Pipe Cleaners - Page 3 of 12

Resistant Frame Weave

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut a sturdy square from the cardboard. Use the masking tape to wrap a dense, continuous layer around the entire perimeter of the square, sticky side OUT. Press the sticky tape firmly onto the cardboard base.
Place the cardboard frame on a stable table. Encourage your child to bend and straighten the pipe cleaners until they are stiff sticks.
Ask your child to hold the cardboard frame firmly steady with their helper hand to stabilize the base.
Using the working hand, aim the pipe cleaner tip at the narrow, sticky frame edge. Use a strong push and a twisting motion to thread the pipe cleaner all the way through the sticky tape layer.
Continue this pushing and weaving action until the entire sticky frame is filled with colorful, rigid pipe cleaners.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pipe cleaners are small materials and pose a choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths. Adults must handle the scissors during preparation.

Tear & Thread Cardboard Chain

Steps:

Adult Prep: Secure a piece of construction paper onto a stable piece of cardboard. Use the hole puncher to create 8 to 10 holes evenly around the edges of the board.
Give your child strips of sturdy cardboard. Encourage them to use both hands to tear the strips and crumple the pieces into tight, dense balls. Drop the finished balls into the container.
Pick up one colorful pipe cleaner. Help your child push the stiff pipe cleaner straight through the center of one dense cardboard ball. This creates a ‘loaded pin’.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard frame steady with their helper hand. Thread the loaded pin through one punched hole in the frame. Pull the pipe cleaner through.
Weave the pin back through the next open hole, linking the crumpled cardboard ball to the frame. Repeat this process until all the crumpled pieces create a colorful chain around the border.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Small pieces of torn cardboard and cut pipe cleaners are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Foam Corduroy Road Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Cut the Foam Sheet into several small strips (about 1 inch wide and 3 inches long). Roll each strip tightly into a narrow tube and secure the seam with masking tape.
Use masking tape to secure these foam tubes vertically onto the piece of sturdy cardboard. Arrange them close together to look like a ‘corduroy road’.
Cut the pipe cleaners into short, stiff 3-inch segments. Place these ‘cords’ in the plastic container.
Challenge your child to hold the cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand. This provides stability for the pushing hand.
Use a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger) to pick up one pipe cleaner cord.
Aim the cord at the top opening of a foam tube. Push the pipe cleaner straight down until it travels completely through the resistant foam tube. Repeat until all the tubes are filled!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Adults must handle the scissors for preparation. The short pipe cleaner pieces are small materials and pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place objects in their mouths.

Pom-Pom Pin Bouquet

Steps:

Secure the sponge firmly onto the piece of cardboard using masking tape underneath. This creates a stable and resistant base.
Place 2 or 3 pom-poms into the container. Challenge your child to thread these pom-poms onto one pipe cleaner, pushing them toward the center.
Hold the cardboard base firmly steady with your non-dominant hand (the helper hand).
Use a strong pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger) to grip the exposed end of the pipe cleaner pin.
Aim the pin at the sponge. Use a strong, controlled push to drive the pipe cleaner straight down into the resistant sponge base.
Repeat this threading and pushing process until your colorful pom-pom bouquet fills the entire sponge garden.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Pom-poms and cut pipe cleaners are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard for children under five. Ensure materials are used only as intended and collected immediately after play.

Resistant Gate Push

Steps:

Adult Prep: Use masking tape to secure the foam sheet tightly onto the cardboard piece for maximum stability.
Adult Prep: Use scissors to cut 8 to 10 narrow, short slits (about 1.5 inches long) randomly across the foam surface. Ensure the slits are very tight.
Encourage your child to use both hands to bend and twist the pipe cleaners into small, rigid shapes like tight coils, flat squares, or stiff hooks. Ensure they are strong.
Challenge your child to hold the stable cardboard base firmly steady with their helper hand.
Pick up one rigid pipe cleaner shape. Aim the shape at a narrow slit and use a strong, controlled push to insert the entire shape through the resistant foam gate. Feel the effort!
Repeat this forceful pushing and threading action until all the slits have been successfully filled with colorful pipe cleaner shapes.

Safety Tip:
Adults must handle the scissors for cutting the narrow slits. Supervise closely as children manipulate pipe cleaners, ensuring the ends are tucked or curled to prevent scratches while pushing.