Foil Ring Noodle Slide

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5)
Play time:: 10 to 15 minutes
Setup:: 5 minutes
Where:: Table

Why it helps

This activity is perfect for helping your child use both sides of their body together. Sliding rings along a long pool noodle requires coordination and a steady hand. Crumpling the foil builds the tiny muscles in their fingers. These muscles are used for writing and using spoons later. It also encourages them to plan their movements as they guide the rings from one end to the other!

Steps

Tear five strips of foil, each about 12 inches long and 4 inches wide.
Show your child how to roll or squeeze each strip into a long, thin snake that stays about 12 inches long.
Help your child bend each snake into a circle and twist the ends together. Check that the ring slips easily over the noodle, and make it bigger if it is tight.
Draw wide stripes in different colors around the pool noodle with markers to make targets.
Ask your child to hold the pool noodle with one hand.
Have your child use the other hand to slide a foil ring onto the end of the noodle and along toward the stripes.
Call out a color and challenge your child to stop the ring right on that stripe.

Safety tip: Foil edges can be thin and scratchy, so fold in any sharp bits. Throw away small torn pieces of foil so younger siblings cannot mouth them.

Make it easier

Roll the foil snakes for your child and let them bend, twist, and slide the rings.
Draw wide stripes so the ring only has to stop somewhere inside the color.
Hold the noodle for your child so both of their hands can work the ring.

Make it harder

Slide the ring with the helper hand while the other hand holds the noodle.
Slide two rings at once, one from each end, and meet in the middle.
Call out a color order and move one ring to each stripe in that order.

What to watch for

Notice how your child rolls the foil. Rolling with flat palms makes a smooth snake, while squeezing in a fist makes a lumpy one.
Watch whether the noodle hand stays still or follows the ring hand. Keeping one hand still while the other moves takes practice.
If the crinkle of foil bothers your child, make the rings from pipe cleaners instead.

Where this helps in daily life

Holding one thing still while sliding something along it uses the same teamwork kids need to pull up a zipper, push a sleeve up an arm, and slide a hair tie onto a ponytail.

These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.