Pipe Cleaner Loops

  This right here is probably one of the easiest fine motor skills activities you can find. And I can't even take credit for coming up with it. I'm introducing the idea of the Olympics to Kay this year - the word, what it means, the Olympic rings symbol. And this idea (which I got via Mama Guru) was to make the Olympic rings out of pipe cleaners. Sounded quick, simple - just my style. So I got out the right colors and set them out and showed Kay a picture of what we were going to make.

  At first she was frustrated with trying to twist the pipe cleaners, but I knew she'd get the hang of it because she'd been using pipe cleaners to hang up ornaments on the tree last month. Once she got the idea of looping them together down, she didn't want to stop at just 5. "I want to make the biggest ever! Mine is going to be bigger than yours!" she exclaimed as she reached onto the shelf to get more pipe cleaners. (Can you tell she's a competitive child?!) 

  Her "Olympic rings" were soon taller than she was...and in a variety of colors. Okay, so it's not an exact replica, but she was very proud of her pipe cleaner loops, and they did look pretty hanging as decoration, Olympic-style or not! In any case, twisting the pipe cleaners provided lots of great fine motor practice.

Note: Just to point out the obvious, be careful with pipe cleaners with younger children, as the points can be sharp. Kay is almost 5 and poked herself once (after warnings) and was careful after that. Folding over the sharp ends of the pipe cleaners can help prevent pokes. 

Happy Fine Motor Friday! Excited to welcome some new co-hosts here this week to bring you even more fun ideas to help with fine motor skills!

  
    Valentines Fine Motor Play 
{Craftulate}
    Coloring Snow with a Dropper 
{Stir the Wonder}
          Simple Valentines Fine Motor Activities 
        {Little Bins for Little Hands}
   DIY Puzzle in a Box
    {School Time Snippets}
Edible No-Cook Nutella Playdough 
{Still Playing School}
Valentine’s Day CUT-Punch-PASTE Projects 
{Lalymom}
Light Bright Geoboard 
{And Next Comes L}
Fine Motor Heart Stamping  
{House of Burke}
Sensory Valentine’s Sand Tray 
{Racheous - Lovable Learning}