Spaghetti Sensory Play: Tips for Success

Safety First: Always supervise your child during sensory play, especially when they’re using scissors. Make sure the scissors are child-safe and appropriate for their age. Keeping a close eye on them will ensure they use the tools safely and correctly.

Alternative Tools: If you’re not comfortable with scissors or want to mix things up, consider offering alternative tools. Tongs are great for practicing grasping and hand strength, while plastic knives can be used to “cut” the spaghetti in a safe manner. These tools also provide different sensory experiences and motor skill challenges.

Cleaning Up: To make cleanup easier, lay down a large plastic mat or an old sheet under the play area to catch any stray spaghetti. After playtime, gather the mat or sheet and shake it out outside. You can also use a handheld vacuum for any small bits that escape. Additionally, encourage your child to help with cleanup by placing the tools and remaining spaghetti back into the bin, teaching responsibility and tidiness.

• Water for rinsing
• Paper towels or a drying rack
• Kid-appropriate scissors, like these for toddlers or these for preschoolers

• Sensory Play Table
• Cooked spaghetti
• Natural food coloring 
• Sealed container
• Water for rinsing
• Paper towels or a drying rack
• Kid-appropriate scissors, like these for toddlers or these for preschoolers

Step 4

Once the spaghetti is dry, place it into a bin or sensory table. Add kid-appropriate scissors to the bin. Ensure the scissors are safe for children and appropriate for their age and skill level.

Step 5

Invite your child to explore the colorful spaghetti. Encourage them to touch, feel, and even smell the different colors and textures. Show them how to use the scissors to cut the spaghetti, enhancing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Step 1

Start by cooking the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Make sure it’s cooked to an al dente texture so it’s firm enough for play.

Step 2

Divide the cooked spaghetti into several portions, depending on how many colors you want to create.Place each portion into a separate sealed container. Add about 5 drops of food coloring to each container. Seal the containers and shake them well until the color is evenly distributed throughout the spaghetti.

Step 3

Rinse the colored spaghetti under cold water to remove any excess dye. Lay the spaghetti out on paper towels or a drying rack to dry. This helps to prevent the colors from transferring onto little hands during play.

Step 4

Once the spaghetti is dry, place it into a bin or sensory table. Add kid-appropriate scissors to the bin. Ensure the scissors are safe for children and appropriate for their age and skill level.

Step 5

Invite your child to explore the colorful spaghetti. Encourage them to touch, feel, and even smell the different colors and textures. Show them how to use the scissors to cut the spaghetti, enhancing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Perfect Scissors for Little Hands

For our spaghetti sensory play, we used Starter Scissors, which are perfect for toddlers. These scissors have plastic blades and a straight, easy-grip handle without loops, making them super safe and simple for little hands to use. They’re great for kids 2 and up, whether they’re right- or left-handed, and the minimal opening angle ensures they can open and close the blades comfortably. Plus, the spring-action design helps kids focus on the cutting motion, making them ideal for beginners. We love that they’re durable and come with a lifetime warranty, making them a reliable choice for introducing your child to arts and crafts.

• All Natural Food Coloring
• Optional: Cream of Tartar

• Water from 1 can of beans, I’ve found chickpeas work best!
• Electric Mixer
• All Natural Food Coloring
• Optional: Cream of Tartar

Step 4

If you want a firmer texture, add a dash of cream of tartar.

Step 5

Color the foam with food coloring for some vibrancy!

Educational Benefits of Sensory Play

What I love about this taste-safe foam is that it allows my toddler to engage safely in sensory play, while learning that sensory materials aren’t to put in her mouth. In other words, adults do not have to worry if a child does put the foam in their mouth, but they should use this as an opportunity to teach the child that sensory materials aren’t for the mouth.

Sensory play is so educational for toddlers. When they feel different textures, they are actively interacting with their environment. This causes their mind to create new connections and grow. Anytime you wan to set up sensory play for your little one, don’t forget about the power of bean water! 

It is also the very first steps of scientific curiosity. They begin to wonder, “what is this” and explore it. Toddlers use all 5 senses to understand what it is. That’s why it’s so important to give them a safe way to explore when they play.  

• Colander with large holes

• Spaghetti 
• Natural Food Coloring 
• Colander with large holes  

Step 4

Rinse the spaghetti to wash away any excess food coloring;

Step 5

Mix dyed spaghetti together and thread each through the holes in the strainer. Break them in half  or quarters to avoid having to thread an entire strand through!

Step 6

Let your toddler pull each spaghetti out, and older kids can do the threading! 

Educational Benefits of the Spaghetti Pull Game

Not only is this game a lot of fun (and completely taste safe) but it will help your baby’s brain grow and develop too!

Sensory play is so important for toddlers. By feeling different textures and interacting with their environment, their mind creates new connections and actually grows. This activity not only has the contrasting textures of the squishy cooked spaghetti against the hard colander, but it has bright colors and the taste element!

It also teaches that very important pincer grasp. In order to pull out the spaghetti, they have to pinch it with their index finger and thumb. This movement is the foundation for important practical life skills like buttoning, unzipping, and holding a pencil! 

As they pull out each spaghetti, teach your toddler the names of the colors. This will teach them color recognition and early communication skills too.