity - A great way to help little hands strengthen fine motor skills and work on colors at the same time.

    For more fine motor skills activities check out:

    Fine Motor Skills Activity with Tongs

    Fun with Pipe Cleaners

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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. Sudan Kumar

      January 20, 2021 at 1:00 pm

      Amazing idea for kids activities.

    2. Emily

      February 06, 2017 at 3:22 pm

      How did you dye the straws?

    3. 5th Grade Happenings

      April 09, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      This is a great activity! I plan on making this with my nephews.Thanks for sharing!Beti

    4. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      January 17, 2015 at 5:28 pm

      Sara, I love your short cut. Great time saver! I bet they looked cute in their bracelets too. 🙂

    5. Sara Beth Mattis

      January 07, 2015 at 8:33 pm

      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!!

    6. Vicky @ Mess For Less

      June 30, 2014 at 5:25 pm

      Thanks Mari!

    7. Mari Corona

      June 30, 2014 at 2:58 pm

      Great share!!!

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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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