Location: indoor

Materials: beads and pipe cleaners

This is a great fine motor activity for small hands. String can be tricky for young children to keep track of, and it's far too easy for the string to get dropped and the beads to roll everywhere. Set your kids up for success by using pipe cleaners instead. Pipe cleaners hold their shape and make it a bit easier for kids to navigate.

Set out a variety of beads and pipe cleaners in trays. Invite children to thread the beads on the pipe cleaners.

Possible Extensions:

• Let children turn them into necklaces or bracelets that they can wear and take home
• Challenge older children to use pipe cleaners to make patterns with the beads
• This can also be a recyclable activity-- rather than letting kids take their work home, simply take all of the beads off at the end of the session and let kids start anew the next day