Fun Fine Motor Skill Practice: Mini Colanders and Chenille Stems

Looking for another way to have your little one practice their fine motor skills in a fun way. You don't need to sit them down to do writing. There are lots of activities you can do with everyday items. This is one of those. A friend brought these to our preschool class on Sunday mornings and I knew I just HAD to incorporate it into my own preschool class. 

I purchased 4 mini colanders at World Market, but they are available at a variety of locations. I then pulled out a pack of chenille stems, or as they were called when I was a kid, pipe cleaners. I cut them into thirds.

I put them out in a provocation to encourage the children to explore them.

The kids find a variety of ways to work with the chenille stems. Some push them in from the outside of the colander.

When lots of them are placed in the holes on the colander and the kiddos look inside, I hear them proclaim, "Look at all the worms!"

Some chose to push them through from the inside creating a different effect.

They even made them squiggly to find a totally new look.

This has truly been a hit with the kiddos. I love seeing the new ways they have come up with using the materials and the best part is, they are having fun and having great pre-writing skills practice.