After the success of rice sensory play, I decided to try another sensory activity with F. This time we did rainbow spaghetti sensory play. This activity was inspired by rainbow alphabet spaghetti from one of my favourite blogs, The imagination tree. If you want to read more about ways to expand this activity for older children or the benefits of this activity please head over there and have a read. I prepared the spaghetti as outlined below and once it was cool enough to handle, I put all four coloured spaghetti into our box that we reserve for sensory play. I also added some plastic cookie cutters in the shape of the numbers 1-9. Find more Sensory play ideas here.
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F jumped straight into this activity and declared them “wiggly worms”. She enjoyed running her fingers through the spaghetti, as well as lifting big clumps and dropping them from a height. The numbers were completely ignored, even when I tried to encourage her. I decided to follow her lead and if she wasn’t interested in numbers today that was fine. I did try to work on colour recognition a little by asking her what colour different strands that I held up were.
Since Easter, she has understood that yellow is a colour. If you ask her what colour something is, her answer is always yellow. If I then tell her the actual colour she repeats it back but if I then ask her what colour it is again, her answer will still be yellow. Sometimes I think she is doing it on purpose as it never fails to make us giggle.
After a while I found a sheet of white paper to try some spaghetti printing. At first, she copied me, then she decided that all the spaghetti must go back in the tub. She got a little frustrated that it was stuck to the paper and needed peeling off. Next, she decided to empty all the spaghetti on to the paper and attempt to wrap it up. I find it fascinating to watch her play and see her add or do things that I hadn’t even considered.
She really enjoyed this activity and it didn’t take too much preparation. This is definitely an activity we will be repeating.
You will need:
Spaghetti Food colouring (I use Wilton)
Beakers and bowls (these are Ikea which you can buy through Amazon)
Under bed storage box
How to prepare rainbow spaghetti
- Cook half a packet of spaghetti, according to the instructions.
- Drain the pasta and return to the saucepan.
- Add a tablespoon of olive oil and stir well.
- Divide the spaghetti between 4 bowls.
- Add a few drops of food colouring to each bowl and stir through. Keep adding food colouring until all the spaghetti is the desired colour.
- Allow to cool and the food colouring to dry (about 30-45 minutes). Then add to a tuff spot or box that you use for sensory play.
- Add your chosen accessories or tools.
- Let the children enjoy exploring the spaghetti.
Find more rainbow activities for kids here.
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What a great idea, looks like great fun for little ones 🙂 #LetKidsBeKids
It really is.
Fun sensory play idea. Looks like she got stuck in enjoying it.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
She really did. Thanks for hosting.
That looks like lots of fun – good idea! #toddlerapprovedtuesday
It is. Thanks for visiting
What a brilliant idea! I must do this! Thanks for sharing #letkidsbekids
You’re welcome. You really should try it. It really doesn’t take a lot of effort and my toddler loved it.
We’ve done coloured spaghetti before, great fun 🙂 #letkidsbekids
It really is. We will be doing it again soon.
Love this idea will definietly try it with my little one just need wheat free spaghetti even touching it affects her allergies #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
Oh no, the poor thing. It is fun though if you can get wheat free spaghetti.
Another great rainbow activity! We’ve done this before too and had a great time! Looks like she’s getting stuck in! #LetKidsBeKids
Thanks, It is great fun and she certainly did get stuck in.
I thought I had commented last night but not sure if i have or not so sorry if this dupilcates! We used to do a lot of spaghetti play when i was a preschool leader, I suggest sand to help sweep up in the clean up operation!
Thanks for linking to #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
Thanks, I wouldn’t have thought of sand. We did it outside this time so the clean up was easy.