Beads Activity – Fun with Play Dough and Spaghetti
The kids are going to love this beads activity! Thread the beads onto spaghetti stuck inside play dough to help strengthen fine motor skills and hand eye coordination!
Beyond Just a Beads Activity!Â
Strengthening fine motor skills and hand eye coordination is critical for toddlers and preschoolers. These are skills we aren’t born with, but are so important for completing daily tasks like writing, buttoning, zipping, unlocking, twisting things open, and tying shoes to name a few!
The good news is there are lots of fun and simple-to-set-up ways to help kiddos strengthen these skills and threading the small holes of beads onto spaghetti strands does just that!Â
Skills:Â
Ages:Â
Prep Time:Â
How to Create ThisÂ
Spaghetti and Beads Activity
You’ll need just minutes to set up this fun sensory activity for the kids. It’s an easy way to let them be strategic with their hands while also working their minds, too!
If you need a homemade play dough recipe, check out ours! It results in the most silky and smooth texture that can last up to months!Â
How to Create ThisÂ
Spaghetti and Beads Activity
You’ll need just minutes to set up this fun sensory activity for the kids. It’s an easy way to let them be strategic with their hands while also working their minds, too!
If you need a homemade play dough recipe, check out ours! It results in the most silky and smooth texture that can last up to months!
Tips for Setting Up This Beads Activity
Save some spaghetti strands! They are strong enough, yet small enough in diameter to fit beads! Pasta makes such a great craft and sensory supply in general. Dye them to make them colorful and use them in arts and crafts projects!Â
Use Age Appropriate Beads. If you are doing this activity with toddlers under the age of 3 or that still put small items in their mouths, be sure to use beads that are large enough to not be choking hazards. Alternatively, you could use cereal like Cherrios which are taste safe!
Make Your Own Play Dough! It may seem difficult, but making your own play dough is actually so easy to do! So if you are out of the store-bought stuff, definitely try whipping up a batch of your own one of these days!Â
Materials
- Play Dough
- Uncooked Spaghetti
- Play Dough
- Uncooked Spaghetti
- Beads
Step-by-Step InstructionsÂ
Step 1
Put play dough in a bowl.
Step 2
Add in the noodles!
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Step 3
Provide beads for threading.
Step 1
Put play dough in a bowl.
Step 2
Add in the noodles!
Step 3
Provide beads for threading.
More Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills!
We have lots of printables that are specifically designed to help kiddos strengthen fine motor skills and hand eye coordination, like this Feed the Animals activity! Kiddos can choose between feeding a bunny, cat, and dog and will be able to see the food travel from the mouth to the belly!
Be sure to visit our full collection of printables as well as our comprehensive list of fine motor activities for kids!
More Ways to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills!
We have lots of printables that are specifically designed to help kiddos strengthen fine motor skills and hand eye coordination, like this Feed the Animals activity! Kiddos can choose between feeding a bunny, cat, and dog and will be able to see the food travel from the mouth to the belly!
Be sure to visit our full collection of printables as well as our comprehensive list of fine motor activities for kids!
Gifts to Strengthen Fine Motor SkillsÂ
Just like this beads activity, here are my top picks for toys and games to strengthen fine motor skills and hand eye coordination!
Basketball Hoop
This indoor and outdoor basketball hoop adjusts to six heights from 2.5 to 4 feet. Great for motor skills!
Wooden Threading
These chunky wooden shapes are great for little hands to thread. It includes 8 different shaped beads and a stylus with a thread.
Pounding Toy
This classic pounding toy includes a wooden mallet. Great for strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Activity Board
This fabric activity board has a ton of great opportunities for strengthening fine motor skills. Plus, it folds into an easy to carry book!
What’s Next?
Cutting Practice for Preschoolers with Free Printable Version
Make cutting practice for preschoolers fun with this activity! Kids will cut away the top layer of paper to reveal a picture underneath!
Sensory Bags for Babies – Helpful Tummy Time Distractions
These sensory bags for babies are so easy to make and are such a great distraction during tummy time. Here are 4 ways you can make them!
DIY Baby Toy – How to Make Sensory Wrist Bands
This DIY baby toy is so easy to make! Babies will enjoy exploring the high contrast colors and jingly sounds of these homemade wrist rattles!