The Magic of Threading Activities
If you’ve ever watched a toddler concentrate deeply on something small, you know the level of dedication they bring to the tiniest details. That’s what makes threading activities so perfect. They engage those fine motor muscles while keeping little hands busy. And when you can make it happen with things already lying around the house? Even better.
Enter: Toilet Paper Roll Straw Threading—a simple, mess-free, and screen-free way to keep toddlers engaged while working on important developmental skills. This activity is part of my Random Household Objects series, where we take everyday items and turn them into easy, achievable learning activities.
What You Need
- Empty toilet paper roll
- Single hole punch
- Plastic straws (cut in half)
How to Set Up Toilet Paper Roll Straw Threading
- Grab an empty toilet paper roll (because we all have at least one waiting to be used for something, right?).
- Use a hole punch to create holes randomly around the roll. You don’t need a pattern—just enough holes to keep it interesting.
- Cut plastic straws in half to make them easier for little hands to manipulate.
- Encourage your child to thread the straws through the holes, pushing them in and pulling them out.
Why This Activity Works
1. A Fine Motor Powerhouse
This is the kind of activity that makes a pediatric occupational therapist’s heart sing. Threading requires toddlers to use their pincer grasp (thumb and index finger) while coordinating both hands at once—a huge win for fine motor skill development.
2. A Low-Prep Kids Learning Activity
Minimal effort. Zero mess. Endless fun. If you’re looking for an activity at home that doesn’t involve hauling out craft supplies or cleaning up glitter for days, this is it.
3. Encourages Problem-Solving
There’s a surprising amount of trial and error involved in getting those straws into the holes. Kids might need to adjust angles, figure out how to hold the tube steady, and work on their hand-eye coordination—all without realizing they’re building problem-solving skills.
4. Works for Different Ages
Whether you have an 18-month-old exploring cause and effect or a 3-year-old refining their coordination, toilet paper roll straw threading can be adapted to different skill levels.
Make It More Challenging
- Add color matching: Color-code the holes with markers and have your child match the straw color to the hole.
- Increase the difficulty: Use smaller holes or give them pipe cleaners instead of straws for a trickier challenge.
- Turn it into a game: Set a timer and see how many straws they can thread before time runs out.
More Activities Using a Paper Towel Roll
If you’re on a roll (see what I did there?), don’t stop now. There are plenty of activities using a paper towel roll and activities using a toilet paper roll that turn recycling into fun. Here are a few more ideas:
- Paper Towel Roll Name Sort: Write your child’s name on a cardboard box and attach wooden skewers above each letter. Write the letters of their name on pieces of cut paper towel rolls and match them to the correct skewer.
- Toilet Paper Roll Color Sort: Cover six toilet paper rolls with different colored construction paper and provide craft sticks to sort into the matching colored rolls, helping your child practice color recognition.
- Drop Tubes: Tape paper towel and toilet paper rolls at different heights on a wall and let your child drop small balls like pompoms through the tubes, experimenting with gravity and motion.
- Tube Ball Balance: Stand various paper towel and toilet paper rolls upright and challenge your child to balance ball pit balls on top, enhancing their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
- Paper Towel Roll Letter Matching: Write letters on a paper towel roll and create matching letter stickers for your child to pair with the roll, reinforcing letter recognition and matching skills.
Each of these activities will turn a simple paper towel roll or toilet paper roll into a fun and educational tool, using materials you likely already have at home!
Final Thoughts
When it comes to keeping toddlers entertained, you don’t need fancy toys or expensive materials. Sometimes, the best activities are the simplest ones—the ones that let kids explore, create, and learn at their own pace. Toilet paper roll straw threading checks all the boxes: it’s easy, mess-free, and packed with developmental benefits. And best of all? You probably already have everything you need to try it today.
So, go ahead—rescue that empty toilet paper roll from the recycling bin and turn it into something fun. Your toddler (and your sanity) will thank you.
