My Daughter was Inspired by a Beading Game...so we made One at Home

We found an easy toddler inspiration at my young sons preschool. While waiting to pick up younger son, we helped ourselves to the game shelf in his classroom (which his teacher said was okay for us). The teacher had great ideas, including this one. Simple pipe cleaner, and a bag of beads. We replicated this activity at home.

The simplicity of it is genius, and I am amazed that months later this beading fun is STILL exciting at our home. I created a bin, similar to the teachers, and baby girl has access. She lets me know when she warns to play (and while I'm reasonably not afraid shell eat the beads, I make sure I'm with her when we do this activity), and we start. My older and younger son even love this game and they play often. And the boys have added, on their own, patterning ideas, counting, and other ways to change up the beading. 

You can see the teacher had number labes on the pieces of pipe cleaner as a counting game.

So fun, so easy. Made with supplies and Tupperware we had on hand at home.

Just paying attention to what my little toddler wanted, and her interests, inspired all of us, including her two older brothers. Kids CAN teach us about what they like to play, learn about, an where their ability levels are.

Make mistakes. Breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud