Looking at this rainbow, you think, “Aw, what a cute little rainbow.” What you need to think about are the different benefits found in such a simple activity. This activity works with their sensory skills, is educational, and is EDIBLE.
This craft only needs THREE items. We had fun as a family making this craft. My older children enjoyed this as well. It was fun to work with all ages. The littles just focused on getting the fruit loops on the pipe cleaner, whereas the older children concentrated on the color scheme on their rainbow.
What makes this activity a great Sensory activity?
Sensory play can help build your child’s motor skills. During this activity, your toddler will use small muscles in their hands by “pinching” and enhancing their hand-eye coordination by putting the fruit loop onto the pipe cleaner. It may sound simple to an adult, but when you watch a child do it, you can see the simple challenge it becomes to them. When doing this activity, meet your child with patience and understanding; each child can complete them at different speeds.
What makes this activity educational?
Easy answers, COLORS. You are using primary colors in this activity. You can talk to them about colors throughout the activity. There are a few ways that you can work with colors. The colors are in the fruit loops. Keep it simple and discuss the different colors, pointing them out as you make your rainbows. Another way is first to draw a rainbow on a piece of paper and discuss the colors. One can also take it a step further and get colored bowls and have your child sort the colors into the bowls.
Whatever you choose to do, HAVE FUN and remind your child there is no PERFECT rainbow!
Material Needed:
- Pipe Cleaners (no specific color)
- Large marshmallows
- Fruit Loops
- Bowls
Instructions:
Step One: Put material out on the table. Put fruit loops into a bowl and marshmallows into another bowl.
Step Two: Stick one large marshmallow on one end. This will act as the knot at the end to hold the fruit loops on.
Step Three: Begin to design your rainbow by threading fruit loops onto your pipe cleaner and pushing them down to the marshmallow you are using as the “knot .”Do this until you read the other end. Leave enough room for another large marshmallow to act as the other “knot.”
Step four: Enjoy your creations!!!
