I was at a book club meeting at a restaurant recently with Baby H in tow. Don’t ask me why I thought we could handle book club time. As this little one gets bigger, he makes it more and more difficult to focus on and enjoy book clubs. Alas. Baby H kept messing with my straw from my soft drink cup, and a fellow member (who is also a teacher) handed my toddler her straw and showed him how to stick it in the straw hole, and this game was born.
baby putting straw in cup
All you need are a couple of things that you should already have for one of these games with straws:
- Drink container with a lid that has an opening in it (for a removable straw).
- Long straws. (So they can easily be grasped by baby fingers)
Show your little learners how to stick the straw into the opening of the drink cup, and watch as your toddler practices his or her fine motor skills.
Activities with straws are definitely an activity that takes some supervision (you don’t want your baby to run around with the straws or poke him or herself with it in the eye) but with some guidance, this fine motor game can entertain and be a good learning activity for some time.
Baby H was playing the straw activity in the kitchen while I was getting dinner ready. He really had a blast pulling the straws out and carefully putting them back in the drink container. (And yes, that is a giant [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GTS29LH” locale=”US” tag=”chapbrea05-20″]Buc-ees cup[/easyazon_link]!)
It’s also fun to do with various differently colored straws, so you can say “Now the green straw” and hand it over, and watch him insert. Any fine motor activity for babies that doubles as a color learning game is wonderful too.
Let me know how it works out for your kiddos.
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Trista, Domesticated Momster says
When my kids were little they loved playing with straws. I used to buy them in bulk to drink my ice water out of the cup for I hate when the ice cubes hit my teeth. They would get into the packages of them and play with them for hours. Cheap entertainment….a mommies favorite! Thanks for linking with #momsterslink. Hope the see you again tomorrow.
Julie says
Cheap entertainment is definitely awesome :) Thanks Trista!
Lindsey says
I just love activities that are simple! And cheap too! This is great, I’m pinning, stumbling and tweeting. <3 Happy Monday! My daughter is older and would still find this fun!
Julie says
Thanks, Lindsey! :) What other simple activities does your daughter enjoy? I need to add more to my “mom tool belt”.
tori says
Kids this age are entertained by the simplest things! We have tons of flashing, noisy toys but our one years old always goes for the wooden spoons and measuring cups! I’m sure that he would enjoy this game as well. Thanks Julie :)
Tori
http://www.themamanurse.com
Julie says
Haha, what is it about spoons and cups. Mine loves plastic containers more than anything else.
Jenni says
Very cute! You forget how the simple things are so much fun when you’re that little!
Julie says
Yea it is a different way of thinking to come up with activities for someone that little :) Thanks Jenni!
Katie (Growing Up KaterTot) says
I used to do this with my daughter when she was little, and she loved it, too! We used colored straws as well, and she later used the activity for color practice. Wonderful tip about making sure there’s supervision during this activity- totally agree! #Momsterslink
Julie says
Ooh good idea to do the colorful straws for a color practice activity too.
Emily says
Love how simple this is! My son is 21 months, and I’m always looking for new ideas to entertain him!
Julie says
I’d love to hear some ideas you have. Our kids are similar enough in age that we might be able to use some of your activities – my son is 15 months.
Silly Mummy says
Very good suggestion as my two have both been obsessed with this activity! Didn’t really think of it as developmental, but of course it is! #WAYWOW
Julie says
It is so interesting what games end up being developmental too. What other games do your littles enjoy?
My Petit Canard says
I love how really simple things like this can become a learning experience for little ones :-) Fab idea, thanks for sharing! Emily #TwinklyTuesday
Julie says
Yea! I love the simplicity of it and I’m definitely looking for other simple activities like this.
Healing Mama says
This is a great post. I’m always looking for new things for my son to do.
Julie says
Do share what other activities you do with him!
Brandyn says
I love simple activities like this! It’s amazing how easily you can entertain little ones with stuff you already have around the house!
Thank you for sharing with us at #MommyMeetupMondays!
Julie says
Definitely. I’m always looking for other simple activities like this.
ERFmama says
This is a really good tip. :) Another good one is to put toilet rolls on the wall like a small mace downwards and let him put things in that roll down. You can cut pieces off the side of the roll and use clear tape over so he can see it happening when it goes down. :)
#TwinklyTuesday
Julie says
Oh that is a fun idea too I’ll have to try that! Thanks :)
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
I really love this. Kind of a variation on the game where the child sticks different shapes through different holes trying to match them up. But this is something a much younger child can learn to do and preparation for a more evolved game. It’s really amazing what we can turn into a learning experience. Sharing, this looks like something that would not only help Mom, but it would keep the child busy and learning at the same time. Brilliant!
Julie says
Thanks for sharing Nikki :) Yea you’re right that it is kind of a variation of the shape sorter. That is a really good activity and we have these types of toys in every room heh.
Samantha says
I love this! It’s little activities like this that might never occur to us because it’s such a mundane task, but that they absolutely love! So cute! And you got to enjoy your book club meeting – that’s definitely a win!
Julie says
Definitely a win because I haven’t gone to this club for almost a year and I missed it.
Charlotte says
this is such a cool idea! and frugal too (which is the best kind!)
Julie says
Agreed! Frugal activities are the best kind :)
linda says
Tips for entertaining kids with some learning value is always great idea. I’ll be using this one when eating out with my grands. Have a good day. Linda
Julie says
Thanks :) Hope your grands enjoy it. I can’t seem to get my toddler to stack rings but this one he has taken a liking to.
Erin @ Stay At Home Yogi says
Such a great idea! I have also seen a version with pipe cleaners and a collander but I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet! This would be way easier to throw together.
Julie says
Ooh the blogging world seems to love pipe cleaners, and I don’t think I own any. But that colander idea sounds pretty cool too. Maybe I should get some pipe cleaners lol.
sue says
This will keep them occupied for a while Julie! Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at #OvertheMoon. Have a lovely week!
Elle Spann says
cool! just like a cheap puzzle;)
elle
Southern Elle Style