Pipe Cleaners through a Colander: A Toddler Fine Motor Activity (Ages 2-4)

Time: 0 minutes (for us) | Age: 2-4 years | Setup: 90 seconds | Mess Level: Low

My toddler took one look at the pipe cleaners through a colander activity and said no. Zero minutes of play. The setup is straightforward: thread a handful of pipe cleaners through the holes of a colander so they stick out in every direction, then hand the colander to your toddler and let her pull them out. I have seen this activity get rave reviews from other parents. In our house, it was an immediate no.

Every kid is different. The cost of trying it is basically nothing (90 seconds of setup, recyclable materials), so I am still writing it up because it might land for your toddler even though it did not land for mine. Below is the developmental upside it would have given a kid who engaged, the setup, the age tweaks, and the troubleshooting tips that might make it work in your house.

If your toddler is into the pulling and threading motion in general, this one is worth the 90 seconds to try.

Why Pipe Cleaners through a Colander Works for Toddlers

Pulling pipe cleaners out of a colander targets the same muscle group toddlers use for pulling tissues out of a tissue box, which is a near-universal favorite at this age. The colander adds a small visual challenge: the pipe cleaner is partly hidden, and she has to track which end to grab. Each pull is a small reward.

The colander also turns this into a two-handed activity. One hand stabilizes the colander, the other pulls. That is bilateral coordination, the foundation skill for tying shoes, scissors, and eventually two-handed instruments. Building it through play at 2 or 3 sets her up for harder fine motor tasks later.

For toddlers in the pull-it-out phase, this activity hits hard when it hits.

What You Need

• 1 metal or plastic colander (the kind you drain pasta with)
• 10-15 pipe cleaners in any colors
• A small bowl or basket (optional, for collecting the pulled pipe cleaners)

How to Set Up Pipe Cleaners through a Colander

1. Place the colander on a low table or on the floor where your toddler can sit comfortably next to it.
2. Take one pipe cleaner and thread it through one hole in the colander, leaving roughly equal lengths sticking out on each side.
3. Repeat with the rest of the pipe cleaners until the colander has 10-15 sticking out at all angles.
4. Set a small bowl next to the colander to collect the pulled pipe cleaners as she goes.
5. Demonstrate pulling one pipe cleaner all the way out and dropping it in the bowl.
6. Hand the activity over and let her work.

Age Tweaks

Age 2: At 2, use fewer pipe cleaners (5 or 6) so the visual is not overwhelming. Pre-pull each pipe cleaner so a longer end sticks out the side she is reaching from, which makes the grab easier. Stay close to praise each pull.

Age 3: At 3, fill the colander with the full 10-15. Add a sorting layer: ask her to put pulled pipe cleaners into separate bowls by color.

Age 4: By 4, you can flip the activity and ask her to thread the pipe cleaners back through the colander when she is done. Threading is harder than pulling and adds a second round of fine motor work in the same setup.

What Happened When We Did It

She walked away within 30 seconds of me handing her the colander. No interest at all. I am not exactly sure why this one did not land. She likes pulling activities in general, and the colander setup is a near-cousin to other activities she enjoys. Sometimes a specific activity just does not click on a specific day.

I have left the colander prepped a few times since and put it in her play space without a setup ceremony, just to see if she picks it up on her own. So far she has not. That is honest data: this one is not for our house.

But I have seen other toddlers get 15 minutes out of this exact setup, and several friends I trust have told me it became a regular for them. So the activity itself is not the problem. It is just the activity-toddler match that is missing in our case.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

My toddler walked away in 30 seconds. This activity has a clear visual goal but the goal does not always read as fun to a toddler. If she is not naturally a puller-of-things, this one might never click. Try it on a day when she is already in a pulling mood, or pair the colander setup next to a tissue box activity so the motion overlap helps her see the connection.

She is having trouble pulling the pipe cleaners out. The pipe cleaners might be threaded too tightly. Pull each one halfway through during setup so there is more length sticking out one side. Thinner pipe cleaners pull through more easily than thicker ones.

She is bending the colander instead of pulling the pipe cleaners. Use a sturdier colander, ideally a metal one that does not flex. Plastic colanders can deform under toddler grip strength, which makes the pulling motion ineffective and frustrating.

She wants to thread the pipe cleaners herself. That is a great pivot. Skip the pre-threading and let her be the one who threads them in. Threading is harder than pulling, but for some kids it is more interesting because the result is visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is the pipe cleaners through a colander activity good for? This activity works for toddlers ages 18 months to 4 years. Younger toddlers focus on pulling. Older toddlers can sort by color, thread the pipe cleaners themselves, or do timed challenges.

Is this safe for toddlers who still mouth things? Pipe cleaners have a thin wire core which can poke if chewed. If your toddler still mouths everything, swap pipe cleaners for soft yarn pieces or thick felt strips of similar length. The threading-and-pulling motion still works, without the wire risk.

How do I clean up after this activity? Cleanup is fast. Pull any remaining pipe cleaners out of the colander, store them in a small bag, and put the colander back in the kitchen drawer. Total cleanup time is under a minute.

Why did my toddler reject this activity? The most common reason is that the activity does not match her current play interests. Toddlers go through phases. If she is currently into stacking, posting, or pouring, the pulling motion of this activity might just not register as interesting. Try again in a few weeks.

What if I do not have a colander? A wire mesh strainer, a plastic basket with mesh sides, or even a tissue box with a hole cut in the top all work for the same threading-and-pulling motion. The exact container matters less than the multi-hole structure.

Mom to Mom

Every toddler is different. My girl has very specific preferences about what kind of pulling she likes, and apparently this one was not it. That does not mean yours will reject it. You know your kid better than I know mine. If she is into pulling things in general, the 90 seconds of setup is a low cost to find out.

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