I have three goals when finding activities to do with my toddler: Keep her entertained, need little assistance from me, and have a learning element! This one is perfect because it really has all three. **This post may contain affiliate links. A small commission may be earned.**
Here’s a big reminder, that your activities don’t have to be “Pinterest Worthy” – your toddler will have just as much fun, I promise!
What you need:
– Colored Cereal (we just got a small container of cereal at the dollar store)
– Pipe Cleaners (colors need to match your cereal)
– Construction Paper
– Sharpie
- Draw your animal. I went with some sort of jelly fish. It’s not perfect but my toddler didn’t care.
- Poke your pipe cleaners through the paper. I folded the back so my toddler couldn’t pull it out easily.
- Dump your cereal on a plate or in a bowl (or on the table like us) and let your toddler mess around with putting the cereal on the pipe cleaners.
A couple of reminders: If your toddler isn’t ready to color match, that’s okay! The threading is a great fine motor skill. You can try colors again later!
These activities are never meant to be perfect. Let your toddler explore and have fun. It is OKAY to do the activity different than the intended way. This age is such a beautiful time of exploration.
If you don’t have colored cereal but you have cheerios – you can still set this activity up! Let your toddler just have fun practicing the threading. You can still enjoy the peace and quiet while they’re entertained.
And don’t forget, you are doing a great job! Check out more easy to set up activities to keep your toddler entertained. xx Ciara
