Toddler Fine Motor Skills – Spaghetti Pull Sensory Play

Rainbow spaghetti sensory play baby girl pulls spaghetti from colander for fine motor development

This spaghetti sensory play activity uses rainbow coloured spaghetti to strengthen toddler fine motor skills. Bonus points for being taste-safe!

This is the perfect activity for really young toddlers who are just starting to develop an understanding of cause and effect. Since it uses spaghetti they are free to put it in their mouths and experience it that way too.

Strengthen their Fingers with this Toddler Fine Motor Activity

This fun activity will strengthen your toddler’s fingers muscles and help them develop their pincer grasp.

Selecting and pulling out those colorful strands is tricky for little hands, but such great exercise! A commonly seen toddler activity is to remove pipe cleaners from colanders. I personally find the pointy metal ends of pipe cleaners not safe for young toddler play. Spaghetti is much safer (and delicious!).

Plus, older kids can enjoy the challenge of threading the pasta through the holes themselves!

Skills: Sensory Play

Ages: 12 Months +

Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Watch the Video to See the Spaghetti Sensory Play Activity in Action

Here’s a quick video of my toddler pulling the spaghetti out of the colander. As you can see, she loves pulling the spaghetti and handing them to me.

The texture of the spaghetti makes this a fun sensory activity for older babies and toddlers too!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Watch the Video to See the Spaghetti Sensory Play Activity in Action

Here’s a quick video of my toddler pulling the spaghetti out of the colander. As you can see, she loves pulling the spaghetti and handing them to me.

The texture of the spaghetti makes this a fun sensory activity for older babies and toddlers too!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

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How to Make Your Own Toddler Fine Motor Skills Pasta Activity

This is another super-fun educational activity for toddlers. I’ll include directions for how you can make colorful spaghetti, but you have any allergies or personally preferences against food coloring, you can always use un-dyed spaghetti too.

One tip for the perfect pasta consistency is to not overcook it. If it gets overcooked, it may break easily and be too difficult to thread through the colander! Going al dente is best!

Another tip, don’t thread the entire strand of spaghetti through the colander! Break it in half or varying sizes to speed up the set up time!

Materials

Spaghetti
Natural Food Coloring

Colander with large holes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Boil the spaghetti according to the package directions, strain, and let them cool completely.

Step 2

Divide the spaghetti into one bowl for each color you want to dye.

Step 3

Mix in natural food coloring to desired vibrancy!

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!

Step 1

Boil the spaghetti according to the package directions, strain, and let them cool completely.

Step 2

Divide the spaghetti into one bowl for each color you want to dye.

Step 3

Mix in natural food coloring to desired vibrancy!

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!

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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.

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.