This fine motor activity was so quick, easy, convenient, and needed, that I had to share it with all of you in case anyone else might need it too!
So what do you do when you walk into your kitchen and find your toddlers’ (we have twins) snack all over the floor being crushed to pieces with an egg beater by said toddlers? Granted they were having a ball and laughing away so it was hard to get too upset with them.
You grab a wooden skewer and a ball of play dough and redirect the activity to something a bit more productive and that creates less mess.
Just simply poke the skewer into the play dough and secure it to a flat surface (we used the floor). Then have your child place the fruit loops on the skewer – a quick and easy fine motor activity that will keep your child busy in the kitchen.
Now they can legitimately play with their food. Incorporating food makes learning so much more fun and meaningful.
This is a great activity for when you need to occupy little ones when you are making dinner or when you need a quick activity for when you are trying to homeschool or help an older child.
Adapt the Activity
You could adapt the activity a couple of ways by setting up several skewers and having your child only stack a certain color on each skewer. You could get really intentional and use different colored play dough to show which color to stack on each one.
You can also incorporate counting into this activity. Set up multiple skewers (maybe 10) and have the child stack a set number of Fruit Loops onto the skewers. If you also want to include number recognition, write the number on an index card in front of the skewers representing the number to stack on that stick.
I’m sure there are many other ways to adapt and expand this easy fine motor activity. Share your ideas in the comments!!
Now this is a clever idea! We’re going to have try this, hopefully without the spilling all over the floor part! It’s really a great idea for working on those fine motor skills. You could have him sort by color too, if it’s an older toddler.
That is an awesome idea! Much more fun that grabbing the broom.
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Have a wonderful week!
Hugs, Cathy
This is a great idea! My daughter loves playing with her homemade playdough, sticking straws and things into it, but if I will be using your idea with Cheerios this coming week and see how she likes it (we don’t do sweet cereal just yet.) Thanks for sharing, Sarah!
HAHAHA. I LOVE it! Now I have to go get a box of Fruit Loops. I’m sure my kids will be so happy to oblige. I think I’ll also try with Cheerios.
I’ve been wanting to do this activity for a while with the kids. Thanks for the reminder LOL! LOVE your diversion skills :)Thanks for joining us at Share It Saturday!
Colleen at Sugar Aunts
Never thought of the play dough, just kept cleaning up the mess. We did use Fruit Loops or Cherrios for potty training my little 5 year old grandson.
That is a great idea. Looks like fun.
Great save! Not all moms could keep their cool in the face of that mess! We’re fortunate to have 2 dogs that run into the kitchen whenever they hear food hit the floor and help with cleanup.