Using the Dyed Pasta [Sensory Play AND Fine-Motor Skills Play]

Our last post talked about making dyed pasta to use for all kinds of crafts and activities with your children.

Here's one way you can use your pasta--sorting! As you can see in the pictures, my son used both kitchen tongs and tweezers as he picked up each piece of pasta and dropped them into his dividing tray. Fortunately the colors that I chose to dye the noodles matched the colors in his tray! Love when stuff like that works out!


What ways are you finding to use dyed pasta? ~ Link up your ideas in the comment section below!

Dyed Pasta [Sensory Play, Ep. 3]

Here's another great idea for ways you can help your children learn through Sensory Play! Make some Dyed Pasta! If you have all different kinds of pasta shapes your child can make projects with them. We are going to draw pictures on card stock and glue these pasta bow ties to it. We are also going to use them for sorting and matching colors. It was very easy (though smelly) to make them... I found the directions here. Next time I dye some pasta, I will use tube shaped ones so that we can string them on yarn and pipe cleaners.

You will need: PASTA (duh), RUBBING ALCOHOL, FOOD COLORS and BAGGIES.

Bathtub Cubes [Sensory Play, Ep. 2]

Here's an idea for bathtime-adventures!

Make up a tray of colored ice cubes... just fill the tray with water (don't fill all the way or your colors will run together) and then add a few drops of food coloring to each one. Stir up a bit and pop it in the freezer. Stick a few cubes in the tub with your kids and they will have a blast chasing them around the tub, watching the bath water change colors as the cubes melt!

Super easy and squeaky-clean fun!

Baking Soda Medicine Dropper [Sensory Play, Ep. 1]

Here's a fun idea that you can do with your preschooler and you probably have everything you need in your kitchen right now! 

Materials:

• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Food Coloring
• Baking Dish
• Medicine Dropper
• 2 Small Bowls
• One or more really cute kids

Notice that it was a rainy day... :-)

Let your child choose two colors for this activity. My son chose BLUE and ORANGE. Pour some vinegar in the bowls and add the food coloring to each bowl. Stir. Spread some baking soda in the baking dish (as deep as you want, but it doesn't need to be too much).

Have your child practice his fine-motor skills by teaching him/her to pinch the medicine dropper, stick it in the vinegar, let go and then squeeze it on top of the baking soda... they will love to see the colored bubbles erupt! After tiring of this part, forget the medicine dropper and just play in the crunchy crumbly baking soda and mix it all together to make more colors and textures!

Thanks to my friend, Krissy, for this great idea!!!