Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs

We love quick and simple sensory activities at our house, and as a bonus, this one doesn’t make a mess and is easy to pick up: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs!

Looking for more? Here are some fun Toddler Activities that you can try!

Ready to have a great time with your toddler? The activity I am sharing today is a classic toddler boredom buster with simple materials that you most likely have on hand right now, takes a minute to set up, and is engaging for your toddler – just all around a great little activity!

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

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What materials are safe for toddler play?

When it comes to selecting materials for toddler play, safety is the highest priority. There are plenty of safe options to choose from, including cotton swabs, straws, and even dry pasta noodles.

Cotton swabs and straws are greats option for toddlers who love to explore their surroundings. They are easy to grip and can help improve hand-eye coordination.

Dry pasta noodles are another safe material that can provide hours of entertainment for toddlers. They are durable, non-toxic, and unbreakable, making them perfect for sensory play and exploration. By selecting safe materials like these for your toddler, you can rest assured that they can freely explore and learn without any potential hazards in sight.

Recommended Books for Toddlers

These books are perfect for kids who are just starting to learn about their surroundings. Grab one for your toddler now and let them start exploring the world through great books.

If Animals Kissed Good NightIf Animals Kissed Good NightDr. Seuss's Beginner Book Boxed Set Collection: The Cat in the Hat; One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish; Green Eggs and Ham; Hop on Pop; Fox in SocksDr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Boxed Set Collection: The Cat in the Hat; One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish; Green Eggs and Ham; Hop on Pop; Fox in SocksBright Winter NightBright Winter NightBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Brown Bear and Friends)Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (Brown Bear and Friends)The Wonderful Things You Will BeThe Wonderful Things You Will BeThe Wonky DonkeyThe Wonky Donkey

 

Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs Supplies

  • A handful of straws, bonus points if you have brightly colored ones.
  • A handful of cotton swabs.
  • A small sensory bin (optional).

Recommended Toddler Educational Toys

Are you struggling to keep your toddler busy and learning at the same time? These educational toys will help you achieve that.

Montessori Toys for 1 to 3-Year-Old Boys Girls Toddlers, Wooden Sorting & Stacking Toys for Kids Preschool, Educational Toys, Color Recognition Stacker Shape Sorter, Learning Puzzles GiftMontessori Toys for 1 to 3-Year-Old Boys Girls Toddlers, Wooden Sorting & Stacking Toys for Kids Preschool, Educational Toys, Color Recognition Stacker Shape Sorter, Learning Puzzles Gift26 PCS ABC Matching Letters Dinosaur Toys, Double-Sided Alphabet Match Game with Uppercase Lowercase for Toddler, Preschool Classroom Educational Learning Toys, Chritsmas Gift for Kids Boys Girls26 PCS ABC Matching Letters Dinosaur Toys, Double-Sided Alphabet Match Game with Uppercase Lowercase for Toddler, Preschool Classroom Educational Learning Toys, Chritsmas Gift for Kids Boys GirlsLearning Resources 3060 Farmers Market Color Sorting SetLearning Resources 3060 Farmers Market Color Sorting SetVARANO Montessori Busy Board Book Toy for 1 2 3 Year Old, Educational Sensory Toys for Toddlers 1-3, Car & Airplane Activities for Travel and Learning – Gifts for Boys and Girls (Jungle Animals)VARANO Montessori Busy Board Book Toy for 1 2 3 Year Old, Educational Sensory Toys for Toddlers 1-3, Car & Airplane Activities for Travel and Learning – Gifts for Boys and Girls (Jungle Animals)Baby Montessori Learning Educational stem Preschool Fine Motor Skills Activities Toys Busy Board 12 18 24 Months,Toddlers Sensory Birthday Easter Gifts for 1 2 3 yr One Years Old Boys Girls KidsBaby Montessori Learning Educational stem Preschool Fine Motor Skills Activities Toys Busy Board 12 18 24 Months,Toddlers Sensory Birthday Easter Gifts for 1 2 3 yr One Years Old Boys Girls KidsDailyfunn Montessori Toys Color&Shape Sorting Learning Matching Box for Baby Toddlers 1-3 Year OldDailyfunn Montessori Toys Color&Shape Sorting Learning Matching Box for Baby Toddlers 1-3 Year Old

 

How to do the Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs?

It really was as simple as it sounds. I put a big handful of straws and a big handful of cotton swabs into our shoebox-sized sensory bin and stepped back to let my son explore.

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

He reached right in and grabbed straws and cotton swabs by the handful, dropped them, and picked them up again.

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

He spent some time exploring just the straws.

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

Of course, some of them had to go in his mouth 🙂

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

After he’d explored the cotton swabs separately, he decided to try how they fit together. I was impressed that he managed to fit the cotton swab into the straw.

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

He wasn’t able to get it all the way in, though, and I showed him how to do it. He quickly lost interest in this, however.

Handfuls of straws and cotton swabs kept his interest for quite a while, though.

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

He didn’t put the materials back in the bin, but it was really easy to pick them up again.

Quick and simple engaging toddler boredom buster: Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs! Great little sensory activity that's quick to set up and even quicker to clean up.

When it comes to toddler activities choosing the right materials should be the top priority. This Toddler Play with Straws and Cotton Swabs is one of the safest activities that you can do with your child.

Now grab what you need and let your little one have a great sensory activity today!

More Toddler Activities

If your toddler enjoyed this quick and simple activity, he or she may also like to try

Cheerio Activities for Toddlers

Tracing Activities for Toddlers

Toddler Paint with Flour Paint

Flower Sensory Soup

Fine Motor Activity with Straws and Pipecleaners

or one of these

Spring Toddler Activities

Or you may want to make your child some DIY toys with these fabulous

Fruit Felt Craft Ideas!

Sensory Activities by Simple Fun For Kids

3 Comments

  1. I love this! My tot loves to play with straws and insert them into a drink cup with an opening in the lid, so this is another perfect activity. As long as he doesn’t try to eat the cotton swabs lol. I have to keep him from chewing on the straws. Thanks for this idea 🙂

  2. Fehmina Shokat says:

    Try cutting the straws a little shorter than the cotton swabs. Toddlers love putting the swabs in the straw. And builds their hand eye coordination and they also get excited wen they see the swab coming out from the otherside of the straw.

    1. That’s a great idea!

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