DIY Project
About

Sensory play

Pipe cleaner colander

Pipe cleaners poked into an upside down colander, a quiet puzzle for busy fingers.

Pipe cleaner colander
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 2 to 3
Time15 minutes
Cost$0 to $2
Low messRainy day

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Pipe cleaner wire is sharp at cut ends. Fold every end over and check them before play.

  1. Step 1: Fold the ends
    1

    Fold the ends

    Grown-up step: Fold over both ends of each pipe cleaner so no wire pokes out.

  2. Step 2: Flip the colander
    2

    Flip the colander

    Turn it upside down on the table.

  3. Step 3: Show 1
    3

    Show 1

    Push a pipe cleaner into a hole. It stands up like a hair.

  4. Step 4: Hand them over
    4

    Hand them over

    Let your toddler fill as many holes as they like.

  5. Step 5: Pull them out
    5

    Pull them out

    Pulling out is fun too. Then start again.

Edie's tip

Swap in jumbo straws for younger toddlers. They're stiffer, so they go in the holes on the first try.

Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake

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